August 15, 2018 Voices Page 1 Regina Laudis in Bethlehem As Work Continues, Abbey Gives Thanks by Jean Dunn a number of safety issues, includ- BETHLEHEM — People think ing increased handicapped acces- of the Abbey of Regina Laudis sibility and a new HVAC system; as an oasis of calm, a place of added four new sleeping cells prayer and contemplation nes- and renovated others. tled in the hills of Bethlehem. New Horizons Phase II has In actuality, the past 10 been decidedly more dramatic, months at the Abbey have been involving not only continued ren- anything but peaceful. ovations, but the demolition and Phase II of the New Horizons rebuilding of major areas of the Project, a major renovation of the monastery. factory building that has served Among the areas demolished the monastic community since was the Abbey’s beloved chapel, an its founding more than 70 years intimate worship space used daily ago, began last fall, with all the by those within the monastic com- earth-moving, hammering and munity and countless others who ear-splitting activity inherent in sought it out over the years as a a job of that magnitude. place of prayer and spiritual peace. “We’re in the midst of framing According to Mother Telchilde, right now,” said Mother Alma the new chapel is coming along well, Egger, project manager. “It’s with the post-and-beam ceiling Verdi Construction Company continues work on Phase II of the New going very well. Verdi Construc- installed and the cupola in place. Horizons Project at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, including tion has given us May 1, 2019, as “We wanted to preserve the the demolition and rebuilding of much of the original factory building a finish date.” warm, intimate feeling of the old that has served the monastery since its founding more than 70 years ago. “Our main setback has been the chapel that was accessible to so At the project’s half-way point, members of the Abbey’s coordinating team weather,” said the Rev. Mother many people over the years,” she report that work is on track towards a May 1, 2019 completion date. Lucia Kuppens, Abbess of Regina said. “Although the new chapel Laudis since 2015. “In the winter will be different — there will be we had a lot of snow. Now we’ve much more light — it will still be wall which will incorporate some ‘Pray and Work.’ million is needed to complete the had a week of rain. But on the a place where people can come and stained glass from the old chapel. “The on-site crew has been entire project, including all the whole, we’ve been pretty lucky. have a chance to rest and pray and In the completed building, visi- a really friendly, personable furnishings for the new building. “When they told us they’d be fin- feel some peace during their visit.” tors will have easy access to the group,” said Mother Alma. “They The chapel alone will need choir ished by May 1, we were delight- Many of the artistic features of chapel, the parlors [partitioned told us, ‘if you have to get some- stalls for the monastic community, ed,” she said. “We’ll still have to the old chapel, including the sta- rooms where members of the where where we’re working, let the grille, construction and instal- move back in, but the structure tions of the cross, handcarved by public may speak with nuns] us know. We’ll figure out a way lation of stained glass windows should be finished by then.” the late Mother Placid Dempsey and the new Monastic Art Shop, for you to get there and be safe.’” and seating for the congregation. Mother Abbess, Mother Alma, from local cherry wood, will find directly from the new entryway. “Our construction team is doing a The Abbey of Regina Laudis, Mother Telchilde Hinckley and a home in the new one. “Many people still stop by really masterful job,” said Mother which tends to hover at close to Mother Angèle Arbib are together The colorful stained glass image wanting to go to the Art Shop,” Abbess. “From the very beginning, 40 members, currently numbers leading the New Horizons Proj- of Our Lady by Mother Praxedes said Mother Telchilde. “They’re everything has been done sequen- 37, including six novices and one ect, which began with Phase I in Baxter that marked the former looking for crafts and cheese and tially so that we can keep doing postulant. 2013. The four gathered recently entrance to the building has been medals. We’re looking forward to what we do until the last possible Unlike many similar groups, to reflect on what they agreed has preserved and will be installed in having the new Art Shop open moment. They make sure there’s whose numbers dwindle as older been a positive experience so far. the chapel’s east wall to catch the as soon as we can. We definitely always someplace to move into.” members pass away, Regina “It’s disrupted everything,” said rays of the rising sun. plan to have it come back and be The entire project is designed to Laudis remains a vibrant, strong Mother Angèle, “but joyfully!” Mother Alma is in the process of even better than before.” address long-standing problems community with young women Phase I of the project addressed designing a window for the west In addition to the new chapel and enhance safety and accessibil- continuing to join. and art shop, renovations will ity for both residents and guests. “The young ones are so excited yield a new refectory, a new “Now we have a nicer approach about this building,” said Mother library, a slightly enlarged kitch- to the abbey, a wider driveway, Abbess. “They’ve been very much en and a new bakery, print shop, marked with signs,” said Mother a part of it. They feel so hopeful sewing rooms and music rooms. Abbess. “Parking should be more that they have a future here.” “The center of the new build- accessible. The entrance to the “We’re doing it for them,” said ing will be a large, open atrium abbey will be more welcoming, Mother Alma. “They’ll take it that will draw light into the cen- beautifully lit.” into the future.” ter of the building,” said Moth- “Benedictines are very devot- The nuns also expressed the com- er Telchilde, noting that some of ed to the mission of hospitality,” munity’s thanks to architect Paul that light will fall into the chapel. said Mother Angèle. “A lot of the Maggi and Verdi Construction. Another major objective of spaces were designed with our “Paul Maggi was so considerate Phase II is to turn a portion of guests in mind: the guest refecto- of our particular life,” said Moth- the old living quarters into a ry, the chapel very much so, the er Alma. “He spent quite a bit of full-scale infirmary, combining art shop very much so. time with us before designing the six small, individual rooms into “It’s important for people to plans.” three larger ones, with space for realize that we are a center of “In addition to the excellence a nurse’s station and laundry. prayer, but we’re not isolated,” of their work, everyone at Verdi A rear view of the monastery building construction “To have a real infirmary, we she said. “For all the people who Construction is so aware of at the Abbey of Regina Laudis shows the new chap- need hospital beds, reclining have been so kind during this making us be able to continue el rising in the foreground. In photo below, Mother chairs, rolling tables to bring project, we hope we will be able our work,” said Mother Angèle. Alma Egger (left), monastic site construction direc- meals, room for a doctor or a priest to share it with them in the ways “They’re almost constantly going tor; Reverend Mother Abbess Lucia Kuppens and to come in,” said Mother Angèle. we can. We’re a cloistered com- out of their way to help us. Mother Angèle Arbib, development director, review “We’re trying to establish a munity but our guest houses are “Between Verdi Construction specifications in the new chapel construction. space where people who are sick filled all the time. It’s a focus and Paul Maggi, we’ve been very, will feel peaceful,” she said. “We that’s very important to us.” very blessed.” don’t want them to think some- The four expressed a deep grat- The entire community is look- body will have to run out and itude to all those who have sup- ing forward to the day when they rent a bed for them if they get ported the New Horizons Project can welcome guests into the com- sick. A certain feeling of safe- over the years. pleted building. ty comes with knowing we are “People have been incredibly “I think people will still rec- equipped for what befalls us.” generous,” said Mother Abbess. ognize the Abbey,” said Moth- “When we look at the concept “It’s overwhelming. It’s been a er Abbess. “The arches, the dor- drawings that we started with, blessing to see how many people mers, the materials, the art — it and then look at the building want to have a center of prayer will be new but also familiar. going up, it’s remarkably simi- here and they depend on it being “At some point we’ll have an lar to what we imagined it would here.