St. Bernard Abbey will welcome the public this weekend as it commemorates its 125th anniversary in Cullman, hosting a series of free events on the abbey grounds in east Cullman. 

In celebrating the many milestone events throughout its long history, the abbey will also add a new one: Sunday’s grand opening of the freshly-renovated Liberal Arts Center and Heidrich Library. 

“What they have done with this building is magnificent,” said Joyce Nix, St. Bernard Prep’s director of marketing. “It’s absolutely gorgeous. I’m probably partial — but I think it’s the prettiest building in Cullman County, and the guests we’ve had who’ve had an opportunity to tour it already have just been amazed. It’s a wonderful new asset for our school, and a first-class resource for our current and future students.”

The weekend-long celebration will afford guests the opportunity to tour areas of the abbey grounds normally reserved for students and retreat guests, said Nix. “We’re treating it as an open house, and we’re delighted to share our facility with the community.”

Longtime Cullman residents may be familiar with much of the Abbey’s rich history, from the broad appeal of the Ave Maria Grotto to the recent successes of the St. Bernard Prep School and the annual Bloomin’ Festival.

But the Abbey’s history goes back much further. In the 1840s, monks emigrated from Germany’s Metten Abbey to establish a Benedictine presence in the United States, and to minister to the growing German-speaking immigrant population here. 

St. Bernard was itself established by monks who came to the Cullman area in the 1870s from St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. In 1891 the monks gathered to establish St. Bernard Abbey; a year later, they opened the abbey’s first school. The industry and dedication of succeeding generations of monks has helped the abbey grow and flourish throughout the ensuing decades. 

Here’s a schedule of the events St. Bernard has lined up for the weekend:

Saturday, Sept. 24

St. Bernard will kick off its 125th Anniversary celebration at 9 a.m., and again at 1:30 p.m., by offering a walking trail tour of the campus and its buildings. The tour will begin in the Abbey Church or the trailhead at 9 a.m. Campus tours are free to the public.

A family fun celebration and luncheon will be held on the athletic complex at 11:00 a.m. The cost is $10 per person, or $25 per family, and will feature an entree of hot dogs, accompanied by chips, drink, and ice cream. There’ll also be kickball, and games of the like. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and enjoy their hot dogs in the sun.

The 125th Gala will take place at 5 p.m. in the Fazi-Richard Athletic Center. The $100 per-person, cocktail attire event will celebrate the monastic life at St. Bernard. Cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m. The St. Bernard Jazz Band will entertain during the dinner hour, with music and dancing afterward.

Sunday, Sept. 25

St. Bernard Prep will host the Library Rededication, Blessing, and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 2:30 P.M.  After a year of renovating the Heidrich Library, the public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m. as the new facility is rededicated and blessed. A light reception will follow. 

While on campus, visit Ave Maria Grotto, which will remain open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission rates apply.

St. Bernard Prep students will perform a sacred music concert in the Abbey Church at 7 p.m. The concert is free to the public. 

 

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.