The Mariastein monastery urgently needs money
The million-dollar investments such as the redesign of the forecourt cannot be borne by the Benedictine monastery. Now the abbot is hoping for sponsors.
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The Mariastein Monastery faces an uncertain future.
Photo: Lucia Hunziker / Tamedia
Plant manager Theres Brunner makes it unmistakably clear: “If we don’t do anything, the Mariastein Abbey is at risk.” Endangered means that the maintenance of the historical walls would no longer be guaranteed and a pilgrimage in the known form could no longer be offered.
Abbot Peter von Sury showed how it can happen when there is not enough money on a tour of the grounds at the neighboring Hotel Jura, which had to file for bankruptcy last April. It can already be seen that the building is suffering from its condition due to its emptiness. The corona pandemic is also affecting the monastery. No guests could be received for weeks, which not only affected life in and around the monastery, but can also be felt in the monastery coffers.
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