Priory History

Partially based on a history written by Pat Wolcott, President of the Priory Board 1989, and on an article, “House of Spirits,” by Stacey Morris in the January/February 07 issue of Adirondack Life magazine

In the summer of 1974, Rev. Paul Roman, the diocesan coordinator of religious education in the North country, was invited by Bill Aiken of Chestertown to “climb a mountain.” At the top was one hundred acres of vacant land beckoning to humanity’s need for solitude, respite, and contemplation.  Rev.Roman hung a medal of St. Benedict on a beam of the sagging barn and returned to Brant Lake to tell two of his friends of this discovery.

These two friends of Father Roman, diocesan priests Rev.John Kerwin and Rev. Michael Neaton, were living on Brant Lake in the caretaker’s home of camps Jogues and Gibbons, loaned to them by Hobard Rosen.  Bishop (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany)  Broderick had recently granted them permission to establish a monastic community where they could lead a life of contemplation, work and service as well as keep an open door for anyone who needed to enter.  They needed a permanent site and the mountaintop was ideal.

The priests purchased the land and soon began construction, aided by Winnie LaRose, a philanthropist from Lake George who loved the Adirondacks.  Many volunteers rallied in this effort and the “Priory of St. Benedict” community was born, a salt and pepper mixture of religious and secular, clergy and laity.

On July 11, 1979, Bishop Howard Hubbard dedicated the building, grounds and community to “ora et labora”  (prayer and work).  Meanwhile the focus of the Priory was shifting  from that of a contemplative, monastic community to one of a spiritual retreat center.  As the lay community grew in numbers, the Priory’s reputation also became known, especially for the annual Monks Festival which quickly became a North Country tradition.

In October 1984, the Priory’s chapel was completed and dedicated by Bishop Hubbard.  The Priory had hundreds of visitors annually for liturgies, retreats, and renewal.

By 1985 change was imminent. As the last member of the original religious community left to follow a new vocation, the faithful members of the lay community began to discern anew their purpose.  Rev. Robert Powhida, a diocesan priest then in Glens Falls, recognized the tremendous commitment and giftedness of the people and volunteered to be their spiritual director in his “spare time.”  He was a regular celebrant at Priory liturgies through the late 1980s.  

In June 1987, Sister Connie Messitt, CSJ became the retreat director of the Priory.  She had come from Connecticut and was making a shift from a career in elementary education to working with people to cultivate their spirituality. Her proposal to the Priory’s board of  directors was to  convert the house into a year round center for people of all faiths.  Under her guidance, the Priory continued its ministry as a spiritual center.  In June 1989 Sister Francis Gilchrist, CSJ joined the Priory community as a co director.

By July 1989 the Priory had evolved into a one hundred acre Roman Catholic retreat center, house of prayer, and North Country conference center.  The Priory offered directed and non-directed retreats, spiritual direction, and liturgies.  It was staffed by Sisters Connie and Fran, and a large community of lay volunteers. The roster of programs they offered grew to overnight retreats, weekend workshops, and full or half day classes.  The classes ranged from soul collage composition , humor and spirituality, parenting, book clubs and film series, and even a study of St Ignatius sixteenth century treatise, Spiritual Exercises.  As spiritual directors and certified professionals,  Sisters Connie and Fran  worked with individuals and groups on such issues as grieving and life transition, and how to pray more effectively.  The Priory also began to host many groups who used the space for their own retreats and events.

In 2005 Sister Fran retired from full time work at the age of seventy-four, but stayed on at the Priory to lead occasional workshops and served as the Priory’s resident gardener. She kept herb and perennial beds and raised organic vegetables in large olive barrels.  The garden’s produce was used to prepare simple, healthful communal meals for the sisters and the Priory’s guests.

Pat Mousaw, a Queensbury resident and layperson with a masters degree in theology and a spiritual director in the Albany Diocese, replaced Sister Fran as co director.  Mousaw remained in that position until the end of 2007.  In September of 2008, Sister Karen Lee, CSJ was hired as associate  director, but served in that position only until February 2009, when she returned to her home province in Brentwood, New York.  In May of 2009, Sister Fran left the Priory to continue her retirement in residence at the provincial house of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in Latham, NY.

With the challenges presented by staff and operational changes, the Priory’s Board of Directors embarked on a comprehensive and diligent process of strategic planning in 2009.  They focused on maximizing the physical and financial resources of the Priory and finding new and creative ways to sustain the programs and operation of the Priory.  

Outside groups of volunteers such as the summer service program for teens, Youth Works, started coming to the Priory for a week or a weekend of work, and have helped with many major projects such as interior painting and lawn and grounds work.