St. John’s Abbey Celebrates Church’s 50 years

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (AP) - The monks of St. John's Abbey celebrated on Sunday the 50th anniversary of the dedication of their famous Abbey and University Church in Collegeville.

Marcel Breuer was lead designer and architect of the church. According to the book "Saint John's at 150," Breuer's design was chosen because of his "unassuming, attentive style."

The church, dedicated in 1961, includes a 112-foot-high concrete bell banner out front. The church is built almost entirely of concrete and reinforced steel with a honeycomb-like pattern of stained glass windows. The altar is at the center of the cavernous church.

The celebration included a Eucharist liturgy at the church with Abbot John Klassen; a concert by the Westminster Cathedral Choir of London; and a solemn evening prayer.

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