Blue Cloud Abbey lives once again

Source: American News, Aberdeen, S.self storageD.Dec. 27--With the future of Blue Cloud Abbey uncertain, a few friends agreed that somebody should do something. Seeing no one else step forward, they eventually realized that it was up to them.The nonprofit organization that now owns the old monastery near Marvin is headed by six Catholic couples, half of whom live in Minnesota and the other three in South Dakota.On Dec. 6, the group took possession of the property, which was home to Benedictine monks from 1950 until it closed in May 2012. The property, which totals about 88 acres, is now called the Abbey of the Hills Inn and Retreat Center.In a discussion about passions recently, Jim Heller of Aberdeen realized that his main passion is working in retreat ministry."Nobody goes out and buys an abbey. But we have six couples who just felt this is something we're being called to do," Heller said. "We're kind of waiting to see what this all becomes, where God's taking us in all this. But who is 100 percent sure in where God's taking us?"In the beginning, Wade Van Dover said, buying the old monastery was a novel idea.Stepping back, though, he feels the group was being prompted by the Holy Spirit to take action."Before, it was a fun, exciting adventure. Now in retrospect, I think it was maybe a calling, even," said Van Dover, who lives with his wife, Cindy, in Big Stone City.Attending numerous retreats over the years made the new owners very familiar with the property, which includes two small lakes."It is a beautiful treasure of peace, serenity and solitude," Van Dover said.Several of the property's new owners have ties to Brown County. Van Dover grew up near Westport and graduated from Frederick High School.Jim Heller graduated from Northern State University. He and his wife, Michala, live in Aberdeen.Northern is also the alma mater of both Van Dovers and Val and Paula Rausch, who also live in Big Stone City. Paula Rausch is from Doland. Paul and Julie Treinen, who live in Ortonville, Minn., lived in Aberdeen.Ortonville is also home to another couple, Roman and Carol Taffe. Dan and Michelle Moberg live in Clinton, Minn.Jim Heller, who taught at Roncalli High School for 21 years, now works at Primrose Retirement Communities. His wife, a Roncalli employee, worked at Northern's Newman Center for many years. Except for the Mobergs, whom they've gotten to know recently, the Hellers have known the other couples for 30 years or more.Although the Benedictines will no longer be present, the property's role as a retreat center will continue. Individuals and groups that have attended retreats in the past are welcome. Heller hopes those people realize this "is a place that they can still reach out to" if they choose.Facility's usesVan Dover sees the facility being used by "lots of different groups -- not just Catholic." The facility can also be used for corporate meetings. Heller points out that youth groups and Alcoholics Anonymous have assembled on the property in the past and are invited to continue.Van Dover also sees the facility having an agricultural arm. That could involve growing organic produce. The new owners have purchased 81 head of cattle, the majority of which will be on the retreat center's property. The plan is to raise "natural, grassfed beef," he said. The abbey land used to house cattle years ago, but not for at least 10 years, Van Dover said. The property includes a feedlot.The owners don't have "a political a迷利倉enda, trying to be right or left or any of that stuff," Van Dover said. They just want to be good stewards of the former monastery, the land and the cattle, he said.The owners have also talked about other opportunities to generate revenue. The former abbey has a full bakery, so perhaps the new owners will bake bread. Producing wine is another possibility.Because it's an inn, anybody will be able to spend a night, a weekend or a week at the former abbey.Right now, the only people at the old monastery are the Mobergs and their three children, who are 11, 10 and 6. The family moved there a couple of weeks ago. The property is large and "very quiet," Michelle Moberg said.Her husband does the maintenance, and she plans to do some of the housekeeping and whatever else needs to be done. Dan Moberg has a farm background, which is helpful, Heller said. The Mobergs plan to stay as long as they're needed.The Rev. Denis Quinkert, who was Blue Cloud's abbot, will be around periodically over the next month or two "as he transitions to his next place of residence," Van Dover said.The owners have told all Benedictine monks that they're welcome to return to visit at no charge.Help soughtThe six couples are looking for financial contributions and for more individuals to join them. Assistance is not needed for the purchase price, which Heller declined to reveal. But money is needed for operational expenses, such as keeping the heat on, he said.Heller expects the former abbey to be used consistently, beginning early in 2014. The calendar is starting to fill up nicely, he said.Although the Sioux Falls diocese has not publicly approved of the sale, Heller says the group has the support of the Rev. Paul Swain, bishop of the diocese.Diocese spokesman Jerome Klein said Swain "certainly wants to be supportive of this group as they seek to go forward. He also was very clear, I think, about his desire to make sure people are understanding and grateful of all that the Blue Cloud monks did through the years."Klein pointed out that the first bishop of the Sioux Falls diocese, the Rev. Martin Marty, "was Benedictine himself. So the Benedictine influence in this diocese started at the very beginning, and certainly has been strong throughout the years."The diocese has been blessed by many religious communities, including the Benedictines, the Presentation Sisters and others, Klein said.But the Benedectine influence "runs pretty deep," he said. "And we certainly are grateful for all that they've done and certainly want the abbey to flourish into the future."The chapel at the former abbey has been deconsecrated. The Benedictines made that request simply because the monks weren't going to be there anymore, Klein said. That "doesn't mean it couldn't be reconsecrated at some point," Klein said.Good feedbackThe new owners say they've received good feedback from lots of people. Many have asked what they can do to help. Area priests have been supportive.People are "super encouraged and excited that somebody's doing something," Van Dover said. "We've had some generous donations of hay and those kind of things."The owners know that for the project to succeed, goodwill needs to turn into action."Goodwill only pays the bills so long," VanDover said.Follow @jeffbahr_aan on TwitterCopyright: ___ (c)2013 the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) Visit the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) at .aberdeennews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉