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All of us (with the
exception of our Novice) have been blessed to live in 2
different Monasteries prior to our move to AZ. We all
began our Religious Life in Irondale, AL with Mother
Angelica at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. In 1999,
construction on the new Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in
Hanceville, AL was completed. Therefore we have some
experience in what works and what doesn't work in
'cloistered monasteries'. One night we all sat
down around the table with some graph paper and began
sketching out our 'dreams'. The result of this meeting
we presented to the SSPW Architects. They, in turn,
started doing the detail work on these plans, working in
close collaboration with Sr. Marie St. Paul. The final
product (or near final product) is a wonderful, practical,
and efficient set of architectural plans that perfectly meet
our needs.
Meet the SSPW
Architects Nestled on a 40 acre
plot of land in Tonopah, Arizona, the plans
for Our Lady of Solitude Monastery and Chapel were co have several components that
we would like to explain:
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Chapel: The Chapel will be divided by
a solid reredos.
On one side of the reredos is the cloistered Chapel.
It is here that the nuns, unseen by the public, adore the
Lord and pray the Divine Office, and attend Holy Mass.
On the other side of the reredos is the
public Chapel. All who visit are welcome to make a
visit, pray and attend Holy Mass in this Chapel. The
public Chapel will seat approximately 150 people. It's
decorum will be fashioned from the medieval times of Saint
Francis and Saint Clare.
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Cloistered Monastery: The Monastery
is comprised of the nuns living area, complete with 28 cells
(or bedrooms), refectory (dining room), community recreation
room, novitiate/juniorate, sewing room, laundry, kitchen,
offices, general workroom, music room, courtyard, and parlors (where we
visit with our families, separated by a grille).
The
nuns live and work here, only leaving for necessary
monastery business, doctors appointments, and civic duty.
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Enclosure:
Our outdoor enclosure is comprised of about 20
acres. On this land the nuns will maintain
vegetable gardens and an orchard. The cemetery
for the nuns will also be located in the enclosure.
This outdoor cloistered area will
be separated from the public area by an enclosure
wall.
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Extern Area: The Extern area
will be available for the use of all those who come
to visit us. It will include
a gift shop, reception area, public parlors, spiritual
direction room, courtyard area, and living quarters for the
Chaplain.
In the future, as funds allow, we hope to expand this area to
include a retreat center for the faithful of the diocese of
Phoenix. |
The only really
effective apologia for Christianity comes down to two
arguments, namely the saints the Church as produced
and the art which has grown in her womb. Better
witness is borne to the Lord by the splendor of holiness and
art which have arisen in the community of believers than by
the clever excuses which apologetics has come up with to
justify the dark sides which, sadly are so frequent in the
Church's human history. If the Church is the continue
to transform and humanize the world, how can she dispense
with the beauty in her liturgies, the beauty which is so
closely linked with love and with the radiance of the
Resurrection? No. Christians must not be too
easily satisfied. They must make their Church into
a place where beauty - and hence truth - is at home. Without
this the world will become the first circle of Hell.
- Pope Benedict
XVI |
