In the market for a monastery?

HOWLAND — Downsizing is a way of life these days, and sometimes it affects places that might not readily come to mind.

Queen of Heaven Monastery, 8640 Squires Lane N.E., home to a Byzantine rite of Benedictine Sisters, is for sale.

Sister Margaret Mary, prioress, confirmed the sale and added that there are interested buyers.

“We want to be good stewards of what we own,” she said. And because of that, the decision was made to sell the monastery that the order built 38 years ago. The nuns moved into the monastery in December 1969.

Sister Margaret Mary said the order has seven nuns at the monastery; the highest number had been 16. “We’re facing what so many others are: the lack of vocations,” she said.

The prioress noted that this order of Benedictines is the only independent Byzantine rite in the world. The order is in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, but not governed or financed by the archdiocese.

The monastery has hosted private retreats and spirituality days. But the building and grounds are simply too big and not cost-efficient for the order.

Sister Margaret Mary said the property is 10.2 acres. The main building, the monastery, has 25 bedrooms and 22 bathrooms, along with a wing that houses a chapel. The main building also has a dining room, commercial-style kitchen, recreation area, offices, library and storage.

There’s also another small building on the property, Sister Margaret Mary said, and noted it was once used as an early-learning center and after-school program.

The property, which features five front lots facing Squires Lane, is located across from Forum Health Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital. The property is zoned R-1 for single-family homes, schools, churches or institutions such as nursing homes and assisted living.

For more, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com