Benedictine nuns launch $1 million appeal

Benedictine nuns at the Abbey of St. Adalbert in Staniatki, Poland, have launched an appeal to raise $1 million by Dec. 31, 2026. The community needs the funds to complete the Benedictine Heritage Cloisters preservation project. An October inspection revealed that the deadline for completion is Dec. 31, and the community cannot secure an extension.

The project, which began in 2018, aims to create a museum, library, and exhibition spaces to protect religious and cultural treasures. These items include rare manuscripts, sacred paintings, liturgical vestments, and historical musical scores, such as the first recorded notes of Polish Christmas carols.

The total cost of the project has risen to nearly $7.1 million due to construction challenges, pandemic delays, and increased costs following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While the European Union provided nearly $1.8 million in funding, the abbey faces the risk of having to repay millions in EU funds if the project is not finished by the deadline.

Mother Stefania Polkowska, the abbess, stated that the community cannot resolve the situation through their own means alone. The abbey, founded in the early 13th century, is the oldest Benedictine convent in Poland.