Blue Cloud Abbey, Marvin [South Dakota] planning to close

[Dale_M]

This news was in the July issue of the diocesan newspaper, so it is a little old. The monks of the abbey are currently looking into new homes.

The Benedictine monks of the abbey voted at the end of May to close their monastery.

In a statement announcing the closure, the reasons for the move were clearly stated: “The reason for closure of Blue Cloud Abbey is the lack of vocations and the aging of the community members. Although the abbey has been successful as a retreat center for various groups and individuals, the monastery has not been able to draw a sufficient number of new members. After August 5, there will beno public liturgies celebrated at the abbey and all scheduled retreats will be canceled.”

The decision was a difficult one for the monks of the abbey but “a necessary one,” according to Abbot Denis. “Sometimes facing reality is hard and harsh.”

In a statement by Abbot Denis Quinkert about the closing, he pointed out that at present “Blue Cloud has 14 members. Three are in their 90’s, two are in their 80’s, seven are in their 70’s, one is in his 50’s and one is in his 40’s.”

diocese-of-sioux-falls.org/bishopsbulletin/Issues/pdfs/12JulyBulletinB.pdf

Some of you may be familiar with Blue Cloud Abbey via Kathleen Norris’ book The Cloister Walk.

It also had a long history of service to the Native Americans of South Dakota, building upon the work of Bishop Martin Marty, OSB.

https://bluecloud.org

 

[Bballer32]

I live an hour and a half from their and i went there once on a field trip. It’s a neat place. my parish priests got to participate in the last Mass said at the Monastery.

 

[JRKH]

Sad news…

May God protect His Church as she goes through these difficult times.

Peace
James

 

[jilly4ski]

That is sad, luckily there are many benedictine abbey’s around that will hopefully be able to take them in (apparently 2 in the diocese and another in SD), there is a big one in North Dakota, and another large one in MN.

 

[Dale_M]

That is sad, luckily there are many benedictine abbey’s around that will hopefully be able to take them in (apparently 2 in the diocese and another in SD), there is a big one in North Dakota, and another large one in MN.

Benedictines, of course, place a high value on hospitality, so I don’t doubt the monks will find a new home without too much trouble. But as far as I know, the other monasteries in South Dakota are for women. I don’t think the Benedictines are t**hat **hospitable.

I am not familiar with Assumption Abbey in North Dakota, but it is apparently large. And a blog post on their website mentioned that some Blue Cloud monks helped them with the corn harvest at the end of August, so maybe that’s a good indication.

St. John’s Abbey, in Minnesota, is very large. But being connected to a university, I wonder if it doesn’t have a different character?

 

[jilly4ski]

Benedictines, of course, place a high value on hospitality, so I don’t doubt the monks will find a new home without too much trouble. But as far as I know, the other monasteries in South Dakota are for women. I don’t think the Benedictines are t**hat **hospitable.

I am not familiar with Assumption Abbey in North Dakota, but it is apparently large. And a blog post on their website mentioned that some Blue Cloud monks helped them with the corn harvest at the end of August, so maybe that’s a good indication.

St. John’s Abbey, in Minnesota, is very large. But being connected to a university, I wonder if it doesn’t have a different character?

One of the Monks from Assumption Abbey ran the mission on the Mandan Reservation in ND. So all I know of that one is from him.
At Saint John’s it probably is different, though I would guess all would be different depending on the character of the people and who they elect for their abbot. But again they keep the hours (mostly privately except for evening prayers) and they have traditional work to do if they wish (collecting sap for maple syrup, gardening (they have very pretty monastic gardens), and their living quarters are cloistered (not open to the public). But they can also be involved in the life of the university if they wish, eating with the students etc. (There is also a nursing home as a part of the abbey which is nice.