Our Lady of the Redwoods Abbey facts for kids
The Abbey of Our Lady of the Redwoods is a special place where Trappistine Cistercian nuns live and pray. It's a monastic community, which means the nuns live together following religious rules. This abbey is located in Whitethorn, California, and is part of the Catholic Church in Santa Rosa.
History of the Abbey
The Abbey of Our Lady of the Redwoods started with nuns from an old abbey in Belgium called Brecht Abbey. In 1962, the first four nuns arrived in California on November 1st. A kind man named Robert Usher, who was an art director, gave his house and land to the Cistercian order.
The nuns quickly made the place their home. On August 15, 1963, their community was officially recognized. The next year, it became an independent abbey. Mother Myriam Dardenne was chosen as the first abbess (the leader of the nuns) on November 21, 1964. The abbey was officially opened 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 quiet life focused on contemplation, which means deep thought and prayer. They live in harmony with the beautiful Redwood Forest around them. This peaceful setting gives the monastery a unique feeling of quiet and calm.
To support themselves, the nuns make and sell different flavors of creamed honey. They also do organic gardening and forestry work. These activities help the community to thrive. The abbey also has a guesthouse with twelve rooms. Visitors can stay there if they want to experience the peaceful way of life with the nuns.
Mother Myriam led the community until December 8, 1989. The current Abbess is Mother Kathy de Vico. She was chosen for this role in the year 2000.
More About Nuns and Monasteries
If you want to learn more about communities like this, you can look up:
- Trappists
- Cistercian nuns
