Olivetan Benedictine Roots
Mother of the Redeemer Monastery belongs to the Olivetan Benedictine tradition, a branch of the Benedictine family that traces its origins to Monte Oliveto Maggiore near Siena, Italy. The Olivetan Congregation was founded in the early fourteenth century by Blessed Bernardo Tolomei and his companions, who sought to renew monastic life through a faithful observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict.
The Abbot General of the Olivetan Congregation, Diego M. Rosa, resides at Monte Oliveto Maggiore and provides spiritual leadership to Olivetan communities worldwide, including the monks here in Louisiana.
A Community in the Diocese of Lafayette
Situated in the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, the monastery serves as a center of prayer, work, and hospitality. Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel has visited the community on significant occasions, including the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8.
Over the years, the monastic community has grown and welcomed new members. Br. Laurent made Simple Profession in 2017, and Br. Jude entered the novitiate in 2016. A postulant named Brandon Leblanc also joined the community. The monastery has been blessed by visits from Abbot General Diego M. Rosa, accompanied by Dom Andrea M. Santus and Dom Guglielmo M. Gambina, as well as Abbot Gregory Polan of Conception Abbey.
Milestones & Growth
The St. John Paul II Shrine was blessed in 2016, adding a place of devotion on the monastery grounds. Plans were made for an expansion of the chapel to accommodate the growing community and its guests. A new driveway was created to improve access to the property.
The monastery also maintains an oblate program, through which lay people associate themselves with the spiritual life of the Benedictine community. Fr. Taj Glodd, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Plaisance, became an oblate novice. Retreat groups have visited the monastery, including during March 2016, and a Life Awareness Retreat was held in 2011.
The Olivetan Sisters celebrated their 125th anniversary, and Anne-Christian Heinen became a consecrated virgin — both events marking the wider Olivetan family's vitality. Colombian Bishop Alfonso Cabezas and companions also visited the monastery, reflecting its connection to the broader Church.
The Benedictine way of life, as embraced at Mother of the Redeemer Monastery, is rooted in a rhythm of prayer, work, and community that has sustained monastic communities for centuries. Following the Rule of Saint Benedict, the monks gather throughout the day to pray the Divine Office, balancing contemplative silence with meaningful labor and hospitality toward all who visit. This ancient pattern of life creates a stable, welcoming environment where guests can step away from the busyness of the modern world and encounter a deeper sense of peace, purpose, and connection to God.
The monastery's spiritual heritage carries forward a tradition of renewal and faithful devotion that began in the hills of Italy and now flourishes in the heart of the Midwest. Visitors to the grounds are invited to share in this living tradition through retreats, quiet reflection, and participation in the liturgical life of the community. The monks extend a warm welcome to all who seek a place of rest and prayer, offering a glimpse of a way of life shaped by centuries of Benedictine wisdom and sustained by the joy of seeking God together.