Saint Benedict Appeal

The following is the 2026 Saint Benedict Appeal Letter from Abbot Gregory Boquet, O.S.B.

Dear Friends,

Psalm 24 reminds us that, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers.”

The Rule of St. Benedict instructs that stewardship, stability, and reverence form the foundation for a monastic ethic of care for the land. This commitment to stewardship encourages our community to know their local environment deeply and cultivate the land so that they leave it better off than when they found it.

Nestled on the banks of the Bogue Falaya River, the Abbey grounds are a place of serenity that we are honored to care for. The monks and the dedicated grounds workers diligently address both the aesthetic needs of lawncare and landscaping as well as the more arduous requirements of the land, like erosion and proper drainage. As a nonprofit, we are blessed to have obtained state surplus machinery that assists us in erosion control and drainage improvement efforts. This equipment would have been impossible for us to purchase on the retail market. Now we seek funding to build a shelter to protect that equipment from the elements. You can see in the pictures of the old barn, significant renovation and expansion is necessary to properly house the machines and equipment that we must wisely steward. It will take an estimated $150,000 to improve and enlarge the existing space.

Through this St. Benedict appeal, I ask for your prayer and that you also consider offering your financial support as we work within the constraints of the natural contours of the land to address our immediate need to engage expert services to advise and assist us in constraining the loss of land through erosion that threatens some of our roadways and buildings. I have enclosed pictures of the damage that is occurring. The rift that is pictured was once as wide as a drainage ditch in a residential neighborhood. We could step across it easily and go on our way. Now in places, it stretches up to 30 feet and threatens the road that gives us access to the back of the property where forestry and trail maintenance activities are conducted. This access was used four years ago when heavy equipment was needed for a small forest fire that occurred on our land. Now, that access is threatened by erosion. We must act quickly and prudently to ensure passage for fire prevention and emergency evacuation if that is ever necessary.

On behalf of all the monks here at Saint Joseph Abbey, I thank you for your friendship, prayers, and support as we strive to uphold Benedictine values and be worthy stewards of the land that God has given us. Be assured of our prayers for you and your family, and I pray that your work and prayer will be fruitful through the intercession of St. Benedict and provide you daily with strength and blessings.

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: Saint Benedict Appeal

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