Welcome!

We are a small Cistercian monastery, with the community consisting of: a Prior-Administrator, an abbot emeritus, two ordained priests in solemn vows, one brother in solemn vows, two simple professed and one novice. The Abbey is located on five hundred beautiful acres of woods and farmland in rural southwest Wisconsin, near the town of Sparta. Spring Bank was originally founded in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, in the late 1920’s. The community moved to its current, more secluded location in the mid-1980’s. Since that time the community has built the first wing of a traditional monastic quadrangle, which includes a chapel, refectory, public parlor, business offices, a monastic recreation room, monastic cells and guest rooms. The architecture is a modern interpretation of the traditional Cistercian monasteries of 12th century Europe. A monastic church is planned in the future, followed by two more wings of living space as necessity dictates. We also have a six-room hermitage, the Hermitage of St. Conrad, on the scenic Mississippi bluffs near the town of De Soto, Wisconsin. The hermitage is used by the monks for private retreats, juniorate outings, and vacations.

The monks of Spring Bank place great importance on their liturgical prayer life. The liturgy of the Hours is sung to Gregorian Chant in the Latin language. The Eucharist is celebrated according to the novus ordo , in Latin, with concelebration as the norm. English is used for the readings at Mass (including the prayers of the faithful), and the readings of the Vigils, Compline, Chapter, and at table. Along with the community liturgy at prescribed hours, time is allotted in the horarium for private prayer and lectio divina. The monastery Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours are open to the general public. Many people also come to the monastery for the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Spring Bank has just begun a new house industry: an imaging supplies purchasing group called Laser Monks. We provide new compatable and recycled laser toner and ink jet cartridges and other high tech printing needs to a variety of businesses and institutions. Our pricing offers considerable savings, especially to Catholic organizations. This industry entails various duties for the monks- phone sales, bookkeeping, promotion, and eventually the remanufacturing of toner cartridges in our own workshop. The monastery also supports itself with financial investing, real estate, forestry and rental of farmland. When not involved in remunerative work, the monks are occupied with the daily running of the monastery, clerical work, studies and hospitality.

If we were asked what is the mission statement of our community, or even what is the purpose of our existence, the monks of Spring Bank would answer: to lead the best monastic life possible according to the Rule of St. Benedict and the Cistercian tradition. Prayer and work - ora et labora - is our credo. A monk’s purpose in life is to seek God and praise him, in both public and private prayer and in his work - to further build up the kingdom of God here on earth and give hope for the life to come. A man who may be drawn to the monastic life at Spring Bank might ask himself these questions: Am I seeking God and willing to dedicate my life to Him? Am I called to the charism of the monastic life according to the Rule of St. Benedict and the Cistercian tradition? And finally, Is God calling me to this community, with its current struggles and future dreams? I think I can say with all humility, that the monks of Spring Bank offer an affirmative “yes’’ to the above questions. Please remember us in your prayers, that God will send more vocations our way, and give us the grace for a constant renewal of the monastic spirit.

Yours in Christ,