St. Paul's Abbey
Encyclopedia
St. Paul's Abbey is a Roman Catholic
Benedictine
monastery
in Newton, New Jersey
. It was founded by Father Michael Heinlein, a monk of the German Archabbey of St. Ottilien, as a monastery on March 15, 1924.
Agricultural and community work are the two most important activities of the monastery. Growing hay
and Christmas tree
s as well as helping in local parishes, hospital work, and a myriad of other jobs keep monks actively involved in the local community. Several monks have also served in missions in Africa
.
on May 2, 1936 and later to abbey
on June 9, 1947.
In the late 1970s, St. Paul's Abbey ceased to operate and fell into disrepair. In 2000, the remaining monks asked for permission from the governing Ottilien Congregation
to leave and start looking for new homes at other abbeys.
The story of one of the monks, known as "Brother Marinus
", inspired Father Kim of the Waegwan Abbey in Korea
to provide help in restoring the monastery.
Roman Catholicism in the United States
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope. With more than 68.5 registered million members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population...
Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Newton, New Jersey
Newton, New Jersey
Newton is a town in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 8,244. It is the county seat of Sussex County....
. It was founded by Father Michael Heinlein, a monk of the German Archabbey of St. Ottilien, as a monastery on March 15, 1924.
Agricultural and community work are the two most important activities of the monastery. Growing hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
and Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
s as well as helping in local parishes, hospital work, and a myriad of other jobs keep monks actively involved in the local community. Several monks have also served in missions in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
History
The monastery was promoted to the grade of conventual prioryPriory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
on May 2, 1936 and later to abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
on June 9, 1947.
In the late 1970s, St. Paul's Abbey ceased to operate and fell into disrepair. In 2000, the remaining monks asked for permission from the governing Ottilien Congregation
Ottilien Congregation
The Ottilien Congregation, often also known as the St. Ottilien Congregation and as the Missionary Benedictines, is a congregation of religious houses within the Benedictine Confederation, the aim of which is to combine the Benedictine way of life with activity in the mission field.-History:The...
to leave and start looking for new homes at other abbeys.
The story of one of the monks, known as "Brother Marinus
Leonard LaRue
Captain Leonard LaRue , later known as "Brother Marinus", was the skipper of the SS Meredith Victory, a United States Merchant Marine cargo freighter that was involved in the largest humanitarian rescue operation by a single ship in human history...
", inspired Father Kim of the Waegwan Abbey in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
to provide help in restoring the monastery.