St. Procopius Abbey
St. Procopius Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located in Lisle, Illinois. It was founded in 1885. The monastery is known for its dedication of services to the Czech and Slovak communities in Chicago, Illinois, and beyond.
History
[edit | edit source]The abbey traces its origins to 1885, when a group of Benedictine monks from St. Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania took over the direction of St. Procopius Parish in Chicago.[1][2] The parish, established in 1875, served the growing Czech community in the Pilsen neighborhood.[2]
In 1886, a brick priory was built at 1641 S. Allport Street to house the growing monastic community.[2] As the Czech and Slovak communities began to disperse, the Benedictines started acquiring farmland in Lisle, about 20 miles west of Chicago.[3]
Relocation and expansion
[edit | edit source]The abbey moved to Lisle in 1914, focusing on education.[4] By the 1950s, the schools were thriving, prompting the monks to plan a new abbey campus.[4] Construction of the current abbey began in 1968, following delays due to the Vatican II reforms.[3]
Architecture
[edit | edit source]The current St. Procopius Abbey is designed by renowned Chicago architect Edward Dart.[3]
Recent developments
[edit | edit source]In June 2023, Benedictine University officially split from St. Procopius Abbey, becoming an independent Catholic university under the authority of the Diocese of Joliet.[4]
References
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