Grant catalyst for housing project at St. Gregory’s

Pottawatomie County Commissioners have approved a $100,000 grant to PULS Housing from the Pottawatomie County Economic Development Fund. The grant will be used toward the installation of a fire sprinkler system in residence halls formerly operated by Saint Gregory’s University. 
 
Rt. Rev. Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., abbot of Saint Gregory’s Abbey expressed gratitude for the grant. 
 
“We wish to thank County Commissioners Melissa Dennis, Abby Thompson and Greg Rush for their support and encouragement for the mission of PULS Housing Initiative.”
 
PULS Housing Initiative is a 501(c)3 non-profit established in 2024 by Saint Gregory’s Abbey. Its mission is to develop and facilitate affordable housing in Pottawatomie County for populations with special financial need. With donated labor provided by Saint Gregory’s Abbey, and funds from both public and private sources, PULS Housing is refurbishing facilities once used as student housing at the former Saint Gregory’s University, which closed in December 2017. This will result in a total of 108 two-bedroom suites suitable as housing for workforce and educational development.
 
Abbot Lawrence explained, “This generous grant provides significant funding that will enable us to move forward with plans to partner with The Caring Collective of Pottawatomie County in its mission.” 
 
The Caring Collective provides housing and other services for young people who are aging-out of foster care programs. 
 
“We recognize the important work of The Caring Collective and are excited to be associated with their efforts. We hope that the grant will inspire other organizations and individuals to help us raise an additional $250,000 needed to complete the project,” said Abbot Lawrence. 
 
Beginning this summer, The Caring Collective will utilize part of a 32-unit wing of Duperou Hall to provide housing for young people who are at high risk of homelessness as they make the difficult transition from foster care to independent living. The Caring Collective provides the young people with stability, workforce training and job placement. Some 50 percent of young people without this type of support during their transition to independent living experience homelessness or incarceration.
 
PULS Housing Initiative continues in a centuries-old tradition of hospitality. 
 
“The monks of Saint Gregory’s Abbey are concerned about the well-being of our neighbors who have special needs. PULS Housing Initiative is named from the Latin word meaning ‘to knock’ that Saint Benedict used in his Rule for Monasteries when giving instructions for how to receive newcomers, guests and pilgrims when they knock at the door of the monastery,” Abbot Lawrence explained. “This seemed like the natural name for our desire to facilitate affordable housing for our neighboring population.” 
 
Saint Gregory’s Abbey regained ownership of the historic campus of its former university in June 2024. Since that time, the Abbey has invested more than $500,000 toward restoration of the property to repurpose the facilities. The Abbey first opened the Abbot Mark Braun Retreat House, which has hosted close to 1,000 retreatants in its first year of operation. The Sarkeys Performing Arts Center also has been used as a performance space by local organizations, including most recently North Rock Creek High School. More information on how people can support PULS Housing Initiative or Saint Gregory’s Abbey is available at (405) 878-5296 or [email protected]. 

Photo: The residence halls at the former St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee. Photo Theresa Bragg/St. Gregory’s Abbey.