Assumption Abbey: A Monastic Stay (August 22, 2012)

From New Salem we rode to Richardton, ND.  We rode interstate 94 for about twelve miles.  It was a little nerve wracking because of the speed of the trucks passing us, but we were on the right edge with rumble strips between us and the traffic; although some of the rumble strips went across much of the shoulder which kind of drove me crazy.  We made good time, but I was ready to get off when we did.  We passed through Glen Ullin and ate some lunch and took a couple of pictures.

This would look cool restored.

Pata under the great eagle of shade.

A rest stop on the way to Richardton

Glen Ullin is very quiet!

Trains ever since New York!

Cow wanted no part of the camera.

The cow refused to look even with persuasive mooing.

Mostly flat roads are good!

Welcome Wagon greets us.

We then made our way to Richardton, ND.  We were told by Ron that there was a Benedictine Abbey there which I found on the internet.  David suggested that we stop there and see if they had a guest room in which we could stay.  (I guess that the Benedictine brothers are known for their hospitality.)  Anyway, as we approached town I saw a building with spires in the distance and wondered if that was the Abbey.  We asked a local man for directions and sure enough it was.

We decide to see if the monastery will allow us to stay.

We are invited to stay and have lunch...we had not been there ten minutes!

We are eating lunch with the monks in their dining hall...and still in our bike clothes!

The dining hall/kitchen is spacious and spotless.

We went into the Abbey at the visitor center which was closed.  It said to call a number on the phone in the East corridor which David did.  A brother came out and greeted us and told us that they were in the middle of lunch and we could join them and go to our room afterward.  

Our bikes are parked safe and dry inside the back porch of the monastery.

We dropped our bicycles on a porch and we went into the dining hall.  Lunch consisted of sandwiches, salad, and fruit.  The bread was homemade and the lunch was very welcome. 

Brother Sabastian who is in charge of hospitality came and told us where our room was and about the times of meals.  He told us that he had spent a lot of time in Bogata Columbia where the order had a school.  He said he had done teaching, coaching, and administration at the school. 

Brother Louie said he arrived at the monastery 28 years ago in  swaddling clothes. What a warm wonderful person!!

This magnificent art was created by Brother Llewellyn, the resident potter/painter and art genius. This particular piece hangs in the dining hall and took 2 years to complete. (c) copyright L. Kouba

Pata walks the monastery in bike clothes - probably a once in a lifetime thing.

Pata posing with a ceramic pot decorated nicely.

After lunch we were admiring an intricate and striking painting on the wall.  Brother Louis came over and asked us about our trip and told us that Brother Llewellyn had painted the piece we were admiring and that he was also a potter.  I mentioned that I used to be a potter as well.  Brother Louis had been at the Abbey since he was twenty-one, “a baby in swaddling clothes,” he joked.  He was open and friendly and spent some time explaining some of the imagery and scenes in the painting.  The painting took Brother Llewellyn two years to finish.  He used pigments from all over the world, as well as gold leaf and gems.  We were awed and amazed at the beauty of the work. 

The monastery halls are immaculate. We were allowed to roam everywhere but the second floor where the monks live.

We were quartered in room 101: simple, clean and peaceful.

A simple bed is good!

Painting of St Benedict in our room.

Assumption Abbey books also in our room on the desk.

I thought this lamp in our room was quite curious.

We finally made our way to our room which was number 101.  It was a lovely space: two simple rooms – a sitting room, a bedroom, and a bathroom.  It was perfect.  One of the Brothers told me there was a place to do laundry as well and showed me where it was in the basement.  We couldn’t ask for more!  We showered and I put the laundry in and we wandered around the Abbey and its grounds. 

Down in the basement is the dispensary. We were not able to meet Br. Elias.

This curious arrangement was in the basement too.

Beautiful painting on the wall of the monastery.

Wine is sold to visitors.

We peeked inside this conference room in the basement.

Very beautiful stained glass in the monastery's chapel.

Another view.

The view of the chapel's ceiling.

Pata stands next to the church organ.

Upon the altar.

St Benedict rendered in stained glass. Magnificent!

Beautiful details.

High up is more stained glass windows.

A stature of Mary.

The chapel was beautiful with stunning stained glass windows.  It also had a lovely statue of Mary which I liked very much. 

We went back to our room and I finished the laundry.  We were supposed to go to dinner at 5:40 and at 4:40 we wondered out thinking it was 5:40.  The time zone had changed on us from Central Time to Mountain Time.  So we walked around some more until dinner time.  We had left the room a bit too early and heard the Brothers chanting in the chapel.  The music was beautiful and gave me goose bumps.

At dinner a Brother came up to me and asked, “Are you the potter from Boston?”  I was a bit surprised but said yes.  He said that he was Brother Llewellyn and the potter at the Abbey.  Brother Louis had told him we were here.  This introduction began the evening of inspiration and artistic journey with Brother Llewellyn. (The next blog entry is about visiting with him and the impression he made on me.) 

Back in the dining hall monks file into the kitchen for dinner. Food is served buffet style.

Br Louie in his habit and wearing his big smile. When you're around him, his happiness is contagious!

Supper started with a group prayer and then we got our food cafeteria style.  It was chicken, mashed potatoes, liver (which I didn’t try), vegetables, salad and bread.  There was also a honey mixture with cinnamon in it.  I put that on my bread and it was delicious.  We sat with Brothers Louis and Llewellyn and had lively conversation about the work that they do at the Abbey – Brother Louis takes care of the cars and the vegetable gardens; Brother Llewellyn is the potter and works with the laundry (or did) amongst other things.  They had both spend the day taking corn off the ears and bagging it to freeze for the winter.  They had prepared 37 gallons of corn that day.  It sounded like a lot of work to me.

We talked about art some and Brother Llewellyn offered to give us a tour of his studio after dinner.  We immediately took him up on his offer.  He had dish duty first but after he was finished he came our room picked us up to go to the studio. 

Beautiful flowers grown by Br. Llewellyn in pagoda pots made by the artist.  (c) copyright L. Kouba.

Pottery piece by Br. Llewellyn

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Before we got to the studio Brother Llewellyn showed us his gardens and outdoor space.  He grew a number of flowers and had a small lemon bush.  There was a space that looked like a little café with a wrought iron table and chairs.  He had made the tiles that created a path through the plants and up to the building. 

Troy washing machine is industrial! Br. Llewellyn gives us a private tour. 

The monastery's blankets are washed in this behemoth.

This machine is a water extractor for the stuff that comes out of the Troy washer.

Br. Llewellyn demonstrates the Troy washer. 

Blankets go into this big opening.

Brother Llewellyn’s studio was above the laundry room and he showed us the old machines they use to wash a lot of blankets and sheets. They were huge and “old school” but they still worked well.  We then went upstairs and got a fabulous tour of the studio as well as Brother Llewellyn’s orchid plants.  (Check the next entry for details.)

Br. Llewellyn's art studio which we were privileged to see in private after our dinner. 

Moon over the monastery after leaving the art studio.

 I loved seeing this brilliant artist’s work and space and felt blessed to have him spend so much time with us.  We had lively conversation about types of pottery, glazing techniques, dyes for rugs, color, gardens, art classes, flowers, and the inherit benefits and conflicts of being an artist and a religious person.  It was fascinating.  We finally had to bid our adieu and go to bed as it was getting late.  However, I went to bed with my head swimming with artistic ideas and connections.

The tower in front of Assumption Abbey.

What an impressive facade. 

Pata stands at the entrance.

View from the side as we took our walk.

The full monastery from the side.

Assumption Abbey is beautiful.

View from the street.

We were so blessed to have stopped at Assumption Abbey. The kindness and  caring we were shown is unsurpassed.

In the morning we packed up and went to breakfast which was in silence.  After breakfast, we saw Brother Llewellyn who said I was a lovely Japanese lady, and told David that he “was lucky to have me.”  I thanked him again and got back on the bicycles and on the road.  It was an amazing experience that I will cherish.