CHRISTMAS APPEAL

The following is the 2023 Christmas Appeal Letter from Abbot Gregory Boquet, O.S.B.:

Dear Friends,

With grateful hearts, we welcome this time of year of waiting and hoping and extend to you and your families our wishes for a blessed Advent and Christmas season.

Our appeal last year requested assistance with resurfacing our crumbling roads. Through your generous support and donations, we have begun that process and have a working plan to continue this project to completion. With this Christmas appeal, I am asking for your support once again. this time to help us address the most beautiful structure on our campus, is the Abbey Church.   

We are blessed with a campus that in many ways serves as a light for those who may experience darkness in their lives. The best way the monks can continue to bring the light of hope to our community is to continue our devotion to prayer and work. As you know, we dedicate our lives to gathering as a community in the Abbey Church five times a day. In the past few years, forces of nature have presented us with particular challenges as we seek to protect and maintain this place of worship which serves as the beautiful centerpiece of our campus. The church is experiencing major roof issues. As a result, we have observed serious moisture intrusion in the interior of the church that is causing plaster along the walls and upper levels to crack and crumble. Our solemn concern is being faithful stewards of both the physical building and the invaluable paintings by Dom Gregory de Wit that grace this holy space.  We have completed an inspection of the roof, which showed hairline cracks along several seams where the copper roofing meets the tiled areas. Cracks will increase in size if we experience freezing weather winter. We are in the process of securing an architect who will provide an exact scope of work so we can obtain a contractor to complete necessary repairs. For this considerable project, we humbly request your assistance.

Christ is the Light of the World and the sure source of comfort, peace, and joy. Please be assured that your intentions will be remembered by our monastic community during our Christmas liturgies. Join us in dedicating ourselves to be men and women who bring Christ’s light of hope to our community.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Abbot Gregory Boquet, O.S.B.

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Make a check payable to the Saint Joseph Abbey and mail to:

Saint Joseph Abbey and Seminary College
75376 River Road
St. Benedict, LA 70457
Attn: Christmas Appeal

Questions? Contact Debb De Noux at 985-867-2264 or ddenoux@sjasc.edu.