A group of enclosed Carmelite nuns in rural Pennsylvania is constructing a sprawling stone monastery designed to stand for one thousand years, largely built by their own hands. The Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Fairfield is scheduled for completion by 2041 with an estimated cost of 100 million dollars, kath.net reported, citing the New York Post.
Building a Thousand-Year Stone Monastery in Fairfield
The vision behind the project belongs to 41-year-old Mother Thérèse of Merciful Love, the daughter of a firefighter from Massachusetts. The nuns lay the foundations brick by brick themselves, balancing construction work with their spiritual duties, gardening, and caring for livestock. For heavier tasks, the community enlisted New York architect Riccardo Vicenzino and local contractor Joe Bonifate, who is also responsible for the financing.
They are very good students. Good Arbeitsmoral. They come on time and take instructions very well,
Bonifate said of his holy workforce,
according to the New York Post report. If I only could find more teams that have taken a vow of obedience and are working toward something bigger than the next paycheck, I would be well set.
The complex incorporates strict architectural rules set by Mother Thérèse, forbidding any mass-produced materials. Even the nails must be hand-forged, supplied by a blacksmith in Kentucky. Other materials include Pennsylvania fieldstone, local timber, lime mortar, slate roof tiles, copper downspouts, and handmade bricks from North Carolina.
Life Without Modern Utilities on the Construction Site
The monastery features no electricity, heating, air conditioning, or running water. Vicenzino explained that the design is loosely inspired by the medieval city of Ávila and 18th-century stone farmhouses in the region. The project also includes a 6,7 Meter deep underground ice house designed to store ice blocks year-round between layers of sawdust, to be transported to the main building by pony and wagon.
The nuns live directly on the active construction site. It can be an amusing part of our day when you want to go to morning Mass and you have to make sure you don’t get crushed by the telehandler,
Mother Thérèse told the New York Post.
Tradition and Tension With Rome
Construction began in 2018 after several years of preparation. Six buildings are currently finished, representing about one-third of the total project. Funding relies primarily on small donations. About 14 women currently live on the property, with that number expected to reach roughly 50 upon completion.
The community traces its origins to the 16th-century reform of Saint Teresa of Ávila. Following persecution in Mexico and the Cristero War in 1926, nuns of the order fled to Nebraska; the Fairfield Carmelites are an offshoot of that community. They maintain strict enclosure and the traditional Latin Mass, which has sparked tensions with Rome in recent years, particularly over the 2018 document Cor Orans that restricts the autonomy of contemplative monasteries. The nuns now operate under the relatively restrained jurisdiction of the Bishop of Harrisburg and continue to reject the Roman directives.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Fairfield Carmelites
Who is funding the 100 million dollar monastery project?
The construction is funded primarily through small donations, with local contractor Joe Bonifate also responsible for the financing.
What animals live on the monastery grounds?
The vegetarian community keeps sheep, cows, chickens, pigs that consume waste, a donkey named Fidelis, and a Border Collie named Noel.
When is the monastery expected to be finished?
The sprawling stone complex is scheduled for completion by 2041, with about one-third of the overall project finished so far.
Keep reading