Quiet weeks

We haven't forgotten you. But the last few weeks have been "slow news" weeks.

On St Patrick's Day, our latest intern, Jack Mullins, from Brooklyn, NY, arrived for his nine-month internship. He fits right in. Please hold him in prayer as he experiences 21st century monasticism in the months to come.

Our current interns. From top, clockwise: Chris Renshaw, Jeremy Cannon and Jack Mullins: Jack, our latest addition to the interns team is from Brooklyn, NY; our three interns seated in the Chapter room.

Br. Randy is on a two-week vacation and family visit in Willis, TX, near Houston.

Br. Bruno has started a spiritual director formation that happens residentially over several weekends at Linwood Spiritual Center in Rhinebeck, NY.

Br. Bruno is on a one-week retreat at St Gregory's Abbey, in Three Rivers, MI.

Br. Robert Leo has conducted a mission at Trinity Church, in Southport, CT.

Br. Josép has made a week-long family visit to his Mom in St Petersburg, FL.

Br. Carl has been on an "at home" silent retreat for a week.

Br. Bernard has made a two-day visit to Yale Divinity School, in New Haven, CT, to offer spiritual direction to seminarians.

Br. David Bryan has started a two-week visit to our Brothers in Toronto, ON.

That's a lot of comings and goings. But otherwise, we have quietly gone about our lives of prayer, worship, work and study.

As an optional Lenten devotion for members of the monastic community, some of us gather in our Chapter room (a.k.a. the Chapel of the Holy Spirit) for eucharistic adoration on Saturday evenings before compline.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: a consecrated host exposed in a monstrance: Br. Aidan and intern Jack in prayer; Bros. Ben, Jacob and Aidan playing the Root board game in the North end of the monastic library; Br. Bernard reading in his office; a tender scene of Saint Joseph and the child Jesus.

And it looks, like we will be able to restart the "blooming report" as Spring proceeds.

The blooming report. Mostly daffodils in great variety throuhout our grounds (4 pictures); in the upper right corner, hellebores a.k.a. Lenten roses in the sacristy parking lot.

May this last part of Lent feature for all times of silence and solitude for prayer. 

Quiet beauty abounds

This week, Br. Robert James, our Superior, was conducting his annual visitation. He meets individually with all the monks and the interns of the monastery to hear how they are doing and what their view is of how our community is doing.

This week was also the last one in Raphael Ugochukwu's aspirant visit. It has been a pleasure to get to know him a little better.

This weekend, our men in formation and Br. Josép, our formator, are at an inter-novitiate formation conference at Mount Alvernia, in Wappinger Falls, NY.

The croci came out in force this week. Our honeybees have been quick to find them. One of the four beehives that Br. Francis keeps didn't make it through the winter. It is always a sad loss when a  bee colony fails to survive. Pollen and nectar are in short supply for the moment, so Br. Francis will complement their diet with syrup until there is enough blooming action in the gardens.

Blooms and doom. From top left, clockwise: a field of snowdrops near our backup generator (two pictures); croci in the lawn facing the Guesthouse entrance; a happy bee foraging a crocus; our neighbors across Route 9W recycling their Halloween decoration for St Patrick's Day.

It has otherwise been a quiet lenten week. But God's bountiful creation never stops to amaze and delight.

Hudson views. From top, clockwise: an orange moonrise over the Hudson (two pictures); the sun playing peekaboo behind the clouds; before sunrise (without the soundtrack of songbirds rejoicing at the sun's return).

Contemplative days and ashes

This week, we observed contemplative days from Tuesday to Sunday morning. During contemplative days, we keep silence around the clock, spend more time in praying, studying and resting in God. Lots of guests prefer to come and stay with us on these special weeks.

Monastery creatures. From top left, clockwise: squirrels are enjoying the thaw by frenetically climbing up and down shrubs and trees; on Wednesday, we received ashes on our foreheads; ambulatory stained glass representing the creation of light (2 pictures); the Hudson looking atmospheric under an overcast sky.

On Friday, the Rev. Leigh Hall, from Poughkeepsie, NY, was received as our latest Associate. They come thick and fast lately. A few of us broke silence just for the reception. Since she is a local, she invited family, friends and parishioners to witness her commitment. Br. Bernard had mistakenly given her the wrong time for Eucharist (which takes place a 11:45 a.m. on contemplative days). So we had the opportunity to take pictures of everyone. Leigh's husband, Edmund, and her son, Solomon were happy to be there. Solomon was in Leigh's arms as she was received. Does that make Solomon our youngest associate to date?

Receiving Leigh Hall as an Associate. From top left, clockwise: Br. Bernard, Solomon and Leigh; Edmund, Leigh and Solomon surrounded by attending Brothers; the same with Brothers and friends: waiting for everyone to arrive; the photographer must have cracked a joke...

May God bless your Lenten journey.