As announced last year, the brethren of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV, have been hard at work completing the first phase of the construction of their new church. Now they are very happy to announce that, with the help of God, they have completed Phase One of the construction process, namely, all of the infrastructure repairs and improvements necessary for the new church to be built.

Over the past year, the monastery brethren have rerouted all the utility lines which previously ran underneath the construction site; upgraded the water drainage system to prevent the extensive flooding, which until now had regularly occurred there after heavy rains; and completed the new land bridge, which will become the main roadway through the monastery once excavation begins. Most importantly, they have completely rebuilt the large rock retaining wall behind the site of the new church, which had been in the process of failing for many years.

With these necessary tasks accomplished, the brethren now hope to break ground and pour the foundation for the new church this spring, and to continue on with construction as rapidly as funding permits. Currently, they have raised over $800,000, in addition to the money set aside from their own business, but they still have a long way to go since the project budget remains at $2.5 million. They are in negotiations with a general contractor who could potentially complete the work by the end of this year, but the limiting factor is now financial.

Please continue to pray for the successful completion of this work, which is so vital for the monks, the pilgrims, and the entire future of the monastery, and prayerfully consider supporting Holy Cross financially as well. If you wish to make a contribution, you may donate on the dedicated Church Fund page on the hermitage website, mail a check to the address below (please be sure to write "Church Fund" in the memo line of your check), or call the monastery treasurer at (304) 840-0585 to make other arrangements.

Holy Cross Monastery
Attn: Church Construction
505 Holy Cross Road
Wayne, WV 25570