Quiet and activity

This week, we were all at home. On Tuesday, we celebrated the funeral of Brother Laurence Harms. Many of his friends including several from Liberia and Ghana were in attendance. His ashes are now in our columbarium in Saint-Michael's chapel (the crypt). We miss him.

Laurence's funeral. Two archival pictures of him. His ashes reposing in the church prior to his funeral mass (3 pictures).

While Advent is a generally quieter period of the year, cleaning duties continue. On the outside, our contractors Jamie and Lewis Morano used a cherry-picker to clean up our gutters removing leaves in a freezing cold.

Quiet and Activity 1. From top left, clockwise: the Morano brothers cleaning the gutters behind the main guestouse building (2 pictures);  a floral arrangement under the Mother and Child statue in our church; first hint of Christmas - a 10 ft high tree that we will leave undecorated until Christmas Eve; three candles lit up on the Advent wreath.

On the inside, the formation team undertook a deep cleaning of our enclosure common room. Br. Bernard whose job it is to clean it weekly was very grateful.

Quiet and Activity 2. two pictures of the formation team cleaning the enclosure common room; Mother Mary giving an approving look on these ancillary duties (The Annunciation, detail in a painting by Martino di Barolomeo (Active 1389-1434). Tempera on gold pane​l. From The Fitzwilliam Museum University of Cambridge)

We wish a blessed third week of Advent.

Happy new year, Church!

Everybody was home this week! "How good and pleasant it is when siblings live together in unity" (Psalm 133:1).

On mondays, we observe our sabbath day. “Every person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.  On that day we need to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us” (Maya Angelou). It is a day to rest and recreate in the Lord.

This past Monday, some of us tried for the first time the Kellia board game that has been created by the monastic community in Taizé, France. It is a cooperative game based on the lives of the Fathers and Mothers of the Desert who lived in the Egyptian desert in the 3rd century AD. We won together.

Many guests take advantage of the restful and quiet atmosphere of our guesthouse to do playful things they might have little time for otherwise. Jigsaw puzzles are a favorite. And chess is popular too.

Playing games. From top left, clockwise: guests cooperating on a jigsaw puzzle in Pilgrim Hall; Bros. Anthony and Aidan, intern Robb and postulant Ben playing Kellia in St Scholastica; Br. Aidan and our interns Robb and Chris playing Sorry in the north end of the monastic library; Br. Robert James nephew John and his wife Felicia playing chess in Pilgrim Hall.

On Tuesday, we celebrated the feast of James Otis Sargent Huntington whom we affectionately refer to as "Father Founder." He was the first monk in the Order of the Holy Cross to make his life Profession a hundred and forty years ago. After mass, we processed to the crypt (St Michael's chapel) to bless the tomb of Father Huntington under the altar.

On Thursday, we had a full house to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Our divine office and eucharist had themes of gratitude. Our pantry staff did a sterling job of setting up an inviting refectory (and doing lots of dishes later). And our chefs presented us with an abundant and scrumptious feast.

The Thanksgiving feast in the refectory (after and before). After: guests and Brothers after a delicious meal (three pictures); Before: the amazing spread about to be blessed with everyone assembled in a circle.

On Saturday, as we observed St Andrew's feast, we received Andrew Fletcher, of Sherbrooke, Québec, as our latest Associate. That same evening, we sang first Vespers of Advent 1 C. This marks the beginning of a new liturgical year for the church. We lit the first candle of the Advent wreath. The season of Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus's birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. It is a time beloved by many for recollection and hope in the mystery of incarnation.

St Andrew's feast and Advent 1. From top left, clockwise: Br. Bernard and our latest Associate, Andrew Fletcher; the first candle of the Advent wreath lit up before first Vespers of Advent 1; the Advent wreath on Advent 1 Sunday (two pictures)

As our garden undergoes hard frosts at night, we turn to indoor plants and florist cuttings for adding joy and beauty to our home and church.

Blooms. From top left, clockwise: blooming schlumbergera (a.k.a. Christmas cactus) in the enclosure's common room (2 pictures); an arrangement by Br. Robert James of sunflowers and chrysanthemums for the feast of Fr. Huntington (2 pictures).

We wish you a blessed Advent.

Sunrise over the Hudson (credit: Associate Mike Redpath)

Saying adieu to Br. Laurence

 Br. David Bryan returned from a visit to our Toronto Brothers this Thursday. Br. Ephrem is away for the weekend offering a parish retreat in Maryland.

This Friday, November 22, our eldest Brother, aged 96, died at Hudson Valley Rehab. & Extended Care Center in nearby Highland. Our Superior, Br. Robert James was with Laurence as he died. Many Brothers had visited him over last several weeks as his health deteriorated. He was always happy to see one of us, especially if we brought a chocolate milkshake with us as eating solids became increasingly difficult.

We give thanks for our Brother's life. Br. Laurence [Arthur Eugene Harms] was born in Rock Island, IL in 1929.  He was a high school teacher of math and science which he left to join the OHC community in Bolahun, Liberia where he taught in our schools there as a lay Companion.

He then applied to join the Order as a professed brother and made his life profession in 1966.  Laurence was an amateur astronomer and photographer.  He was a  friend to many, especially in the Liberian diaspora and in the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit where he gave regular talks in the planetarium. 

He was always ready to take out his telescopes so that retretants could look at the rings of Saturn.   In his later years, he was a practitioner of origami and gifted people around the world with his creations. He had a ministry of kind and joyful presence in his nursing home. He was much beloved by the staff; many of whom came to pay their respect as Laurence was slipping away.

Br. Laurence Harms (1929-2024)

His simple faith and trust in God was an inspiration.  May choirs of angels sing him to his rest!

Arrangements for his funeral are yet to be decided. On Wednesday, the community will sing the Office of the Departed for Laurence.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving. Travel safe.