Some twenty-five years ago, we began “Building Something Beautiful for God, A Monastery to Last a Thousand Years.” This ambitious program seems to have struck a chord in the minds and hearts of many, as its realization has prospered through the grace of God and the intercession of Our Lady.
An impressive set of buildings—unfinished as of yet, but promising to be truly beautiful—has risen from the ground alongside the limpid waters of Clear Creek, and we now foresee the possibility of completing this great architectural vision in the not-too-distant future, thanks to your sacrifices, prayers, and material assistance.
Of course the main purpose of a monastery is not in the buildings, but in the brothers. The human community of men consecrating their lives to God was always our principal goal. Beginning with 13 founders, we intended to build a community of about 60 monks.
Today our monastery counts 70 members, although some are helping elsewhere and one is pursuing higher studies in Rome. It is true that the spiritual element precedes the material setting. However, especially in the Benedictine way of life, the setting has a critical influence on souls.
In this perspective, we are currently engaged, not merely in the effort to construct another portion of our abbey, but to complete the project. The images accompanying this letter, drawn directly from the actual architectural plans, will put before your eyes an exact likeness of this great work.
In 2001 we began designing our church and other buildings with the help of the much-regretted Thomas Gordon Smith, professor of Notre Dame University and head of his own architectural firm out of South Bend, Indiana. Over the years, in close collaboration with the monks, he brought his beautiful and striking vision of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey to reality, together with the Manhattan Construction Company of Tulsa. After Thomas’ passing in 2021, William Heyer, a former student of Thomas Gordon Smith, took up the project, adding his own architectural talents to the emerging vision.
Beauty is not the only dimension we are dealing with. Because of an abundance of vocations to the monastic life, we have often been short on space to accommodate the number of young men seeking to enter our community. Even now, despite completing in 2023 our most recent residential building, needed space is lacking. We really need to fill out and complete the master plan, so that, as far as possible, we are never forced to turn away any authentic vocation.
One surprising and happy development that has occurred here in the past several years has been the Three Hearts Pilgrimage, under the patronage of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Most Chaste Heart of Joseph, a pilgrimage that finishes each year at our abbey.
This pious and popular movement attracted, first dozens, then hundreds, and now thousands of pilgrims from all over the United States of America and the world. At a time when Catholics are surrounded by a highly secularized and decadent society, especially in Europe and the United States, it seems quite fitting that the faithful set out on pilgrimage, like so many of our ancestors in past ages of the Faith, in order to express in prayerful action, the noblest aspirations of the soul: caritas Christi urget nos.
So, in consideration of all of the above, I have a brief message for you, a message I hope will touch your heart and move you to play your own part at this momentous season in the life of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey. The message is simple: we need your help. I would encourage you to pray about how you can courageously support the young men who are coming to Clear Creek to live a life of prayer and penance for you, your family, the Church, and the world.
br. Philip Anderson, Abbot of Our Lady of Clear Creek
Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey
5804 W Monastery Road
Hulbert, OK 74441-5698
Phone (918) 772-2454
