Centering Prayer and new Associates

This week, Br. Aidan was on an Intensive Centering Prayer retreat co-led by Br. Bernard, Leslee Terpay and  Mark Dannenfelser. Our postulant Raphael Okafor is on his pre-clothing retreat. He will soon be clothed as a novice. Br. Robert Leo is at St Benedict's Priory in Hermanus South Africa.

This week also, we received two new Associates: Greg Page from Arlington, VA and Barbara Dundon from Philadelphia, PA.

Cemtering Prayer and Associates. From top left, clockwise: a water color by an Intensive Centering Prayer retreat participant; Br. Bernard and Greg Page, AHC; Br. Bernard and Barbara Dundon, AHC; Br. Bernard and longtime Associate, Roy Mc Alpine; morning sun on the Little Cloister; Centering Prayer retreatants in prayer; greater silence was observed in the Guesthouse throughout the week; a blue chasuble to honor the Blessed Virgin Mother as on every Saturday.

Asters and chrysanthemums loom large in the gardens and in the church. Impatiens are also in full bloom. The turning of the leaves is slowly progressing. Leaf peeper cruises already go up and down the Hudson.

Blossoms in the gardens and in the church.

May your autumn be colorful as well (if you're in the Northern hemisphere). Blessings to all.

Superiors on retreat

This week, Br. Francis was visiting family in Pittsburgh, PA. Br. Robert Leo was on retreat at St Beuno's Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Tremeirchion, Denbighshire (Wales). This weekend, our men in formation (postulants, novices and juniors) are away on an inter-novitiate formation.

On Monday, Bros. Aidan and Bernard left early to catch the sunrise bird activity at Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. They didn't see that many types of birds but the walk was pleasant the views of the Shawangunk ridge beautiful.

Out and about. Left, three pictues of the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge (Bros. Aidan and Bernard with binoculars around their necks in third picture with the Shawangunk ridge on the horizon); right, Br. Robert Leo's place for a week at St Beuno's, Wales

All week long, we have hosted the annual retreat of the CAROA superiors at the monastery. CAROA is the Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas. There were thirteen superiors in attendance.

Superiors, ordinands, boats and creatures. From top left, clockwise: CAROA Superiors on the stoop of our guesthouse; CAROA superiors in conference in St Augustine meeting room; Diocese of NY ordinands on retreat last week: a tanker ship negotiating the turn of the tide on the Hudson at night (two pictures); our local fox hunting in our meadow (two pictures).

We pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters as they celebrate Rosh Hashana which coincides with the Fall equinox this year.

Holy Cross day, our feast of title

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is our feast of title. We celebrate it as a first class feast. All the Brothers, Associates, guests and friends of Holy Cross are in our prayers.

Holy Cross Day. From top left, clockwise: an antique pear wood corpus; a portrait of our Father Founder, James Otis Sargent Huntington, OHC; as modern stylized cross; flower arrangements by Br. Robert James throughout our church (5 pictures); the glorious gold, burnt orange and white bouquet at the ambo, with the icon cross in the background.

Br. Robert Leo is on the first leg of his sabbatical in England. He is enjoying Salisbury, London, Oxford and is on his way to Wales. This week, Br Josép has been visiting his mom in Florida and has moved on to Vermont to be at the wedding of a friend. Bros. Randy and Scott attended the first of four weeklong residential programs to explore Jungian spiritual direction.

From Robert Leo's sabbatical. From left to right: Tower of Parliament, London; Salisbury Cathedral; the dining hall at Keble College, Oxford.

This past week, Christine Hale led an icon-writing retreat at the guesthouse. We take advantage of the waning days of summer by being outside as often as possible. This week we spotted an unusual vessel on the Hudson. Ariadne is an undersea cable-laying ship. We hadn't seen one of those on the Hudson yet. There are only a about 60 such ships in the world.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: volunteers Felix Hosmer and Elisabeth Sheehey work in the library; Br. Aidan installed a suet dispenser for the birds in the cemetery magnolia; the men in formation returning from a successful weeding and brush-whacking expedition under the supervision of Br. Jacob; Ariadne's cable-laying crane; Ariadne's massive cable spool in the middle of the ship; Ariadne's helicopter pad at the prow of the ship.

Br. Jacob's care of our vegetable garden continues to produce goodies. Those heirloom tomatoes remind you of what a tomato should taste like. And chef Bob is going to make pickles with the bonanza of cucumbers.

Flowers, flowers everywhere. From top left, clockwise: Impatiens flowers at the bottom of the Little Cloister bird bath; a prodigal clematis competing for the vegetable garden fence with a summer squash plant; garden flower arrangements by Br. Robert James in the church; a flower bed at the corner of the guesthouse.

May you enjoy God's bounty in creation wherever you are.