Thanks, that is interesting! The pumpkin bread and candy is apparently made by secular hands and no longer supports the sisters, so we don't see see much point in seeking it out. The treats had a story that has ended, at least for now.
They are all living elsewhere and there is no revenue being generated any longer at this monastery that has been suppressed. What sisters do you think are being supported by this propert, and how?
By the time the monastery closed, more than half the bread-and candy-sales were online-shipped-orders. The gift-shop and the monastery have closed their doors, but you can still call and pick-up, "monastery goodies" at that location.
As always, all profit goes directly to the Dominican Nuns, now at their Corpus Christi Monastery, north of San Francisco, where most of the
last 17 nuns from the Hollywood monastery were relocated. The business belongs to those nuns.
Most of the candy-and-bread production had been greatly assisted by secular hands for a decade or more, as 95% of the sisters were too elderly for the work process. The current supervisor has been involved with this operation for 30 years, so nothing has changed regarding the quality, production, and who is being supported. Please get that straight.
Also, the monastery was under "suppressed" status, soon after the
last nuns left in the early-summer of 2022, but continued to maintain an active chapel with daily-mass with extended adoration-hours until Xmas week, 2023. The Dominicans did not need to do this, but they were trying to find a viable solution for keeping the place.
The monastery's 100th anniversary was March 17, 2024. (I'm sure you've seen the new LA City Council street-sign.) This date also marked the 75th anniversary of the Wallace Neff chapel-opening
in 1949.
Under Canon Law, the monastery does not belong to the Federation but to the Dominican Nuns, most particularly those sisters, who were in occupancy, when it was decided they needed to relocate for health reasons. So the nuns currently hold the ultimate right to sell what belongs to them.
As of mid-June 2023, the Federation and its initial objectives were dropped, after about 15-months of intense searching within the
Order (and among other Catholic Orders and the Archdiocese of LA). The Dominican Federation's Friars and Brothers did not have the funds to make a deal with the nuns, nor are there sufficient numbers in the male-or-female branches of the Dominican Order, which might allow
for any further use of the ex-monastery in the foreseeable future. That's the reality. Church properties across American are closing
their doors, always for similar reasons.
I hope this is helpful. The nuns are having enough difficulties without a willful lack of understanding for where they stand and what has transpired. It's a sad situation... but it is what it is. Don't cause them any more trouble.
I am a Beachwood Canyon lay person, who was closely associated with proposals for how the monastery might be preserved and re-utilized. So I know what I am talking about.
Everything we have published about Monastery of the Angels is based on extensive research and collaboration with interested parties, including canon law experts, concerned neighbors and multi-generational members of the faith community, and our advocacy work has been widely reported. Any concerned citizen has always been welcome to communicate with us and share their concerns and insights. The Monastery of the Angels remains a closely watched preservation advocacy train, and we will continue to inform the community of opportunities to be heard as its future is determined. (Parenthetically, the only new City Council signage at a religious site in the neighborhood that we know of is the Vedanta Square designation, an event we attended. Is there a city DOT sign posted about the Monastery of the Angels? There is no council file associated with that, so we're perplexed. Did some other entity install a sign?)
It doesn't belong to the church, but to the Dominican Federation, which insists it is not for sale and not closing down. But it has closed down, and we believe it is being marketed for sale.
I understand they are presently open on Saturdays.
..based on a face to face, in the store conversation. Got pumpkin bread.
Bread and candy are also for sale in the gift shop at the cathedral downtown, if you need some asap. The parking, tho. $$$ 😐
Thanks, that is interesting! The pumpkin bread and candy is apparently made by secular hands and no longer supports the sisters, so we don't see see much point in seeking it out. The treats had a story that has ended, at least for now.
How very, very sad. I'll see what additional info I can find out next trip. But Saturdays, you can still go by. For now.
Thank you, please do report back and hope you have a good visit.
It does support the sisters. You are totally wrong on that point.
They are all living elsewhere and there is no revenue being generated any longer at this monastery that has been suppressed. What sisters do you think are being supported by this propert, and how?
By the time the monastery closed, more than half the bread-and candy-sales were online-shipped-orders. The gift-shop and the monastery have closed their doors, but you can still call and pick-up, "monastery goodies" at that location.
As always, all profit goes directly to the Dominican Nuns, now at their Corpus Christi Monastery, north of San Francisco, where most of the
last 17 nuns from the Hollywood monastery were relocated. The business belongs to those nuns.
Most of the candy-and-bread production had been greatly assisted by secular hands for a decade or more, as 95% of the sisters were too elderly for the work process. The current supervisor has been involved with this operation for 30 years, so nothing has changed regarding the quality, production, and who is being supported. Please get that straight.
Also, the monastery was under "suppressed" status, soon after the
last nuns left in the early-summer of 2022, but continued to maintain an active chapel with daily-mass with extended adoration-hours until Xmas week, 2023. The Dominicans did not need to do this, but they were trying to find a viable solution for keeping the place.
The monastery's 100th anniversary was March 17, 2024. (I'm sure you've seen the new LA City Council street-sign.) This date also marked the 75th anniversary of the Wallace Neff chapel-opening
in 1949.
Under Canon Law, the monastery does not belong to the Federation but to the Dominican Nuns, most particularly those sisters, who were in occupancy, when it was decided they needed to relocate for health reasons. So the nuns currently hold the ultimate right to sell what belongs to them.
As of mid-June 2023, the Federation and its initial objectives were dropped, after about 15-months of intense searching within the
Order (and among other Catholic Orders and the Archdiocese of LA). The Dominican Federation's Friars and Brothers did not have the funds to make a deal with the nuns, nor are there sufficient numbers in the male-or-female branches of the Dominican Order, which might allow
for any further use of the ex-monastery in the foreseeable future. That's the reality. Church properties across American are closing
their doors, always for similar reasons.
I hope this is helpful. The nuns are having enough difficulties without a willful lack of understanding for where they stand and what has transpired. It's a sad situation... but it is what it is. Don't cause them any more trouble.
I am a Beachwood Canyon lay person, who was closely associated with proposals for how the monastery might be preserved and re-utilized. So I know what I am talking about.
Everything we have published about Monastery of the Angels is based on extensive research and collaboration with interested parties, including canon law experts, concerned neighbors and multi-generational members of the faith community, and our advocacy work has been widely reported. Any concerned citizen has always been welcome to communicate with us and share their concerns and insights. The Monastery of the Angels remains a closely watched preservation advocacy train, and we will continue to inform the community of opportunities to be heard as its future is determined. (Parenthetically, the only new City Council signage at a religious site in the neighborhood that we know of is the Vedanta Square designation, an event we attended. Is there a city DOT sign posted about the Monastery of the Angels? There is no council file associated with that, so we're perplexed. Did some other entity install a sign?)
It's not yours to keep
That's right. It's everyone's.
How is it everyone's? Do you know something, I don't?
Your logic and interest here is difficult to follow.
Clearly it's not everyone's or the church wouldn't be selling it.
It doesn't belong to the church, but to the Dominican Federation, which insists it is not for sale and not closing down. But it has closed down, and we believe it is being marketed for sale.
Yes, the Dominican Foundation was initially involved but
that was settled, over a year or so ago. Now, the place is sole
property of the Dominican Nuns, who were in residence there,
at the time they were moved out. (Per canon law.)
So yes, the place has closed-down, and I understand the nuns
wish to sell. So what's to stop them from doing so? It's private property, which they own. Thanks for explaining how and why
you view this property as, "everyone's to keep" ?
The Dominican Order is part of the Catholic Church