Cloistered sisters were not permitted to speak or engage in social activity. They were expected to work with their hands and pray, often hand-making the communion bread for all of the parish churches. The nine external sisters were permitted to interact in a social environment. These sisters often handled the business of the monastery and sold the goods that had been made.
In year of 1963 a fire occurred inside the sacristy. After the fire, this area was completely destroyed, with melted organ pipes and statues that had crumbled to powder. The sacristy was fully rebuilt and more areas were added during this time. During the year of 1980, it became difficult for the sisters to maintain the building and they planned to move to smaller quarters. The Monastery was sold in December of 1983. The Poor Clare Sisters of Evansville relocated on July 7, 1984, exactly 85 years and three days from their arrival. At this time, the sacred remains of 58 nuns were removed from the crypts under the sacristy and moved to their new West side location.
Soon, a realty company acquired the building and prepared to turn it into a shopping center. When this did not happen, rumor was that the building would possibly be torn down. As the Poor Clare Sisters became aware of these plans, they began to pray that the site would be spared and used as it was originally intended – for God’s work.
An Evansville man by the name of Jim Ludwyck learned the property was for sale and saw its potential. In 1986 Jim Ludwyck donated the property to Bethel Temple Church with the provision that it would be used as a ministry. When the sisters discovered what Bethel planned to do with the grounds, they said their prayers had been answered. Bethel spent the next four years renovating the building in preparation for its purpose.
No one could deny that this place would be the right location for a successful outreach, especially Pastor R. R. Schwambach, who came to the building for the first time before it emerged as a ministry. Prior to visiting the property, Pastor Schwambach had a dream about providing an inner city mission in a building with a beautiful staircase, just like the one in the Life Center. He was convinced!
In 1990 Bethel Temple Church turned the property over to an independent Board of Directors that represented twelve multi-denominational churches throughout Evansville. The Monastery is now the home of The Evansville Christian Life Center, whose dedication to the restoration of people through Christ has reached thousands of people in our local community.
