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The cloistered area is where the monks live in community and is not opened to the public, outside of medical professionals. In consultation with project architects and construction specialists, the following project phasing has been determined to address the Abbey’s most immediate needs.

As part of their calling as a family of brothers, Cistercian monks continue to care for each other throughout their lifetime. The Infirmarian is the brother appointed by the Abbot to look after the health needs of the whole community, particularly the infirm and elderly members. Daily duties of the Infirmarian include coordination of all the infirms’ needs, consulting with health care professionals, accompanying brothers to medical appointments, monitoring medication, assisting with bathing and dental care, preparing meals, laundering and ensuring an attending monk is with the most vulnerable 24-hours a day. Here at the Abbey, over one-third of the monks are over the age of 75, including the oldest monk in the history of the Abbey who recently celebrated his 98th birthday. Even though the Abbey has a Certified Nursing Assistant on staff, local physicians who volunteer their time with regular visits, and a caring team of doctors, dentists, and specialists in the surrounding area, the current facilities make it very difficult to care for the aging brothers onsite. The distinctions of a cloistered community are lost when the aging, most fragile members of the “family” are transported miles away to an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar caregivers for what amounts to their last days on earth. Above all, monks recognize, honor, love and serve as Christ the brothers in their care. With three new postulants and a record number of requests for observerships, the Abbey has reached capacity to welcome new vocations. Cells typically used for younger monks, postulants and observerships, are currently occupied by aging members of the community – making the need for a new, more centrally located Senior Wing vital. The current Senior Wing is located at the furthest part of the cloistered area, beyond the Library Stacks labeled in the illustration. Since Cistercians remain in community with each other during “Liturgy of the Hours,” Chapter Talks, and meals until their final days, the current location challenges the way in which aging monks live in community with their family of brothers.

Built upon a 1700-year tradition, the Abbey preserves and sustains a history of beauty, sacrifice, and a life-long dedication to prayer – the greatest force for transforming our world.

In keeping with a cloistered design to preserve and respect the monastic lifestyle, the proposed Senior Wing will include:

• Six ADA compliant, private rooms, an examination room and dispensary.
• Improved overall lighting that is responsive to older adult vision and the distinction between day and night.
• An optimum floor plan to maximize the mobility of the infirmed and efficiencies of the attending monk.
• Motorized chair parking and recharging stations that are conveniently located and easily accessible.
• Upgraded safety systems throughout, including an intercom system for communicating with the attending monk.
• A separate entrance, away from the main cloistered area for lay medical staff, including a reverse swinging door, wheelchair ramp and push button entry door operator.

To improve administration efficiencies, a new Pastoral Center is needed to replace the office space and workrooms lost through the demolition of the old church in April 2018. Located adjacent to the new church and Senior Wing, the Pastoral Center will provide offices for the Abbot, Second Superior and Abbey secretary. Renovated areas include a meeting room and workspace for liturgy, finance and administration. The Center will also provide resident monks with expanded common rooms to read, meet and seek spiritual direction. Construction related requirements and economies of scale call for concurrent construction of the Senior Wing and Pastoral Center.