BSC breaks ground for rebirth of Little Portion Hermitage

Groundbreaking -- John Michael and Viola Talbot, founder and foundress of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion, break ground on Oct. 4 for the rebuilding of Little Portion common buildings and Charity Chapel. Photo by Chip Ford [Order this photo]

As St. Francis of Assisi meditated on the cross of San Damiano and received a message to "rebuild my Church," so the Brothers and Sisters of Charity broke ground for the rebuilding of Little Portion Hermitage in Berryville on Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis.

Father "Bob" Dombrowski, Chaplain at Little Portion, blessed the building site with holy water before the groundbreaking ceremony began, the same site of a devastating fire on April 28, 2008, which destroyed the buildings, but not the spirits of about 30 monastic members currently living at the monastery, nor the hundreds of domestic members living in the world, but not of the world, in their own homes.

John Michael Talbot, Founder and General Minister of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, gave the invitation for all to consider this their monastery and to come and enjoy the beautiful and peaceful setting.

National and international church and civic leaders were on hand and letters of congratulations coming from as far away as Rome were read. Talbot thanked God for the past 25 years and said, "We celebrate breaking ground for a new building and look forward to the next 25 years."

The design will be simple, in the California mission style, and when completed, will be the most green-sensitive monastery buildings to date.

Talbot remarked, "One of the ways we rebuild or repair is to commit and to keep those commitments." During the community's 25th annual General Gathering last weekend, new ground was also broken with the reception of one new novice, seven making temporary profession and four making public, life professions of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.