Lawrence Journal World in Lawrence, Kansas

Monks Run Bakery as Lifeline of Genesee Abbey

The Abbey of the Genesee in Pirraro New York sustains itself through Monks Bread with 50 000 plus loaves weekly and over 2 million dollars in annual sales supporting the monastery and missions in Africa and Latin America. Brother Patrick Ryan 52 and Brother Augustine explain the balance of prayer work and production during Holy Week. The 40 or so monks maintain a life of poverty while the lay bakery staff handles production in three shifts on the Genesee Valley 2500 acres setting, preserving a 1 000 year monastic tradition.