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Monasteries | Abdij Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Nazareth - Brecht (B)
Abdij Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Nazareth
Our Lady of Nazareth Abbey, founded June 25, 1950, has 23 sisters at present. They operate three businesses where all the work is done by the sisters themselves: “Trapp;” an atelier where banners and flags are made; and a liturgical vestment atelier. In addition there are many other non-lucrative monastic activities, including work in the kitchen, the infirmary, the bakery, the laundry, as well as bookkeeping and housekeeping chores.
"Trapp" is a small-scale soap industry begun in the early 1960’s, ten years after the foundation of the monastery when there were still a lot of young sisters and they were searching for a source of income for the community. They began making a detergent containing ingredients which could all be produced within the monastery. Later, bubble bath, shampoo, and a floor cleaner were added. A few years ago they also added bars of natural toilet soap to their assortment of products. Up until two years ago, all the ingredients had been produced within the monastery itself, but now the sisters buy a number of the ingredients in bulk (such as coloring, scents, and additives) and then complete the production process and packaging themselves. Most of the production is done by hand.
There is a Banner and Flag Atelier in the monastery where hand-crafted banners and flags are made to order. This is one of the few remaining ateliers for this traditional art form in Flanders.
The sisters have a small Monastery Store at the entrance of the monastery where they sell their own products as well as greeting cards, candles and books. |