CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina college has been raising funds to enrich the campuses higher education experience.

A new campaign goal will help leaders eventually build a new monastery to further support its Benedictine monks community. 

What You Need To Know

  • Belmont Abbey College reached its original Made True capital campaign goal two years early
  • The dollars are helping enrich the higher education experience
  • The college has increased its capital campaign goal so they can also build a new monastery for the monastic community

In February, Belmont Abbey College announced it reached the $100 million Made True capital campaign goal, two years ahead of the college’s original timeline.

According to a press release, the campaign focuses on strengthening the college's offerings, which includes academic enhancements, growth of the college’s endowment to reduce student’s reliance on federal aid and programs geared to help students graduate debt-free.

Belmont Abbey says the success of the capital campaign resulted in the college increasing its goal to $150 million.

The additional $50 million raised will establish endowed chairs, scholarships for the Honors College and a build a new home for the monastic community. 

The current monastery is on campus. It’s home to the monks, men with educational backgrounds that are embracing the Benedictine vows of stability and fidelity to the monastic way of life and obedience.

The monks, often seen on campus, are helping to enrich the student experience, supporting them throughout their educational and spiritual journey.  

Brother Leo is one monk at Belmont Abbey College, and he said he knows from experience how important the monastery is for students during their higher education years. 

As a student, Brother Leo connected with Abbot Placid Solari, a Benedictine monk and chancellor of Belmont Abbey. 

“I met him when I was a child through my parents because I grew up in this area,” Brother Leo said. “He became the person I wanted to go to, if I needed someone to talk to or if I needed life advice.”

He said the monastery has been around for over 100 years.

“Most college campuses don’t have monks on campus. Young students are pulled in different directions. It can cause a lot of anxiety. I think the monastery is an oasis of peace, where they can talk to someone, pray with someone who has devoted their life to God,” he said.

But like any historic building, Brother Leo says the structure needs some upgrades. 

He says a new monastery will help the monks continue their good works, for decades to come. 

“I think it symbolically communicates to the community that we’re here to stay,” Brother Leo said. “We’re continuing to live in this community [and] we’re not going anywhere.”

Belmont Abbey says the existing historic monastery will eventually be refurbished and put to use by the college.

Belmont Abbey aims to reach the $150 million goal in 2026, which commemorates Belmont Abbey’s 150th anniversary.

 

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