We're Havin' a Renewal



One reads about the vacated monasteries and convents but I, at least, don't run into them that often. (Except, of course, the local parish convents which formerly housed the local school's teaching nuns. In this Archdiocese, these are now universally empty or converted to other uses.)

Last Saturday I played for a memorial service held at a "Teen Challenge" retreat facility for a former TC volunteer. I found that the retreat facility had been a Servite seminary up until 1975 or so when it was sold after vocations vanished like the morning dew. Here are a few pictures of this still very beautiful campus. (The quality of the views is not what it might be as they were taken with the camera on my pda. Apologies.)


Approaching from the surrounding area.


The courtyard entrance. The wrought iron gate says "Castillo Isabella"


Taken from the balcony above the main entrance foyer.


Ceiling in the main hall. The picture doesn't do the carved and decorated beams nearly enough justice.


The tower above the main building.


Another view of the same tower.

It could be worse, you know. At least it's in Christian hands. The old Carmelite convent in Long Beach is now a Buddhist monastery.