Pottawatomie County Commissioners have approved a $100,000 grant to PULS Housing from the
Pottawatomie County Economic Development Fund. The grant will be used toward the installation of a
fire sprinkler system in residence halls formerly operated by St. Gregory’s University. Rt. Rev. Lawrence
Stasyszen, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Gregory’s Abbey expressed gratitude for the grant. “We wish to thank
County Commissioners Melissa Dennis, Abby Thompson and Greg Rush for their support and
encouragement for the mission of PULS Housing Initiative.”
PULS Housing Initiative is a 501(c)3 non-profit established in 2025 initiated by St. Gregory’s Abbey. Its mission is
to develop and facilitate affordable housing in Pottawatomie County for populations with special
financial need. With donated labor provided by St. Gregory’s Abbey, and funds from both public and
private sources, PULS Housing is refurbishing facilities once used as student housing at the former St.
Gregory’s University, which closed in December 2017. This will result in a total of 108 two-bedroom
suites suitable as housing for workforce and educational development.
Abbot Lawrence explained, “This generous grant provides significant funding that will enable us to move
forward with plans to partner with The Caring Collective of Pottawatomie County in its mission.” The
Caring Collective provides housing and other services for young people who are aging-out of foster care
programs. “We recognize the important work of The Caring Collective and are excited to be associated
with their efforts. We hope that the grant will inspire other organizations and individuals to help us raise
an additional $250,000 needed to complete the project.” said Abbot Lawrence.
Beginning this summer, The Caring Collective will utilize part of a thirty-two-unit wing of Duperou Hall to
provide housing for young people who are at high risk of homelessness as they make the difficult
transition from foster care to independent living. The Caring Collective provides the young people with
stability, workforce training and job placement. Some fifty percent of young people without this type of
support during their transition to independent living experience homelessness or incarceration.
PULS Housing Initiative continues in a centuries-old tradition of hospitality. “The monks of St. Gregory’s
Abbey are concerned about the well-being of our neighbors who have special needs. PULS Housing
Initiative is named from the Latin word meaning ‘to knock’ that St. Benedict used in his Rule for
Monasteries when giving instructions for how to receive newcomers, guests and pilgrims when they
knock at the door of the monastery,” Abbot Lawrence explained. “This seemed like the natural name for
our desire to facilitate affordable housing for our neighboring population.”
St. Gregory’s Abbey regained ownership of the historic campus of its former university in June 2024.
Since that time, the Abbey has invested over $500,000 toward restoration of the property to repurpose
the facilities. The Abbey first opened the Abbot Mark Braun Retreat House, which has hosted close to
one thousand retreatants in its first year of operation. The Sarkeys Performing Arts Center also has been
used as a performance space by local organizations, including most recently North Rock Creek High
School. More information on how you can support PULS Housing Initiative or Gregory’s Abbey is
available at 405-878-5296, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To learn more about PULS Housing Initiative go to: www.pulshousing.org