Tulips' turn

This week, Br. Timothy departed for a 10 day visit to Holy Cross School in Makhanda, South Africa. Br. Timothy was instrumental in founding the school many years ago.

This weekend, our men in formation are at an inter-novitiate formation event in Long Branch, NJ. The house quickly seems ligthly populated when five monks are away.

This week, we received The Rev. Cynthia Dopp, from Bethesda, MD, as our newest Associate.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Br. Timothy met with a number of South African Associates at Leela Piennar's home.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: Br. Timothy meeting with Makhanda Associates in South Africa; Br. Bernard with The Rev. Cindy Dopp at her reception as an Associate (Br. Josép in the background); most magnolias are fading by now, but not before putting on a magnificent show (2 pictures); intern Clay enjoying a contemplative moment (serenading an ornamental white blossoms cherry tree, and in the company of a Br. Lawrence made bouquet of origami flowers - 2 pictures).

The men in formation are taking good care of the seedlings they started last week. We are using a seed starter shelf with adaptable grow lights. It sits in the enclosure conservatory.

Indoor gardening. From top left, clockwise: vegetable seedling trays under grow lights (2 pictures); intern Clay adapting the grow lights rigth above the seedling trays; Br. Anthony watering a thirsty seedling tray.

The mundane and the holy always mix in all of our lives. And eventually, we realize the mundane is part of the holy. The same in true in the monastery. Tasks need doing with frequency that benefit from focus and attention both in the church and throughout our home and grounds.

Do well, wait a while, and repeat. Tasks that need doing regularly. From top left, clockwise: Br. Robert James stirring trays of curing incense; Holy water waiting for a priest's blessing in the sacristy (2 pictures); twice a week, Br. John does the rounds or the enclosure trash bins and disposes up to four large bags of refuse and recycling material using our ATV to take them up the hill to the apposite dumpsters on the guesthouse parking lot.

Our neighbor Sarrel Isherwood of Hudson Valley FlowerWorks has brought out her flower cart on Route 9W. As in our gardens, tulips are the highlight of the week. The tulips have replaced the magnolia in our church. Depending on the hour of the day, they show off a wide corolla or a tight cup.

Tulips's turn to grace the church. From top left, clockwise: our neighbor Sarrel Isherwood's roadside flower cart (2 pictures); red tulips in front of the St Augustine icon in the church's entrance (2 pictures); buttery colored tulips near St Benedict's icon in the side aisle of the church (3 pictures).

We hope you get to enjoy wildflowers and spring blossoms wherever you are (in the Northern hemisphere that is...).

Magnolia time

This week, Br. Randy is on the second week of his family visit in Texas.

 

Br. Robert James, our Superior, completed his yearly visitation of our monastery. The visitation lasts about a week during which he meets with every single member of the household to hear from them about their monastic life, our community life and anything of concern or particular satisfaction about the monastery. Br. Robert gave us his visitation report this Friday. To no surprise, he concluded that we are doing well as a community praying, worshiping and serving the people of God. Indeed, it is very good. Thanks be to God.

Br. Bruno has agreed to put together a monthly worship service for the residents of Br. Lawrence's nursing home, Hudson Valley Rehab. and Extended Care Center, in nearby Highland. This first time around, he was accompanied by the members of the formation team. Br. Lawrence was delighted for the worship opportunity and for the visit of his young brothers.

Brotherly conversations. From top left, clockwise: men in formation visited Br. Lawrence (seated in front) to offer a worship service at his nursing home; intern Clay talking with Br. Samuel; Bros. Samuel and Anthony in conversation prior to a meal; Bros. Aidan and Bruno discussing something on their way to the guesthouse.

On Monday, four brothers travelled to Syracuse, NY, to see the eclipse at its fullest. Back home, several brothers watched a 97% full eclipse from our grounds. How awesome is this universe of ours! What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them? (Psalm 8:4)

Magnolias and eclipse watchers. From top left, clockwise: saucer magnolia close-up; Br. Timothy and our home care aide Kat watching the eclipse with protective glasses: the saucer magnolia east of our cemetery with the Vanderbile Mansion in Hyde Park in the background; flaming forsythia near the enclosure; butterfly magnolia close-up; butterfly magnolia shrub in the guesthouse gardens.

Manual labor is highly valued in Benedictine spirituality. We each contribute to the manual work required to keep our monastery clean, well maintained and pleasant. Br. Josép, our formator, makes sure the men in formation do some manual work together each week (on top of their individually assigned tasks). They do this on Friday afternoon. It's magical what a team four or five motivated young men can achieve in a couple of hours. Thank you, guys!

Serving with our manual work. From top left, clockwise: seeding vegetables for indoors sprouting in our enclosure's conservatory (five pictures): center left, Br. Bruno completing the cleaning of the ground floor hallways; center, Br. Josép launders and irons the community's napkins every week.

How good it is for brethren to dwell in unity (Psalm 130:1).

Moving out, moving in

This week and next week, Br. Randy is on vacation and family visit in Texas. Br. Aidan was on retreat at New Skete Monastery, in Cambridge, NY. 

On Tuesday, we said goodbye to our Brother Josias Morobi. He has now safely returned home to our St Benedict's Priory, in Hermanus, South Africa. It was a joy to pray, worship and live alongside him for a couple of months. We look forward to seeing his in person again in June, when we gather at St Benedict's Priory for our Order's annual chapter. Br. Josias will soon make his initial profession of the Benedictine Vow. Would you keep him prayer as he prepares for this important milestone?

Moving out. From left, clockwise: the Paschal candle on its stand surrounded by flowers; enjoying coffee and donuts in the enclosure's atrium to bid Bon Voyage to Br. Josias (two pictures); Bros. Samuela and Josias sharing their goodbyes.

Every week, Br. Josép makes sure that the men in formation render service to the community with some much needed physical work. The four of them work wonders wherever they turn their attention. This week it was cleaning up, tidying up and better organizing our mailroom.

Cleaning up. From top, clockwise: intern Clay Wackerman, Bros. Anthony, Josép and Samuel working their magic in the mailroom (two pictures); an example of the tidying up (paper bags and plastic bags folded and separated).

Br. Francis has successfully helped our two colonies of bees to survive the winter. This Saturday, he took delivery of a package of bees to start a third colony. He is a devoted and competente beekeeper. He sometimes shares ideas with ex-beekeeper Br. Bernard. He also benefits from advice from his beekeeper brother-in-law and his beekeeping teacher and,... lots of YouTube videos, of course.

Moving in. A new colony of bees makes its home at Holy Cross Monastery. From top left, clockwise: Br. Francis just back from Hudson Valley Bee Supply in Kingston with mellow 10,000 bees and their queen; close-ups of the bee package (2 pictures); Br. Francis prying open the bee package on the back of our ATV; Bros. Bernard and Francis satisfied with a successful move.

May the Holy Cross bees thrive and prosper.