Assumption Abbey celebrates 60 years!!

 

 

60 YEARS OF BEING BLESSED & BEING A BLESSING!!!

 

 

Our Franciscan Prayer Fraternity is situated on property belonging to the Trappist monks at Assumption Abbey near Ava, MO.   We read snippets of the foundation of the Abbey in the 60^th anniversary booklet:

 

It was Joseph Pierson, a newspaperman who started the first overseas edition of the Chicago Tribune at Paris during WWI, and his wife, Josephine (Lily), who offered their 3400 acre property in the rough "hills and hollers" of the Ozarks to New Melleray Abbey (near Dubuque, IA) if they would begin a contemplative monastic foundation there.  Mr. Pierson had seen and was impressed with the ancient monasteries in Europe and had also been inspired by reading Thomas Merton's Seven Storey Mountain.

 

New Melleray Abbey accepted the gift and the first six monks arrived on September 24, 1950 to begin the foundation here. The early monastery was the 3-story hunting chalet that Joseph Pierson and his sons had built on the property during WWII. The name Assumption Abbey was chosen since in the year 1950 Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of Our Lady's Assumption into heaven.

 

Over the course of these 60 years the monks supported themselves first with farming efforts: raising sheep, a dairy, orchards and vineyards.   They soon learned that these Ozark hills were not well suited for such.   Utilizing the sand and gravel found in plentiful supply in the local creek beds, the monks next turned to making concrete blocks.   As that market decreased, they turned their efforts to a very successful venture making fruitcakes.  This continues to be a means of support for the monks today. 

 

This past August 15^th, the Feast of the Assumption, the monks of Assumption Abbey here in Ava, MO not only celebrated their patronal feast, but also celebrated with gratitude the 60^th anniversary of their founding. The retired bishop of Springfield/Cape Girardeau diocese, Bishop John Leibrecht, D.D. was the main celebrant for the Mass.  Present for this special celebration was one of the daughters of Joseph and Lily Pierson, Mrs. Mary Garrick, and two of her sons, Fr. David Garrick and George Garrick, pictured above with the bishop and Fr. Cyprian, the Superior of the Abbey.

 

In his homily at the Mass, Bishop Leibrecht quoted the 1^st reading from the Book of Revelation which spoke of God preparing a place for Mary.   He then spoke of how Mary has prepared and guided and watched over this place, Assumption Abbey, for the past 60 years. He remarked how a place has also been prepared on this property for the hermit sisters at Nazareth Hermitage, one section of the land, as well as our Franciscan Prayer Fraternity which occupies another corner of the property.

 

Bishop Leibrecht spoke of many of the monks he has known in the 20 years that he has been associated with the monks.   He told the story of his first visit to the monastery when he was greeted by Fr. Donald (Hamilton) who threw his arms wide and said: "Welcome to heaven, Bishop!"    More recently, visiting Fr. Donald who now resides in the Ava Nursing Home,  Fr. Donald exclaimed: "Welcome to heaven!"    Bishop Leibrecht encouraged all of us gathered to see the places where we reside as our heaven here on earth.

 

On this 60^th anniversary of the foundation of Assumption Abbey, the Franciscan friars here congratulate our Trappist monks on the peace of heaven they have created here in the Ozark hills.   May God richly bless and guide your next 60 years!