The fall triduum

Last week, we had a little farewell party for Br. Mpumelelo, who departed last Sunday and is safely back home at Saint Benedict's Priory in Hermanus, South Africa. Br. Timothy is back from a family visit to his brother Charley on the occasion of his wife Carmen's funeral in Dallas, TX. Br. Carl is on an at-home retreat this week observing extra silence and solitude.

We observed what many now call the "Fall Triduum:" Halloween, that is the eve of All Hallows, All Saints and All Souls. Check out Br. Josép's sermon for the feast of All Saints.

This week, our community purchased its first all-electric car. We have long had hybrid vehicles; our last one being a plug-in hybrid car. As our older cars come to the end of their useful lives, we will convert our fleet (five vehicles currently) to mostly electric cars.

Br. Francis and intern Robb continue to care lovingly for our four colonies of bees. But truth be told, they "stole" a few frames of capped honey too. Most of the harvested honey ends up on sale in the Monk's Cell book and gift store. The sales proceeds support our beekeeping ministry.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: Br. Anthony reading scripture at the ambo during Vespers; intern Chris lighting the candles at the ambo for mass; Chris lighting the altar candles; the community enjoying tea and cake to wish Br. Mpumelelo Bon Voyage (two pictures); Br. Bernard with sales manager David Hayden at Romeo Nissan, in Kingston, in front of our new blue Leaf electric car; Bros. Ben and Aidan playing a board game in the enclosure common room; intern Robb and Br. Francis returning from one of their bee care visits to our apiary.

This Saturday (All Souls), we welcomed two new Associates. Camilla Chiappari, from White Plains, NY and Robby Lynch, from New Paltz, NY. The two are best friends and arranged to be received together.

Associates and blooms. From top left, clockwise: newest Associates Camilla Chiappari and Robby Lynch (two pictures); their two Associate crosses and pledge cards ahead of the ceremony; flower arrangements by Br. Robert James, throughout the church (three pictures); morning river views from the enclosure porch (two pictures).

It is always a joy to welcome new Associates in our extended community of mutural prayer. And when new Associates are received at mass, other guests enquire about the possibility later on. Once could call it "virtuous virality."

So long, Br. Mpumelelo!

The formation team (Bros. Josép, Francis, Bruno, Anthony and Ben) and Br. Ephrem are away for the weekend at an inter-novitiate formation event. Br. Ephrem will be talking to the assembled people in formation about the incarnation. 

Br. Mpumelelo is not taking part in the fun because this Sunday evening he is boarding a plane back to South Africa. We have loved praying, worshiping, learning and playing with him. We look forward to the next times we will be together on either side of the Atlantic. 

Last weekend, the men in formation took Mpumelelo out for a Mexican restaurant meal featuring fried ice cream. Br. Mpumelelo loves ice cream. And his American confreres though he should have the fried ice cream experience before returning to his native South Africa. It takes a village to educate a monk...

So long, Brother Mpumelelo!

We took a picture for our soon-to-be-printed Christmas cards this week, on the feast of St James of Jerusalem.

Monastery people. From top, clockwise: portrait of the community; the fried ice cream experience (two pictures; from left, intern Chris Renshaw, Bros. Ben and Mpumelelo, intern Robb Benson-Ernst and Br. Anthony taking the selfie); two archival pictures of Br. Mpumelelo taking part in novitiate pilgrimages.

Br. Ephrem's third book, "The Shape of the Church," came out this week. It's always worth it to browse The Monk's Cell online bookstore. You can also purchase your copy in the bookstore on your next visit to our guesthouse.

And answering to this blog's entry title last week, yest, it was peak foliage color. It it still beautiful bur a lot of leaves have fallen to the ground already taking some of the lovely colors down with them.

Is it peak yet?

Br. Francis is on a family visit in Florida for the week.

Br. David Bryan came back from his vacation in England. We are glad to announce that cookies have reappeared with 4 o'clock tea!

Our Associate John Decker was with us for several days continuing the shooting of various sequences for the "Portrait of a Monastery" documentary. He will continue visiting us regularly for complementary shooting until February.

On Monday evening, Brother Josép and men in formation organized a firepit gathering. We introduced Bros. Ephrem and Mpumelelo to the joys of grilling marshmallows and making their own s'mores. As the name indicates one wasn't enough.

Enjoying s'mores around the fire pit.

On Thursday, the formation team went on a one day pilgrimage to New York city. They left very early and came back late that evening. They visited several episcopal churches and visited the Community at the Crossing at the Cathedral of St John the Divine. But they didn't forget to give Br. Mpumelelo a taste of the more secular side of the city. They visited Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum. Some of us got tired just reading the list of the places they visited in a single day...

A New York city pilgrimage. From top left, clockwise: with Sister Hannah of the Chemin Neuf community; in Central park with one of the recent "skinny skycrapers'; on Times Square; in front of the Metropolitan Museum; inside the Cathedral of St John the Divine.

Now the important question of the week is: "is it leaf colors peak yet?" The cruise boats that skim the Hudson seem to think the answer is yes. Br. Ephrem took a large group of guests on hiking trips themed on naturalist writer John Burroughs (who lived and wrote extensively in West Park).  They had perfect hiking weather and thoroughly enjoyed the autumnal splendor of our beloved Hudson valley. We are told that the roads in the Catskills are clogged with slowing vehicles of leaf peepers. Walking was definitely the way to do it.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: our two interns, Robb Benson-Ernst and Chris Renshaw; a "leaf peepers" cruise boat on the Hudson; morning fog on the meadow and the river (three pictures); the Holy Cross hikers (with Br. Ephrem behind the camera - two pictures).

And the "blooming report" is that the color of the week was dark purple with accents of orangey red.

We hope you enjoy the blessings of whatever season surrounds you wherever you are.