The last post focused on the pasture where we hope to build our campus. Today, we want to share some images of the neighboring field — which we’ve tentatively named in honor of St. Patrick. This is where the boys’ bunkhouses will be built. We decided to set the bunkhouses apart from the campus and closer to the woods so the boys can build community and have a natural space that they have an active role in developing.
Here’s a view leaving St. Peter (campus) going towards St. Patrick.
The two pastures are divided by a tree line that runs their entire length and a wet-weather creek that forms a natural boundary. It’s nothing more than a dip when it’s dry.
The field is slightly higher than the build site and completely surrounded by tress. It really does feel set apart. As usual, it’s difficult to tell the scale and elevation in these pics, but it’s a sizable chunk of real estate. Here’s the view looking east where the bunkhouses will be built in a smaller wooded enclosure (not pictured). Our woods beyond are very deep and ripe for exploration!
And here’s the western view.
The bottom of this pasture runs up against one of the natural springs on our land which, in turn, forms the western most boundary of this field. Having live water on the property was a sine qua non for our site committee when we were looking for land. It’s a criterion that moved Missouri so far up the list of possible sites for the school.
It’s very difficult to see the small pools of water, so you’ll have to look very closely for the reflections in the indentations.
And there beyond the spring and through the trees is the border of St. Sophia: our agricultural land. The boys will follow this route — from their bunkhouses to St. Sophia — every morning to milk the cows and do other morning chores before chapel.
It’s only by the grace of God and your support that we’ll be able to accomplish this great endeavor. Please keep us in your prayers and consider making a donation today to help make this vision a reality. The sooner we meet our financial goals1, the sooner we can build and start educating.
_____
1 Much more on those goals as we get closer to Christmas and launch our Founders’ Appeal
UPDATE 10/12/24: A (slightly) better image of the spring:
