Assumption Abbey
Assumption Abbey is a Benedictine monastic community in Richardton, North Dakota, serving Catholic retreatants, donors, parish churches, and lay affiliates through prayer, hospitality, handcrafted soap, altar wine, and educational missions in Colombia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1893
- HeadquartersRichardton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Assumption Abbey does
Assumption Abbey is a Benedictine monastic community located in Richardton, North Dakota, founded in 1893 by Swiss monk Fr. Vincent Wehrle, OSB and currently operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization. The community centers its mission on the Rule of St. Benedict — communal prayer five times daily, lectio divina, hospitality, and manual work — and serves multiple constituencies: Catholic retreatants and visitors via on-site hospitality; parish churches in a four-state region through an altar wine partnership with San Antonio Winery of Los Angeles that has produced wine under the Abbey's label since the 1950s; individual donors through one-time and recurring monthly giving as well as a Development Office managing bequests, endowments, and charitable trusts; lay affiliates through the Partners-in-Prayer program (three free prayer installments per year) and oblation; vocational candidates through a Volunteer Program for Catholic single males ages 18-40; and approximately 1,760 students in Bogotá, Colombia through two schools operated by its daughter house Monasterio Benedictino de Tibatí.
The Abbey's tangible product lines are narrow and artisanal: 15 varieties of handcrafted soap at $5.24 per 3.75-oz bar; regional altar wine sold on a royalty arrangement; gift shop merchandise (candles, books, cards, religious articles, homemade bread) sold on-site; a $25 history book; and managed recurring online donations. The website is hosted on eCatholic, a CMS provider for Catholic organizations. There is no proprietary technology stack, no AI/ML capability, no app, and no API. Distribution is dominantly on-site at the Richardton Visitor's Center and Gift Shop (Monday-Saturday 1-3pm or by appointment), with select mail-order for soap and the history book, and an online donation portal. Marketing is organic: a website, Facebook page, quarterly newsletter (archived since 2019), and vocational outreach via vocation stories.
The community is governed by an elected Abbot, currently Valerian John Odermann, OSB, supported by a small named leadership team including a Guest Master, Director of Tours, Coordinator of Groups, and a Pastor serving St. Mary Parish and adjacent parishes. The Abbey has no parent company, no public stock, no venture or private equity ownership, and no funding rounds; it is wholly owned and operated by the monastic community itself. The Colombia priory (founded 1960) and its two schools represent the largest revenue-generating and operational assets under the Abbey's umbrella, though financial figures are not disclosed.
Assumption Abbey firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Assumption Abbey
- Legal name
- Assumption Abbey
- Website
- https://assumptionabbey.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1893
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Assumption Abbey is a Benedictine monastic community in Richardton, North Dakota, serving Catholic retreatants, donors, parish churches, and lay affiliates through prayer, hospitality, handcrafted soap, altar wine, and educational missions in Colombia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Assumption Abbey industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Services / Monastic Hospitality
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Religious Retreats & Spiritual Wellness Travel Agencies (THAKAHAM), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)
Keywords
Where Assumption Abbey is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richardton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Assumption Abbey business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Altar Wine Sales: The Abbey sells altar wine to churches in a four-state area through an arrangement with San Antonio Winery of Los Angeles, who bottles wine using grapes from Sonoma County and Central Coast regions. The Abbey prints labels locally and receives a royalty for the use of its name.
- Soap Sales: Hand-crafted soap sold directly to consumers through the Gift Shop. Fifteen varieties available at $5.24 per 3.75 oz bar. Shipping available across the US with tiered pricing.
- Donations and Charitable Giving: The Abbey is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit accepting one-time and monthly donations online. Development Office manages planned giving including bequests, endowments, charitable gift annuities, life insurance policies, charitable remainder trusts, and retained life estates.
- Gift Shop and Visitor Center Sales: The Gift Shop sells products made by monks (soap, candles), books, cards, plaques, religious articles, and homemade bread. Products are sold on-site only with no online catalog or mail-order.
- Abbey History Book Sales: The book 'Assumption Abbey: Its History and Its Members' is sold for $25 (including $5 shipping and handling) either in-person at the Information Center/Gift Shop or by mail-order check.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hand-crafted monastery soap - 3.75 oz bar |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Abbey History Book - paperback |
| Subscription | Monthly | Charitable donations - 501(c)(3) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Assumption Abbey product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Assumption Abbey is a Benedictine monastic community that sustains itself through prayer, hospitality, and manual work. Its offerings include daily liturgical services and spiritual retreats, handcrafted soap (15 varieties), altar wine bottled under its label, a gift shop, a published history book, the Partners-in-Prayer prayer program, and the operation of two Catholic schools in Bogotá, Colombia serving over 1,700 students.
Product overview
Assumption Abbey operates as a Benedictine monastery offering a portfolio of handcrafted products and hospitality services. The core offerings include 15 varieties of handcrafted handmade soap (3.75 oz bars priced at $5.24 each), altar and table wines through partnership with San Antonio Winery, and a gift shop selling candles, books, cards, plaques, and religious articles along with homemade bread. The abbey also publishes its history book 'Assumption Abbey: Its History and Its Members' ($25 including shipping). Spiritual services include the Partners-in-Prayer program offering free prayer materials three times yearly, and retreat hosting services coordinated through the Guest Master for individuals and the Coordinator of Groups for organizations seeking overnight accommodations or meeting spaces. Additionally, the abbey maintains educational missions through its daughter house Monasterio Benedictino de Tibatí in Bogotá, Colombia, which operates two schools: Colegio San Carlos (bilingual, ~1,300 students) and Colegio San Benito de Tibatí (~460 students).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Assumption Abbey Handmade Soap Handcrafted soap bars made by the monks at Assumption Abbey, featuring 15 varieties. Each bar is 3.75 oz and priced at $5.24. Available via mail-order shipping across the U.S. with tiered shipping rates (1-6 bars = $13.65, 7-60 bars = $24.80).
- Wine Cellar (Altar Wine) Altar wine sold to Catholic churches in a four-state area, produced via partnership with San Antonio Winery of Los Angeles. Labels are printed in Richardton. Also includes retail table wine sales from the wine cellar on-site.
- Visitor's Center Gift Shop On-site retail store at the monastery Visitor's Center in Richardton, ND, selling handcrafted monk-made products (soap, candles), books, cards, plaques, religious articles, and homemade bread. Products are sold on-site only with no online catalog.
- Assumption Abbey: Its History and Its Members Published history book of Assumption Abbey covering the community from its 1893 founding through membership listings. Available for $25 total ($20 book + $5 shipping/handling) in-person at the Information Center/Gift Shop or by mail-order check.
- Partners-in-Prayer Program A free prayer-sharing program offering three installments per year (Advent/Christmas, Lent-Easter, and Ordinary Time) of morning and evening prayer based on the Divine Office, provided free of charge to subscribers to share monastic prayer life with outside supporters.
- Retreat Hosting Services Overnight guest accommodations and retreat facilities for individuals and groups at the Assumption Abbey monastery in Richardton, ND. The Guest Master coordinates private retreats and overnight guests, while the Coordinator of Groups handles group retreats, meeting spaces, and craft weekends.
- Colegio San Carlos Bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic school in Bogotá, Colombia, founded in 1961 by monks from Assumption Abbey. Enrolls nearly 1,300 students in grades Transition through 11, considered one of the most well-regarded schools in Colombia.
- Colegio San Benito de Tibatí Neighborhood Catholic high school in Bogotá, Colombia, founded in 1979 by monks from Assumption Abbey. Enrolls 460 students in grades 7-12.
Companies that use Assumption Abbey
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Assumption Abbey technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Assumption Abbey partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Archbishop Luis Concha Córdoba (Bogotá, Colombia)coreIn 1960, Abbot Ignatius Hunkler received an invitation from Archbishop Luis Concha Córdoba to found a boys school in Bogotá, Colombia. The monks quickly agreed and four monks were sent to learn Spanish and establish what became Monasterio Benedictino de Tibatí. This partnership led to the establishment of two educational institutions serving over 1,700 students.
- San Antonio Winery (Los Angeles)coreSince the 1950s, the Abbey has partnered with San Antonio Winery of Los Angeles to produce and sell altar wine under the 'Assumption Abbey' label. San Antonio Winery uses grapes from Sonoma County and Central Coast regions of California. The Abbey prints labels locally in Richardton which are then applied to bottles in California. The Abbey receives a royalty for the use of its name. Wine is sold to churches in a four-state area.
- Impact Foundation / Giving Hearts DayminorAssumption Abbey participates in Giving Hearts Day through the Impact Foundation portal, allowing donors to make charitable contributions through this regional giving platform.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Assumption Abbey competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Saint John's Abbey: Benedictine monastery in Collegeville, MN, of the same Order of Saint Benedict. Operates retreats, a working farm, and commercial enterprises (beer, baked goods) alongside its educational apostolate at Saint John's University — directly comparable monastic business model.
- Mount Angel Abbey: Benedictine monastery in St. Benedict, OR with seminary, retreat house, and craft enterprises. Comparable as a fellow Benedictine abbey combining liturgical life, hospitality, and self-sustaining work industries.
- Marmion Abbey: Benedictine abbey in Aurora, IL with an attached college-prep school (Marmion Academy) and retreat house. Comparable educational and hospitality apostolates under a small Benedictine monastic community.
- St. Joseph's Abbey (Spencer): Trappist abbey in Spencer, MA whose monks produce Trappist Preserves, beer, and other goods under the certified Trappist label. Closely matches Assumption Abbey's revenue model of handcrafted monastic goods plus retreat ministry.
- Saint Meinrad Archabbey: Benedictine archabbey in St. Meinrad, IN that operates a seminary and school of theology plus retreat hosting. Closely parallels Assumption Abbey's mix of monastic community, education ministry, and retreat hospitality.
- Abbey of Gethsemani: Trappist monastery in Kentucky famous for monk-made products (fudge, cheese, fruitcakes) and as a retreat destination. Directly comparable as a monastic community operating commercial product lines and hospitality ministry.
- Subiaco Abbey: Benedictine abbey in Subiaco, AR that operates Subiaco Academy, retreat programs, and a working farm. Comparable as a rural Benedictine community combining education, hospitality, and self-sustaining labor.
- New Melleray Abbey: Trappist monastery in Peosta, IA that produces award-winning cheese, woodworking, caskets, and hosts retreats. Comparable monastic enterprise model combining agriculture-based products with hospitality.
- Belmont Abbey: Benedictine abbey in Belmont, NC operating Belmont Abbey College and a seminary. Comparable Benedictine community pairing monastic life with education and retreat ministry in a non-urban setting.
- St. Benedict's Abbey: Benedictine abbey in Atchison, KS that operates Benedictine College and hosts retreats. Comparable structure of monastic community supporting an affiliated educational apostolate and retreat ministry.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Assumption Abbey social profiles
Digital presenceAssumption Abbey financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Assumption Abbey leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Assumption Abbey subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Assumption Abbey funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Assumption Abbey M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Assumption Abbey
What does Assumption Abbey do?
Assumption Abbey is a Benedictine monastic community that sustains itself through prayer, hospitality, and manual work. Its offerings include daily liturgical services and spiritual retreats, handcrafted soap (15 varieties), altar wine bottled under its label, a gift shop, a published history book, the Partners-in-Prayer prayer program, and the operation of two Catholic schools in Bogotá, Colombia serving over 1,700 students.
Is Assumption Abbey a public or private company?
Assumption Abbey is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Assumption Abbey founded?
Assumption Abbey was founded in 1893. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Assumption Abbey based?
Assumption Abbey is headquartered in Richardton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Assumption Abbey make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Altar Wine Sales are the primary driver. The others are soap Sales, donations and Charitable Giving, gift Shop and Visitor Center Sales and abbey History Book Sales.
Who are Assumption Abbey's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Saint John's Abbey, Mount Angel Abbey, Marmion Abbey, St. Joseph's Abbey (Spencer), Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Abbey of Gethsemani, Subiaco Abbey, New Melleray Abbey, Belmont Abbey and St. Benedict's Abbey.
Does Assumption Abbey have an API?
No public API is recorded for Assumption Abbey.
What industry is Assumption Abbey in?
Assumption Abbey's product category is Religious Services / Monastic Hospitality. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAC, Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents), with a secondary code of THAKAHAM, Religious Retreats & Spiritual Wellness Travel Agencies. Its NAICS code is 8131.