Our Lady of the Redwoods Abbey facts for kids
The Abbey of Our Lady of the Redwoods is a special place where a group of Trappistine Cistercian nuns live together. They are a monastic community, which means they dedicate their lives to prayer and quiet living. This abbey is found in Whitethorn, California, a beautiful area within the Diocese of Santa Rosa.
Contents
History of the Abbey
How the Abbey Started
The Abbey of Our Lady of the Redwoods began in 1962. Two groups of nuns came all the way from the Abbey of Our Lady of Nazareth in Belgium. The first four nuns arrived on November 1, 1962. They were given a house and land by a kind man named Robert Usher. He was an extern brother from another abbey called Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, California.
Becoming an Independent Abbey
The nuns quickly settled into their new home. They were officially recognized as a new monastic community on August 15, 1963. Just one year later, on November 21, 1964, the community became an independent abbey. Mother Myriam Dardenne was chosen as their first abbess. An abbess is like the leader of the nuns in an abbey. The abbey was formally dedicated on May 2, 1967, by Bishop Leo Thomas Maher.
Life at the Abbey
The nuns at the Abbey of Our Lady of the Redwoods live a traditional Cistercian life. This means they focus on contemplation, which is a deep form of prayer and reflection. They live in harmony with the nature around them. The abbey is located in the huge Redwood Forest of California. This amazing setting gives the monastery a unique feeling of peace and quiet.
To support themselves, the sisters make different flavors of creamed honey. They sell their honey online and at the monastery. They also do organic gardening and forestry work. Visitors can stay in a guesthouse with twelve rooms if they wish to experience the peaceful rhythm of the nuns' lives.
Leaders of the Community
Mother Myriam Dardenne led the community for many years, until December 8, 1989. The current Abbess is Mother Kathy de Vico. She was elected to lead the community in the year 2000.
See also
- Trappists
- Cistercian nuns
