RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY TO OPEN NEW LAY CENTRE

(Keep scrolling down to see the works in progress.)

An "Oasis in the City:" an aerial view of the Monastery of Sts. John and Paul in Rome. The Lay Centre will be located in a part of the monastery beginning in October 2009.

A quantum leap: The Lay Centre has been offered a unique opportunity which will enable it to better carry out its mission in the years to come. This summer we will be moving to our new and more spacious home on the Caelian Hill within the Monastery of Sts. John and Paul, overlooking the Roman Forum and the Coliseum and surrounded by the largest private gardens in central Rome.

A new home: This relocation will enable the Lay Centre to expand the student community and provide public spaces that will better serve our local and international program participants. The premises will include our own self-contained space on the top floor of the monastery for residential quarters and on the ground floor for our public activities.

Robert White and Andrea Ponzone standing before an aqueduct, just after entering the grounds of the new Lay Centre.

The driveway which leads from the entranceway on the Via Claudia to the front door and parking area of the Lay Centre at its new location on the Caelian Hill.

View of the courtyard which one enters from the parking area at the end of the driveway to approach the front door of the new location of the Lay Centre.

Renovations: Certain renovations are necessary to enable the new space to serve our
needs. Many friends of the Lay Centre have been very generous in offering financial contributions to help us meet the costs involved to make this move.

If you would like to make a donation to our renovation project and be instrumental in the completion of our new home, please click here.

Work has already commenced on the ground floor space allocated to the Lay Centre.

View of a former conference room prior to the beginning of renovations - 2 April 2009.

Wall built to section off part of the conference room to create an industrial kitchen -
23 April 2009.

Wall being finished between the conference room and the industrial kitchen -
22 May 2009.

Conference room and dining area being wired and prepared for new ac/heating system -
8 July 2009.

Conference room and dining area after moving out of the location on the Via dei SS Quattro -
31 July 2009.

View of former salon prior to the beginning of renovations - 2 April 2009.

Wall being built in former salon to create administrative offices - 23 April 2009.

Wall being finished in former salon to separate administrative offices from public restrooms- 22 May 2009.

Floor and walls being finished in former salon to create administrative offices - 8 July 2009.

Setting up the new administrative offices - 31 July 2009.

Third floor gym room to be turned into student kitchen and recreation room - 19 June 2009.

Floor and walls being finished in former gym room to create student kitchen and recreation room - 8 July 2009.

Finishing the painting of the floor and walls of the former gym room which is becoming
the student kitchen and recreation room - 31 July 2009.

Third floor storage room and bedroom to be turned into student chapel - 19 June 2009.

Wall destroyed between third floor storage room and bedroom to create space for student chapel - 1 July 2009.

Finishing the molding and electric wiriing to create space the student chapel - 31 July 2009.

Room with a View: the student rooms are located on the top floor in a separate section of the monastery which offer views of the city and the gardens of the property.

Where to find us: As you can see from the map below, our new home is just a few minutes walk from our current location. Check this page in the summer and you will find information on how to reach us by public transport. If you want to come by car, there is space to park.

Looking ahead: With this move, we hope that the Lay Centre will become, for more and more people, truly an “oasis in the city”.  

Please check back often for updates on the progress of the renovation project in order to prepare to open the Lay Centre in its new location at the Passionist Monastery of Sts. John and Paul in October 2009.

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