South Dakota Benedictine abbey closes

Blue Cloud Abbey, a monastery and retreat center in northeast South Dakota, is closing.

Benedictine monks have voted to close the center in Marvin, with a farewell gathering to be Aug. 5. The vote was May 29, sponsors said today.

An announcement from the abbey said the facility is closing because of a lack of vocations and the aging of community members. The abbey has succeeded as a retreat center for groups and individuals, but the monastery has not been able to draw enough new members. No public liturgies will occur after Aug. 5, and all scheduled retreats will be canceled, sponsors said.

via The Eponymous Flower