The foundation and mission of Subiaco Abbey and Academy are built on faith, prayer, and partnership. From our very beginning, we have been united in our worship and good works with our donors. The continuing stewardship of those gifts and blessings sustains and advances the Subiaco ministries for the future.
Recognizing and thanking those who support the ministries of Subiaco Abbey & Academy is a large part of the stewardship we practice. The monks created The Raven Assembly to acknowledge and identify the generosity and practice of stewardship by our donors. The Raven Assembly board is displayed in the upper-level foyer outside the Development Office in the Main Building.
Platinum Raven: The Platinum Raven recognized those benefactors whose cumulative contributions reach $100,000 or more. The donor’s name is displayed on the Raven Assembly Memorial.
Golden Raven: The Golden Raven is offered to those whose combined gifts range from $25,000 to $99,000. The benefactor’s name is placed on the Raven Assembly Memorial.
Silver Raven: The Silver Raven acknowledges any contributor whose total gifts range from $10,000 to $24,999. These members’ names are placed on the Raven Assembly Memorial.
Bronze Raven: The Bronze Raven is given to donors that made gifts totaling between $5,000 and $9,999. Each Bronze Raven member’s name is displayed on the Raven Assembly Memorial.
The raven is closely associated with the life of St. Benedict. On one occasion, a jealous clergyman sent him a portion of bread for his meal. Benedict had been warned that it was poisoned. He told the raven to take the bread away and bury it so it would harm no one. The raven did as instructed, then returned and was rewarded.
The ravens that appear in the abbey’s coat of arms carved on the Raven Assembly Memorial are also associated with the life and death of St. Meinrad and they represent the two monasteries of Maria Einsiedeln in Switzerland and St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana who cooperated in founding Subiaco Abbey.
After the fire of 1927, which destroyed most of the abbey, the community set about rebuilding. It was then that Abbot Edward Burgert decreed that the daily Conventual Mass would always be offered for the benefactors of the abbey. Much physical growth has taken place since this first appeal; each time through the generosity of Subiaco’s donors. Daily when the monks celebrate the liturgy, all of these people are still remembered. The embracing of our many friends at the Mass does not end at the altar but extends throughout the day to the many apostolates the monks perform for the glory of God.