The Needs of the Sisters
Our fifty year old monastery has fallen into disrepair despite our best efforts to refurbish and keep up with all of the repairs. In 2003, faced with numerous health, safety and maintenance issues we retained a professional firm to conduct an in-depth facilities study. We were presented with some clear results and a few options. The recommendations were to do more selective renovations, completely renovate or build a new monastery. After much thought and prayer, almost a year later, the community decided that we must build a new monastery. It wasn’t an easy decision to enter into such a transformational project but we are confident that it is necessary to secure our future in South Carolina.

The plan to Build a New Monastery
In November 2004 we purchased a 14 acre site in Travelers Rest at 37 McCauley Rd. This beautiful setting will be the perfect home for our new monastery. The new monastery is approximately 26,000 square feet, 20% smaller than our current monastery. The pastoral setting of our new monastery will provide a peaceful quiet atmosphere conducive to living the contemplative life. In addition to living and work space for the sisters, the monastery will include chapel, guest apartment, hospitality room, and visiting parlors.

After successfully securing over $3 million we were able to break ground in March of 2007. Since then the construction has moved swiftly and we can already see our new monastery taking shape. It is our prayer that we will make the move to this new home in the summer of 2008. While the new building is slightly smaller, it will provide us with some necessities that out old monastery did not.

Some of the features of our new monastery are:

• A larger chapel to accommodate our faith community and
  guests
• More adequate parlors for individual spiritual direction and
  personal visits
• Energy efficient work and living space that maximizes
  natural light
• Responsible design and construction in keeping with our
  responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation
• Universal accessible throughout the living and guest areas
• Centralized heating and cooling
• A 160 acre nature preserve across the street, a perfect spot
  for recreants to enjoy walking in nature

Watching our new monastery being built brings us great joy. We are grateful for God’s guidance and support in this and in all our endeavors. We fully realize none of this would be possible without the generosity of all of our friends. With close to $1.6 million left to raise, we pray that you will join us in bringing this journey to an end.

Estimated total project cost is: $5,516,000
Sale of old monastery: $1,000,000
Allocated from Retirement Fund $ 500,000
Total donations to date: $2,398,762
Left to Raise: $1,617,238

Please call our development office for more information:  
864-292-9650

Directions:  From US 25 North beyond the US 276 split near Travelers Rest, turn right on Tigerville Road.  Turn left on Shelton Road after .9 mile. Turn right on McCauley Road after .9 mile.

To see more pictures of the land of our new monastery location click here.

To see directions to our new monastery site click here.