CAROA New Members gathering

This week, we were sparsely populated in the monastic choir (8 of us vs. 18 when we, rarely, have a full complement there). This was because our men in formation (novices and juniors) and Br. Josép were a the CAROA New Members gathering at St Gregory's Abbey, in Three Rivers, Michigan. CAROA is the Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas. Br. Raphael had to stay home because of his rehabilitation from hip replacement surgery. Br. Scott continues his rehabilitation from knee replacement surgery at the Hudsan Valley Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center in the nearby village of Highland.

CAROA New Members gathering in Three Rivers, MI. From top left, clockwise: a group photo of the formators; the grounds of St Gregory's Abbey; an announcement at mealtine in the refectory; a group photo of all the attendees.

The New Members gathering has several objectives. It enables the new members to have an experiential knowledge of the wider religious life in the church. It creates bonds of friendship across communities. It gives an opportunity for the formators to share best practices, challenges and blessings.

CAROA New Members gathering in Three Rivers, MI. From top left, clockwise: recreation in the refectory; leisurely time on the porch; the well-stocked theological library of the Abbey; a discussion group of the new members; the Abbey church,

Meanwhile, the Hudson Valley was displaying glorious fall colours this week. Yachts and river cruise boats are passing by on the Hudson to take in the show. We give thanks for living in such a beautiful place.

Fall colors at the monastery (three pictures) and a bouquet of Montauk daisies in the entrance to St Augustine's church.

Peace and every good to you.

The Associates Fall Retreat

This week, Br. David Bryan came home from his vacation in England and North Carolina. Br. Raphael came home from HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston and is recovering from his hip replacement surgery. Br. Scott is recovering from knee replacement surgery at Hudson Valley Rehabilitation Center in the nearby village of Highland.

Monastery scenes. From top left, clockwise: Asters and Mums blossoming in front of the Guesthouse; Br Raphael exercizing his new hip on the enclosure porch; asters and cosmos from the gardens (2 pictures).

This weekend, we welcomed 14 of our Associates for their Fall Retreat. Bros. Bernard, Josép, David, and Daniel addressed them on various themes related to life as an Holy Cross Associate.

Associates Fall retreat. From left, clockwise: Br. Josép addressing the Associates about the requirements for being an Associate in good standing: Br. Josép leading the Associates in some chanting accompanied by his shruti box; Associates discussing thematic questions in small groups (2 pictures).

As is customary on Associates Retreats, we had a reception with for the monks and Associates to socialize.

The Associate reception. From top, clockwise: Associates group picture with past and present Associates Directors (Bros. Josép and Bernard); Br. Josép photo-bombing with Associates Liz Haak from Manhattan, NY and Kelly Fairweather, from Mahopac, NY; Associates Eloise Monzillo-Hiris, from Verona, NJ and Kathleen Murray from Cranford, NJ; Br. Robert Leo with Associate Marjorie Swett, from Silver Springs, MD; Associates Joan Golan, from Bronxville, NY and Julett Butler, from Ellenville, NY, cooperating on a jigsaw puzzle: Associates Rick Backlund, from Topeka, KS, Nicholas Peake, from Washington, DC, Oliver Alkins, from Yonkers, NY, with Br. Jacob.

Do you wish you were a Holy Cross Associate? Find out more on our Associates webpage and contact Br. Bernard if you have questions on what you find there.

Peace and every good to you.

Associates, bees and turkeys

This week, we were observing contemplative days. Bros. Scott and Raphael both underwent surgery on Tuesday. Br. Scott got a bilateral knees replacement and Br. Raphael got a hip replacement. The surgeries went well. They recovered for a few days in hospital. They are now both headed to a rehabilitation home for a couple of weeks, 8 miles South of the monastery. Please pray for prompt and full functional recovery for both of them.

This week, we also received two new Associates. On Wednesday, we received Eloise Monzillo-Hiris, from Verona, NJ, and the Rev. Justin Johnson, from Croton on Hudson, NY. Eloise was accompanied by her husband, who, due to contemplative days, got the mostly silent treatment ;-)

This weekend, Br. Ephrem is visiting the Friends of St Benedict at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, in Chestertown, MD. and at Trinity Episcopal Church, in Washington, VA, teaching on "Benedict's Way of Peace."

New Associates. From top left, clockwise: Br. Bernard with the Rev. Justin Johnson; Eloise Monzillo Hiris reading her Associate pledge; Br. Bernard making concluding prayers: Eloise and her husband after her reception (2 pictures).

On Thursday, Br. Francis prepared the hives for collection of the honey supers. On Friday, he robbed the bees. Then, with the help of Bros. Jacob and Bernard, he harvested a large quantity of honey. After which, the spun frames with lots of unspun honey left on them were returned to the beehives. The bees will diligently recuperate whatever honey is available on those frames and clean them up for reuse.

Harvesting honey. From top left, clockwise: Br. Francise handling uncapped honey frames; Br. Jacob uncapping a honey frame; Br. Jacob spinning two honey frames in the honey extractor; the honey extractor dripping unfiltered honey in a pail; honey slowly filtering into the pail underneath the mesh filter.

The bees are still foraging the gardens. By now, they are mostly focusing on asters and goldenrods.

Monastery scenes. From top left, clockwise: a Monarch butterfly doing its pollinating best; morning sunshine through one of the Creation stained glass windows in the ambulatory behind the church; light, shadow and reflections of arches in the crypt; Br.Jacob playing the mandolin during Sunday communion; our electric golf cart with the spun honey frames due to return on the beehives; Br. Bernard selfie as a beekeeper; Bros. Bernard and Francis zooming towards the beeyard to return the harvested honey frames to the hives.

These last several days, we have had several visits from a rafter of wild turkeys.

A visiting rafter of turkeys (3 pictures): near the enclosure, in the monks' parking lot and in the meadow.

Autumn colors are beginning to appear and river cruiseboats are doing their leaf peeping rounds.

Autumnal scenes. From top left, clockwise: tree leaves starting to change colors; wispy clouds above color changing canopies; a cruise boat taking passengers where the change of colors is more marked up North; flaming sunrise over the Hudson; monrning vapors floating over the river.

Peace and every good to you.