Saint Joseph Abbey, United States

What it is

A Benedictine abbey founded in 1889 by monks from St. Meinrad and settled at St. Benedict, north of New Orleans, since 1902. Its Romanesque abbey church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007, is covered inside with murals painted by the Benedictine artist Dom Gregory de Wit, who was commissioned in 1946.

What it needs

The abbot's appeal says the exterior mortar of the abbey church has loosened and disintegrated over seventy or more years, and professional assessments have documented rising moisture inside the building. Water intrusion threatens the structure and the de Wit murals on the interior walls; donations pay for waterproofing and sealing the church exterior.

Before you act. The abbey has published no cost, target or amount raised. The appeal was its 2025 Christmas appeal and was still taking gifts when checked; ask how far the work has progressed.

Sources

Last checked 10 November 2026. Parts of this entry could not be fully confirmed; see the note above. Responsible body: Saint Joseph Abbey and Seminary College (501(c)(3), EIN 72-0439000).

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