Building Our Father's House
The MonasTery of St. Joseph
and Fathers Shrine
Ava, Missouri
Building for the Future of the Church
Our First Foundation
Since our 1995 founding, our community has been a witness of hope for the Church, attracting many young and zealous vocations. Shortly after the elevation of the Motherhouse in Gower, Missouri to an Abbey, the Sisters experienced such expansive growth, that it became needful to branch out. With the invitation of Bishop Edward Rice, of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, eight Sisters followed the call of the Lord to southern Missouri, to expand our order and mission. Since then they have grown to 19.
The watchword of the Benedictine order is pax, or peace. The word ornaments Benedictine entry ways and provides the header for all their written words. The purpose of a monastery is to create a space where God is loved and adored in an ordered life of peace, manifested especially in monastic silence and the world-renown Gregorian Chants, sung in their ancient splendor each day. Everyone is welcome to visit the monastery, attend the prayers, and experience an other-worldly peace, a peace which can then be brought back into the world, diffusing light and hope to many.
Since our 1995 founding, our community has been a witness of hope for the Church, attracting many young and zealous vocations. Shortly after the elevation of the Motherhouse in Gower, Missouri to an Abbey, the Sisters experienced such expansive growth, that it became needful to branch out. With the invitation of Bishop Edward Rice, of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, eight Sisters followed the call of the Lord to southern Missouri, to expand our order and mission. Since then they have grown to 10.
The watchword of the Benedictine order is pax, or peace. The word ornaments Benedictine entry ways and provides the header for all their written words. The purpose of a monastery is to create a space where God is loved and adored in an ordered life of peace, manifested especially in monastic silence and the world-renown Gregorian Chants, sung in their ancient splendor each day. Everyone is welcome to visit the monastery, attend the prayers, and experience an other-worldly peace, a peace which can then be brought back into the world, diffusing light and hope to many.
Building in the Ozark Highlands
Near the final home of Pioneer author Laura Ingalls Wilder, these Sisters settled in the town of Ava, 32 miles north of the Arkansas border. The Sisters are now staying in a former Franciscan retreat center on the grounds of Assumption Abbey. As young women have continued to knock on the door, a logistical crisis has followed. It was necessary to take on the construction of a permanent monastery and church in the Ozark Highlands. A beautiful 250 acre parcel was purchased outside of Ava in 2021 to begin the process in an ideal place for a new house of God.
Building A New House of God
An Oasis of Prayer
Near the final home of Pioneer author Laura Ingalls Wilder, these Sisters settled in the town of Ava, 32 miles north of the Arkansas border. The Sisters were gracious hosted for their initial years in a former Franciscan retreat center on the grounds of Assumption Abbey. As young women continued to knock on the door, it was necessary to take on the construction of a permanent monastery and church in the Ozark Highlands. A beautiful 250 acre parcel was purchased outside of Ava in 2021 to begin the process in an ideal place for a new house of God.
When the Sisters arrived in Ava, several local families began to attend Mass at their very small chapel, As more families began to hear about the community, and even move to the area, the Sisters rented a building down the road, once used for “Friday Night Jamborees!” They made use of it each Sunday and Holy Day to provide sufficient space for all the laity. The new chapel is especially appreciated for the many sisters and growing local community. They look forward to the day when funding will allow us to complete the church interior. In helping the Sisters with this project, all benefactors have assisted and will assist the needy local church of rural southern Missouri to have a reverent place of worship.
Our First Foundation
The new monastery has been placed under the patronage of Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus, primarily in thanksgiving to him for his powerful, ongoing assistance to the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. To him the Sisters entrusted the construction of the Abbey Motherhouse complex in Gower, completed in 2018 and is free of debt. Now they turn to him again to oversee this new house to be built in his own honor, in remembrance of his spiritual fatherhood to the Church, and to all followers of Christ.
Construction is complete! With joyful and grateful hearts, our sisters moved into their new home in August of 2024. The total cost for the new Priory of St. Joseph was $18 million. We opted to utilize a large gathering space as a temporary chapel, and have postponed the completion of the monastery church interior until a later date.
With your help this house of God has become a reality, and we would be so grateful for any gift to pay the final construction costs and start saving up to finish the Church!
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
- Pledge
Any pledge, large or small will ensure the full completion of the building project. Payments can be made by credit card or check or with cryptocurrency.
- Commemorative naming
Two types of commemorations are available for plaques within the church: Ad Altare Dei in remembrance of priests, and sponsorships of the various furnishings of the church and monastery. Please note your request when making a donation.
- Fathers Shrine
Honor your Fathers, or entrust their souls or their memories to the Sisters’ prayers in the permanent shrine on the monastery grounds. See link below for more details.
- Legacy/IRA transfer
Leave the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles in your will, or transfer funds from an IRA account.
All donations are tax-deductible.
We are Tremendously grateful for Our new MOnastery!
We hope you can visit us in Southern Missouri Sometime!
We are grateful for any gift, large or small!
join us in prayer to good St. Joseph that he will send the benefactors to Finish this House for God in Southern Missouri!
