The Abbey of Regina Laudis

Toni Kellers
Southeastern Pa. Correspondent

BETHLEHEM, Conn. — The nuns’ daily lives are directed by a bell. When it rings, at special times during the day, the Abbey takes on the aura that one expects to see — black-robed figures gathering at the church or chapel, gliding quietly into their places behind the grille of the cloister. Their music is spectacular — the beautiful tones of Gregorian Chant weave in and out of their services.

But this is only one side of these nuns, who operate a 400-acre farm in rural Connecticut. The farm includes a small dairy herd of Dutch-belted cows, a beef herd of Belted Galloways, a yoke of oxen, a flock of Shetland sheep, bee hives in a bee garden, and extensive vegetable and flower gardens. They make their own hay. They provide the major portion of their own food from their farm. They tend to their farm chores in habits of denim, and brightly colored bandana scarves cover their veils. They are the Benedictine nuns of The Abbey of Regina Laudis.

My first visit several years ago was to choose two ram lambs from the flock as sires in my small flock of sheep. At the time I really did not understand the full scope of this amazing place. As I went back for more visits I learned more about the Abbey. The Benedictines consider hospitality their gift to visitors.

And in return they hope that we will help with chores as we are needed. I usually am assigned to Mother Jadwiga, the shepherdess, and have picked fleeces, pulled pasture weeds and mended fences. Friends who have accompanied me have picked blueberries, weeded flower beds and helped with the sheep chores.

On this last trip I learned even more. The Abbey has interns who come there for .700a year, or even two, to live and work, learning specialized farm skills such as dairy work or butter- and cheese-making in their Dairy of Distinction.

The nuns have various degrees and skills which make them experts in their fields.

My friend, Mother Jadwiga, is a talented tapestry weaver who is just now completing a beautiful tapestry for their church inspired from a drawing by Mother Placid. Mother Placid also created the powerful Stations of the Cross in the chapel. Her niece, Mother Praxedes, was the artist who is responsible for the beautiful stained glass window over the entrance to the main building of the Abbey.

One nun just completed her forestry training and is qualified to do tree work complete with ropes and saws. An intern, Brother Iain, is a talented potter, and his work is for sale in their tiny gift shop along with other hand-made products. They have been sent to Europe to study cheese-making (their Bethlehem cheese is one of my favorites) and to study Gregorian Chant with Dr. Theodore Marier at Catholic University. There are many advanced degrees among these 37 amazing women.

On a recent four-day stay I was delighted to be there when a Dutch Belted calf was born, and there was general rejoicing, as she was a heifer who followed two bull calves. At the end of that week they were cutting their first hay crop. It takes a minute to get used to a denim-habited nun driving a John Deere tractor and baler. By the time I got there they had cut, tetted and raked, and were well into the baling. I counted five nuns on the ground (their baler does not have a kicker) along with four young people, some from the intern group.

They gathered the bales together and then loaded the trucks as they came around, drove to the barn, and had it all loaded into the barn within a few hours after lunch.

Their devotion to their church and to their work is impressive. And lest you think that all they do is farm, you need to remember that when that bell tolls they stop seven times during the work day (and once in the night!) to gather for prayers and thankful singing.