May 7, 2011 marked the Grand Opening of the Monastic Heritage Center at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia. Friday night, we kicked off the celebration with a private donor recognition dinner that included a tour, entertainment, and several guest speakers including the Abbot and Vince Dooley.
The facility includes a newly constructed Abbey Store & Cafe, a Visitor center, a Historic Barn, a Gallery Barn, a Greenhouse and Bonsai sales area, a contemplative cafe garden, a Bonsai garden, and a plaza and prayer walk. The Historic Barn was originally occupied by the Monks in 1944. It now houses exhibits on the history of the Holy Spirit Monastery and details the daily life of the monks.
The Bonsai Garden displays the Monastery’s personal collection of Bonsai trees. At the Greenhouse, visitors can purchase Bonsai trees and plants. Then at the Gallery Barn, which was originally built by the Monks, visitors can purchase pottery and tools for the trees.
All this completes the first phase of the Monastery’s master plan to help the Monastery become self sustaining.
Financially, the project has received only 50-60% of the cost in donations. They hope to soon get to 100%, so they can begin the process of building a retreat house. Visit www.Trappist.net to learn how you can support the Monastery’s Capital Campaign.
Read the full write up on the Monastery’s website here.
Read the Georgia Bulletin article, and view their image gallery of the grand openning event.
Check out more photos of the project here:
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Hi! I just came back from an overnight at the monastery and what you did there is BRILLIANT. I am going to write about it next Sunday on FoodShed Planet (www.foodshedplanet.com). Are you applying for LEED certification? If you get a moment, please email me at sustainablepattie@comcast.net. I’d also like to talk with someone at your firm about this project, if possible.