Construction on the new monastery, locally known as "the Castle on the Hill", was begun in 1883 on a hill east of Ferdinand known as "Mount Tabor", and completed between 1886 and 1888.[3][4] The first part of the monastery completed was the quadrangle, the sisters' residence. A large addition was added in 1903.
The monastery chapel was designed by St. Louis architect Viktor Klutho. Construction started in 1915. Work on the interior was not completed until 1924. The chapel's Gothic high altar was surmounted by statues imported from Munich representing the Immaculate Conception, Saint Benedict, and Saint Scholastica. Other large statues represent some of the noted saints of the order.[4]
The pews were hand-carved by German artisans. The Stations of the Cross were carved in Munich, as were the 47 stained glass windows. Eighty-nine angels adorn the church, in stained glass, statues, and carvings.[5]
ConservationEdit
In 1983, the Monastery and other outbuildings and structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Convent Immaculate Conception Historic District.[1] The complex includes the main building constructed in 1883–1887. A major expansion to the complex began in 1915 and includes the Romanesque Revival style convent chapel.[6]: 3
Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, IndianaEdit
In 1861 Fr. Chrysostom Foffa, OSB, assumed the duties of pastor of St Ferdinand Church. He persuaded the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to teach in the parish school, but they did not have sufficient German-speaking sisters to meet the needs of the parish.[7] He then approached the St. Walburg Monastery in Covington, Kentucky. Four sisters arrived in August 1867. As the sisters community grew, they also took up teaching in the parish school at Fulda and Saint Meinrad. In 1870, they opened Academy Immaculate Conception, later renamed Marian Heights Academy, a boarding school for girls.[8] (Marian Heights Academy closed in 2000.)
In 1871, the Benedictine Sisters of Ferdinand became an independent congregation. In 1872, the sisters purchased sixty-four acres of farmland adjoining the convent grounds to provide some necessities. In 1878, four sisters from Ferdinand established a mission at Standing Rock Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The chief occupation of the sisters was teaching; in each parish, they also had charge of the vestry and altar linens. The sisters were engaged in the preparation of church vestments and skilled in silk and gold embroidery. The motherhouse published a monthly newsletter, Die Taube to keep sisters at various missions in touch and informed. Up until the First World War, German was the language commonly spoken at the monastery. Proud of their German heritage, some German phrases are still found in common use there. In 1914 St. Benedict Normal College was founded to train teachers. Eventually sisters taught in more than seventy-five schools in twelve states and five countries.[8] In 1956, St. Benedict admitted laywomen and in 1960, the college began admitting men but ultimately closed in the spring of 1970.
Monastery of the Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, Indiana
Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Indiana was founded as a daughter house of Immaculate Conception.[9]
Although the abbey faced declining numbers in the late 20th century, this trend has since reversed.[10][11] The Benedictine Hospitality Center is located at the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception. In 2016, Benet Hall, on the monastery grounds, was converted into fifteen affordable, senior citizen apartments. The apartment building serves persons 55 and over that meet certain income requirements. The sisters' "Simply Divine Bakery" produces a variety of baked goods according to traditional German recipes; these are sold in the monastery gift shop. There is also a kitchen garden. The academy's former art building was rented to the privately owned St. Benedict's Brew Works which opened in August 2015.[12]
As of 2019, there were 134 members of the congregation.[13] Their apostolates include teaching, serving in parishes, offering retreats, providing health care, counseling, working with immigrant populations, and helping the homeless, the poor, and those recovering from addictions.
^ ab"The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. V. 1-3 ..." Catholic editing Company. August 3, 1914 – via Google Books.
^"Covenant of the Immaculate Conception Monastery". Discover Indiana.
^"Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved October 1, 2015. Note: This includes Sr. Mary Dominic and Douglas L. Stern (May 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Convent Immaculate Conception Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved October 1, 2015. and Accompanying photographs and map.
^"St. Ferdinand History". Welcome to Christ the King Parish the home of St. Ferdinand and St. Henry Churches.
^ ab"History". Monastery Immaculate Conception. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
^Exploring Indiana's Historic Sites, Markers & Museums 1310366098 Paul R. Wonning Monastery Immaculate Conception Founded in 1867, the “Castle on the Hill” the .
^Dudine, Mary Frederica, O.S.B. The Castle on the Hill: Centennial History of the Convent of Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, Indiana, 1867-1967. Milwaukee, WI: Bruce Publishing Co., 1967.
^"St. Benedict's Brew Works Offers Unmatched Experience, Great Beer, Plenty of Nuns". November 1, 2016.
^"Sisters of St. Benedict elect 14th prioress". Dubois County Herald.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Ferdinand Parish-Immaculate Conception Historic District.
Convent website
August 25, 2023
monastery, immaculate, conception, monastery, ferdinand, indiana, home, largest, communities, benedictine, women, united, states, located, approximately, fifteen, minutes, from, meinrad, archabbey, convent, immaculate, conception, historic, districtu, national. The Monastery Immaculate Conception is a monastery in Ferdinand Indiana It is home to one of the largest communities of Benedictine women in the United States 2 It is located approximately fifteen minutes from St Meinrad Archabbey Convent Immaculate Conception Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtMonastery of Immaculate Conception June 2008Show map of IndianaShow map of the United StatesLocation802 E 10th St Ferdinand IndianaCoordinates38 13 23 N 86 51 08 W 38 22306 N 86 85222 W 38 22306 86 85222Area190 acres 77 ha Built1883 1883 1887 1915ArchitectKlutho VictorArchitectural styleRomanesqueNRHP reference No 83000122 1 Added to NRHPJuly 13 1983 Contents 1 Convent of the Immaculate Conception 2 Conservation 3 Sisters of St Benedict of Ferdinand Indiana 4 References 5 External linksConvent of the Immaculate Conception EditConstruction on the new monastery locally known as the Castle on the Hill was begun in 1883 on a hill east of Ferdinand known as Mount Tabor and completed between 1886 and 1888 3 4 The first part of the monastery completed was the quadrangle the sisters residence A large addition was added in 1903 The monastery chapel was designed by St Louis architect Viktor Klutho Construction started in 1915 Work on the interior was not completed until 1924 The chapel s Gothic high altar was surmounted by statues imported from Munich representing the Immaculate Conception Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica Other large statues represent some of the noted saints of the order 4 The pews were hand carved by German artisans The Stations of the Cross were carved in Munich as were the 47 stained glass windows Eighty nine angels adorn the church in stained glass statues and carvings 5 Conservation EditIn 1983 the Monastery and other outbuildings and structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Convent Immaculate Conception Historic District 1 The complex includes the main building constructed in 1883 1887 A major expansion to the complex began in 1915 and includes the Romanesque Revival style convent chapel 6 3 Sisters of St Benedict of Ferdinand Indiana EditIn 1861 Fr Chrysostom Foffa OSB assumed the duties of pastor of St Ferdinand Church He persuaded the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary of the Woods to teach in the parish school but they did not have sufficient German speaking sisters to meet the needs of the parish 7 He then approached the St Walburg Monastery in Covington Kentucky Four sisters arrived in August 1867 As the sisters community grew they also took up teaching in the parish school at Fulda and Saint Meinrad In 1870 they opened Academy Immaculate Conception later renamed Marian Heights Academy a boarding school for girls 8 Marian Heights Academy closed in 2000 In 1871 the Benedictine Sisters of Ferdinand became an independent congregation In 1872 the sisters purchased sixty four acres of farmland adjoining the convent grounds to provide some necessities In 1878 four sisters from Ferdinand established a mission at Standing Rock Indian Reservation in South Dakota The chief occupation of the sisters was teaching in each parish they also had charge of the vestry and altar linens The sisters were engaged in the preparation of church vestments and skilled in silk and gold embroidery The motherhouse published a monthly newsletter Die Taube to keep sisters at various missions in touch and informed Up until the First World War German was the language commonly spoken at the monastery Proud of their German heritage some German phrases are still found in common use there In 1914 St Benedict Normal College was founded to train teachers Eventually sisters taught in more than seventy five schools in twelve states and five countries 8 In 1956 St Benedict admitted laywomen and in 1960 the college began admitting men but ultimately closed in the spring of 1970 Monastery of the Immaculate Conception Ferdinand IndianaOur Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove Indiana was founded as a daughter house of Immaculate Conception 9 Although the abbey faced declining numbers in the late 20th century this trend has since reversed 10 11 The Benedictine Hospitality Center is located at the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception In 2016 Benet Hall on the monastery grounds was converted into fifteen affordable senior citizen apartments The apartment building serves persons 55 and over that meet certain income requirements The sisters Simply Divine Bakery produces a variety of baked goods according to traditional German recipes these are sold in the monastery gift shop There is also a kitchen garden The academy s former art building was rented to the privately owned St Benedict s Brew Works which opened in August 2015 12 As of 2019 there were 134 members of the congregation 13 Their apostolates include teaching serving in parishes offering retreats providing health care counseling working with immigrant populations and helping the homeless the poor and those recovering from addictions References Edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Dubois County Visitors Center amp Tourism Commission Monastery Immaculate Conception Town of Ferdinand Community Profile PDF a b The Catholic Church in the United States of America Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness Pope Pius X V 1 3 Catholic editing Company August 3 1914 via Google Books Covenant of the Immaculate Conception Monastery Discover Indiana Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database SHAARD Searchable database Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology Retrieved October 1 2015 Note This includes Sr Mary Dominic and Douglas L Stern May 1982 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Convent Immaculate Conception Historic District PDF Retrieved October 1 2015 and Accompanying photographs and map St Ferdinand History Welcome to Christ the King Parish the home of St Ferdinand and St Henry Churches a b History Monastery Immaculate Conception Retrieved May 13 2016 About Us olgm Exploring Indiana s Historic Sites Markers amp Museums 1310366098 Paul R Wonning Monastery Immaculate Conception Founded in 1867 the Castle on the Hill the Dudine Mary Frederica O S B The Castle on the Hill Centennial History of the Convent of Immaculate Conception Ferdinand Indiana 1867 1967 Milwaukee WI Bruce Publishing Co 1967 St Benedict s Brew Works Offers Unmatched Experience Great Beer Plenty of Nuns November 1 2016 Sisters of St Benedict elect 14th prioress Dubois County Herald External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Ferdinand Parish Immaculate Conception Historic District Convent website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monastery Immaculate Conception amp oldid 1169254851, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
