"In Your goodness, Lord God Almighty,bless + this place which is set aside to honor You.
Here Your brides will dwell. Here Your Son will be adored by faithful hearts, loved by contrite hearts, and sought by burdened hearts.In Your mercy, grant that Your request of Francis to: “Go and rebuild My Church” will be fulfilled in this place.  As this Chapel - an edifice of stone - is built, may the spiritual edifice be renewed within the hearts of Your faithful.  May Your Holy Angels protect and guide all who will labor here to build Our Lady of Solitude Monastery and Chapel. On this site, may there be health, victory over sin, strength, humility, purity, gentleness, full observance of Your law and gratefulness to God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Grant that the good work which is begun today will be brought to fulfillment in accord with Your Holy Will. And may this blessing + remain upon this building site and upon those who will dwell here, now and forever."

Then Br. Bernadine Mary splendidly cantered the Litany of Franciscan Saints in Latin, as the Bishop blessed the very place where the monastery and chapel will one day stand - the outline of which was painted upon the ground.  The Sisters followed in procession, as Fr. Mark Mary sprinkled soil from the Holy Land, Assisi, and Rome along the perimeter of the building site. 

After a word of thanks and encouragement from Sr. Marie Andre, she and Bishop Olmsted did the ceremonial groundbreaking in the very spot where the Main Altar will one day sit. 

We were blessed to be joined for this happy occasion by many of our Phoenix Priests, Religious and lay faithful.  We thank the Lord for their ongoing support and friendship. 

It was a great and historical day for us - a day that brings us one small step closer to turning our medieval dream into a monastic reality!  Enjoy the many photos below of this ceremony...