Monastic Heritage Center Opens to the Public

May 7, 2011 marked the Grand Opening of the Monastic Heritage Center at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia. Friday night 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 new Visitor Center with exhibits on the history of Monasticism, a renovated & stabilized Historic Barn originally occupied by the Monks in 1944 whick houses exhibits on the history of the Holy Spirit Monastery and details the daily life of the monks, a massive stabilized and restored Gallery Barn that was originally built by the monks and houses pottery & tools for sale for the Bonsai trees that the Monastery sell, a greenhouse and Bonsai sales area where visitors can purchase bonsai trees and plants, a contemplative cafe garden, a Bonsai Garden that displays the Monastery’s personal collection to the public, as well as a memorial plaza and a prayer walk to the Abbey Church.

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 and hopes to soon get to 100% so they can begin the process of building a new retreat house. Visit www.Trappist.net to learn how you can support the Monastery’s Capital Campaign.