In the years immediately following World War II, the number of monks at Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky had dramatically increased. In 1947, at the invitation of Bishop Duane G. Hunt of the Catholic diocese of Salt Lake City, the abbot of Gethsemani decided to send a group of monks to establish a new monastery in Utah. A generous gift enabled Gethsemani Abbey to purchase 1640 acres of land with water rights several miles east of Huntsville for the sum of $100,000 (a considerable amount at the time).
On July 7th, 1947, thirty-four monks boarded a train in New Haven, Kentucky and made their way to Ogden, Utah. On July 10th, 1947 they reached their newly-purchased ranch and established the newest American Trappist monastery, named for Our Lady of the Holy Trinity. For over a year the founding monks lived in primitive war-surplus army barracks during the construction of their Quonset-hut monastery, itself intended to be only temporary until a permanent building could be built. More than fifty years later, this temporary monastery complex is still in use
It has become more and more evident that the existing temporary Quonset quadrangle no longer meets the present or future needs of the community. The community of the Abbey of the Holy Trinity realized that its options were few: to continue to maintain the present outmoded facilities, sell the property and relocate the community to some other part of the country, or construct a new monastic complex on the present property. After careful thought, discussion, research, and prayer, the community voted to remain at Huntsville and design, fund, and construct a new building complex.
A number of critical reasons motivated the monks decision to build a new facility: The present structures have simply outlasted their useful life. Despite being well-maintained by the community, the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components of the building are antiquated and obsolete. The existing facilities do not lend themselves to further additions, remodeling, or upgrading.
The monks wish to enhance their ongoing participation in the fifteen-hundred year tradition of monastic hospitality. For over fifty years, the Abbey has served countless thousands of persons in their search for peace and spiritual renewal by offering the opportunity of spending prayerful, quiet days in a monastic setting. At the moment, only fourteen guests or retreatants can be accommodated at one time in facilities that are glaringly inadequate by todays minimum standards of comfort and privacy. A new, larger guest facility, open to men and eventually women retreatants, will enable a greater number of persons to reap the spiritual benefits of a short-term exposure to the monastic environment provided by the Abbey.
A new monastery is required if the monks are to remain and function in their present location.
