SANTA MARIA AUSILIATRICE DI BELMONT. – Benedictine abbey nullius, popularly called “Belmont Abbey.” On 1 August 1875, a property known as “Caldwell Plantation,” in Gaston County (North Carolina), was offered to the Benedictine abbey of S. Vincenzo in Pennsylvania by Msgr. J. Gibbons, bishop of Richmond. One of the monks, Fr. H. Wolfe, was sent to take possession of it on 21 April 1876, naming the place Maria Stein. Other priests and lay brothers followed him.
Construction began immediately, and the school opened the following September with only 4 students. The first Mass was celebrated in the chapel on 8 September 1877, and at about the same time the name was changed to Maria S.ma Ausiliatrice dei Cristiani. Progress was slow, and in order
1829 S. MARIA AUSILIATRICE DI BELMONT – S. MARIA DI GROTTAFERRATA 1830
to stimulate greater interest in the new foundation, Abbot Wimmer of S. Vincenzo decided to make the abbey independent. The Chapter accepted, and the Holy See confirmed the decision on 9 November 1884. Rev. O. Moosmuller was appointed abbot, but since he declined the election, L. Haid, a Benedictine, was elected in his place on 14 July 1885 and blessed on 26 November of the same year. Three years later he was appointed apostolic vicar of North Carolina, and on 1 July 1888 he was consecrated titular bishop of Messene.
In consideration of the apostolic activity and the work carried out by the monks in the mission fields of North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, the blessed Pius X erected the abbey nullius on 8 June 1910 and assigned to it the eight counties of Catawba, Cleveland, Burke, Gaston, Lincoln, Polke, McDowel, and Rutherford. As the district progressively developed, the work exceeded the community’s capacity: at the abbey’s request, the Holy See ceded the entire original territory, except Gaston County, to the diocese of Raleigh, by a brief dated 8 January 1944. The abbey nullius now comprises only Gaston County, with an area of 363 square miles and a population of 110,706, including 16,000 Blacks. The number of Catholics is 730, including 140 Blacks. There are several chapels and missions, 3 parishes, and 3 parish schools in the district. The monks direct the Abbey College and a military school, respectively, in Savannah, Georgia, and Richmond, Virginia. Bishop Haid died on 24 July 1924 and was succeeded by Rev. V. TAYLORISMO, a Benedictine, who is still the incumbent. The community now consists of more than 60 priests and members of the clergy, and 10 lay brothers.