New chapel for Beech Grove Benedictine sisters blessed in May 16 liturgy

Archbishop Charles C. Thompson blesses members of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove during a May 16 liturgy in their new chapel. The archbishop blessed the chapel and dedicated its altar during the liturgy. (Photos by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

BEECH GROVE—The Rule of St. Benedict, written some 1,500 years ago, continues to call the men and women of today who seek to follow the monastic way of life envisioned by the sixth-century Italian abbot to “prefer nothing to the work of God.”

For Benedictine monks and sisters, “the work of God” is the Eucharist and the daily common praying of the Liturgy of the Hours.

The 18 months of building a new monastery and chapel for the Benedictine sisters of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove reached its culmination during a May 16 Mass when Archbishop Charles C. Thompson blessed their new chapel and dedicated its altar. (Related: See a photo gallery from the Mass)

In remarks at the end of the Mass, Benedictine Sister Julie Sewell, Our Lady of Grace’s prioress, described the liturgy as “a key moment in the history of our community.”

After quoting what the Rule said about the importance of “the work of God,” Sister Julie went on to note that the chapel is “paramount because it is the location where this, the most crucial work, happens.”

“The presence of God is celebrated daily in our prayer, and as a community we encounter Christ in the Eucharist and in eucharistic adoration,” she continued. “When you think of a Benedictine home, there is not a more important, more significant space or central space to our life together than the chapel.”

In his homily during the Mass, Archbishop Thompson spoke about the altar that he would moments later dedicate by prayer, spreading chrism oil across it and burning incense in a brazier upon it.

“For the Benedictine community, this altar is the center of life, faith, hope, charity, worship, community, ministry, service, meaning and purpose—in sum, identity and mission,” he said.

Archbishop Thompson then encouraged the Benedictine sisters to relate what happens on the altar to their ministry and the witness of their lives as women religious.

“May each of our lives prove as worthy as this altar in beholding the real presence of Jesus Christ in witness to a world in desperate need for a renewed sense of the sacred beauty, truth and goodness of the divine at work within and among the human condition,” he said. “Jesus Christ, our hope and salvation, remains ever present to us in this most holy Eucharist.

“May we never lose our way to the altar, the center of the universe for all who gather, live, visit and pray on this sacred ground of Our Lady of Grace Monastery.”

The $24 million project of building a new monastery and chapel for Our Lady of Grace began in November 2025 after maintaining the community’s original home, built more than 60 years ago, had become an increasingly excessive burden for the sisters.

The community welcomes visitors to join it for its daily praying of the Liturgy of the Hours. Morning Prayer is prayed at 8 a.m. on Monday-Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Evening Prayer is prayed daily at 5:15 p.m. and is combined with Mass on Wednesdays. Mass on Sunday is celebrated at 11 a.m.

Visitors coming to the monastery at 1402 Southern Ave. in Beech Grove should follow signage to parking and then access to the chapel. For any questions, call 317-787-3287.

After the May 16 liturgy, Sister Julie expressed her gratitude for the many people who made the construction of the new monastery and chapel possible.

“It’s the people of God, our generous donors, who have made this happen,” she said. “We wouldn’t be here without them. I and all of us want to live faithfully our commitment in this beautiful space that we’ve been given.” †