COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – On Tuesday, Dec. 15, the monks of Saint John’s Abbey voted to return a $2 million gift from the Thomas J. Petters Family Foundation for construction of the Petters Pavilion and to remove the name. A new name for the facility has not yet been selected.
The abbey is currently in discussions with the Receiver on the terms and conditions of these payments, which should be concluded soon.
Completed in May 2007, the pavilion is a 3,500 square- foot expansion of the Abbey Chapter House. The two- level addition to the east entrance of the Abbey Church provides lobby space, elevator and stairwell access to the Assumption Chapel in the lower church, restrooms, bride’s and groom’s rooms, storage, and a pedestrian tunnel that now connects the Abbey Guesthouse to the pavilion and church for use during inclement weather. Traditionally used by monks for spiritual conferences and abbey business matters, the chapter house has been equipped with improved acoustics, air-conditioning, and space to accommodate audiences for such programs as the “Sundays at the Abbey” lecture series, and for retreats, workshops, and seminars for both on-campus and off- campus groups.
Designed by the Minneapolis architectural firm Vincent James Associates Architects, both the Abbey Guesthouse and the pavilion have won national and state American Institute of Architects awards in architectural design.
Abbey Statement
December 15, 2009
