History ...
       The Lay-Cistercians of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit were founded in 1987 with the coming together of five people under the spiritual direction of two Cistercian monks of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia, Dom Augustine Moore and Father Anthony Delisi. These five, Jacqueline Rychlicki, Linda Boland, Brenda Griffin, Patricia Burke, and William Knouse are considered the founders of this Lay-Cistercian Community. The group chose the name Associate Oblates of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit.
       This small community spent two and one-half years in formation and on March 25, 1990 made their Promises in the Abbey Church. The abbot of the monastery, Dom Armand Veilleux accepted the promises. The Community developed an initial set of Statutes, which were compiled with much prayer and sharing. During the first writing of the Statutes, the Community was guided by the Code of Canon Law (sections 298-329); the charism of the Cistercian Order; the practices of other secular contemplative communities and the vision of the founders. In the year 2000, by unanimous vote, the Community elected to change its name to the Lay-Cistercians of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit. In the year, 2001, the Community extensively reviewed and revised these statutes incorporating aspects of the “Bond of Charity for Lay-Cistercian Groups” which was compiled by the Lay-Cistercians gathered from around the United States at a meeting held the Abbey of Our Lady of the Genesee on October 17, 1999.
       Lay-Cistercians of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit are engaged in ongoing dialogue, and hold a great deal in common with the many Lay Cistercians communities throughout the world.
       In 1998, Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II acknowledged the existence of Lay Cistercians in the context of a letter written to the Cistercian Order commemorating the 900th Anniversary year of the founding of Cîteaux.
       We are deeply grateful for the prayers, spiritual guidance and hospitality that we receive from the monastic community of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit. We pray that someday the Cistercians Order of the Strict Observance will officially recognize us as part of the Cistercian family.