Peace Abbey Seeking Donations To Avoid Foreclosure

The Peace Abbey on North Main Street in Sherborn has announced that they are currently seeking donations to avoid foreclosure in the coming months.

The property is owned by the Life Experience School in Millis, a school for special needs children founded in 1972. 

“The school owns the property and created the Peace Abbey. So the financial crisis of the school impacts on the ability of the Peace Abbey to continue,” said founder and director of the Peace Abbey and Life Experience School Lewis Randa.

Randa sent out a letter to shareholders and supporters of the Peace Abbey, which was founded in 1988, to let them know of the financial situation of the school and the Peace Abbey property.

"Middlesex Savings Bank, which holds the Life Experience School mortgage ($63,000) and the line-of-credit ($303,000) has notified us through their attorney that we are in default and have been given 30 days to resolve our financial impasse. We are moving forward with a forbearance agreement with the bank that will put a hold on the monthly payments through the end of May," Randa said in the letter.

In order to avoid foreclosure the organization is left with two options: Either pay off the $366,000 by May 31 or sell one of the buildings on the property that serves as their conference center.

“The fact is we’re in default and when you’re in default you have to solve that by either coming up with money or sell the property,” Randa said in an interview.

“We’re just hoping through [spreading the word] here in our area, especially the Dover-Sherborn area, where we can attract somebody who sits on a board or a family trust that might be able to help us,” said Randa.

The property will be appraised on Thursday and the conference center building will likely be on the market in the next two weeks, according to Randa.

“This building used to be Sherborn Library and the town hall for Sherborn for a while,” said shareholder Karl Schlotterbeck.

“Mother Theresa visited this building and that’s what led to the loan to purchase the property that the Peace Abbey is in,” Randa said.

The organization has faced foreclosure in the past and was able to raise the funds necessary to continue operating.

“Word got out and people rallied and we found foundations and family trusts that would assist. Perhaps, most importantly Yoko Ono,” Randa said.

Randa said they have received several emails from people who will spread the word about trying to gain support.

“It’s probably going to take the right person at the right time who sees it and is able to come through and help,” Schlotterbeck said. “It’s a great place that’s touched a lot of people.”

To make a donation to the Peace Abbey you can go to their website or email Lewis Randa at lewisranda@gmail.com.