New Associates

This week, Brothers Robert Leo and Aidan are both on a staycation. Br. Carl is on a stay-at-home retreat. We had the pleasure of receiving two new Associates this Saturday. Both Geoff Kurtz and Stuart Matthewman are from Brooklyn. They attend church at the same parish. And both were supported by family members on their big day.

New Associates. From top, clockwise: Geoff Kurtz, his two children and priest friend; Stuart Matthewman and his in-laws: Geoff and Stuart (with Br. Ephrem in the background); a little shrine on our trails; trees are sprouting tender leaves (two pictures).

Earlier in the week, Br. Jacob organized a fire pit on our sabbath day. Br. Aidan provided old-fashioned cocktails for those interested. Br. Bernard visited Yale Divinity School one last time for this academic year to provide spiritual direction to seminarians. Lewis and Jamie Morano continue to find things in need of repair and maintenance. This week they also recaulked our church's rose window. Whenever we think they are going to run out of work to do, something else pops up. They are here most weeks.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Aidan, David Bryan and John enjoying the fire pit tended by Br. Jacob (not pictured); Br. Bernard taking a stroll in New Haven while seeing seminarians at Berkeley Center; brothers Lewis and Jamie Morano doing maintenance on our church's rose window (2 pictures).

Eastertide blessings to you.

Happy Easter!

Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Everyone was home this week for the Triduum and the big feast. The gardens took on a definitely paschal tone this Holy Week.

Spring is in the air. From top left, clockwise: the magnolia gracing the East of our cemetery came into full glory just in time for Easter (3 pictures); hyacinths are putting in a good show and perfuming the air too; the forsythia is exuberant; in the evening of Holy Saturday, God graced us with the sign of God's covenant arcing over the Hudson.

On Thursday, we started the Triduum with the washing of the feet. Our Superior, our formator and our guestmaster washed the feet of their brothers, our guests and each other. Brother Jacob played a mandolin interlude and our intern Jeremy played a native flute interlude.

A Eucharist followed in the evening. At the end of the Eucharist, the reserved sacraments were brought to an altar of repose in the Holy Spirit chapel (our chapter room).

Maundy Thursday. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Robert James and Josép washing guests' feet; Br. Jacob playing a mandolin interlude; intern Jeremy playing a native flute interlude; during the Triduum we put a knot in the bell rope to remind ourselves not to ring it (waking the buildings with a perambulating wooden clacker instead); the altar a repose in the Holy Spirit chapel (3 pictures).

Good Friday and Holy Saturday were observed in silence. On Saturday, a definite sense of preparation for big things permeated the refectory and the church.

Preparations. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Robert James and David Bryan draping the altar; potted flowers awaiting Br. Robert James magic touch; the water font set up in the Holy Spirit chapel; Bros. Robert James, Ben and David Bryan making sure all is well set; tabletop bouquets waiting to be set on the Easter dinner tables.

This Sunday morning, guests and brothers assembled in front of the guesthouse for the lighting of the  holy fire. We then processed to the refectory to hear the exultet and the history of salvation.

Holy fire and history of salvation. From top left, clockwise: lighting the holy fire; lighting the paschal candle: stepping out for the great litany procession; listening to the history of salvation in the refectory.

From there, we processed to the chapel of the Holy Spirit for the renewal of our baptismal vows.

After which we processed into the church for the paschal Eucharist.

Easter mass and breakfast. From top left, clockwise: Brothers and guests singing the closing hymn; Br. Ephrem dipping the paschal candle three times in the baptismal font, with Br. Francis (left) and Br. Josép holding up the text of the liturgy; Sister Shane, CMA, Sister Annie Hannah, Br. Robert Leo and the Rev. Suzanne Guthrie enjoying the festive breakfast; Br. Jacob and guests conversing over breakfast.

After over three hours of beautiful liturgies, we congregated back in the refectory for a festive conversational and cooked breakfast.

Some, it is rumored, have gone for a late morning nap afterwards.

Indoors blooming report. From top left, clockwise: potted lilies augmented with daffodils and hyacinths from our gardens (three pictures); Magnolia and daffies from our garden gracing the paschal candleholder; Easter sunrise as seen through the little cloister's great oak: Br. Aidan preaching the Easter sermon at the ambo lavishly decorated with spring blooms.

We wish you a Happy Easter and a blessed Eastertide!

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: our intern Jack browsing a book in the monastic library; our contractor Lewis Morano operating a cherry-picker for our semi-annual gutters cleaning; our Bros. David Bryan (center) and Leonard (left) concelabrating mass at St Hilda's church in Toronto last week; Br. Ephrem in quiet contemplation of our meadow and the Hudson river undeneath the church ambulatory.

Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Hallelujah!

One arrival and one departure

Br. David Bryan is still in Toronto, returning in time of the Easter Triduum.

This week, we welcomed back the Rev. Raphael Okafor who was only recently making his aspirant visit in March. Raphael comes to us from Albuquerque, NM. He is trying his monastic vocation with us as a postulant.

On Wednesday, we received a new Associate, Diane Kraus, from Covington Township, PA. Her mom accompanied her to witness her deepened Christian commitment.

On Wednesday, the interns, our vocationer (Raphael) and our novice (Ben) went on a pilgrimage with their formator, Br. Josép, to visit St Gregory's Episcopal Church where our friend Rev. Matthew Wright is rector.

On Thursday, Bros. Aidan and Robert Leo went to visit Br. Lary in his nursing home in Montrose, NY.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: five brothers watching "Wicked - part one" in our TV room; Bros. Aidan and Robert Leo paying a visit to Br. Lary; the Rev. Raphael Okafor, our latest postulant; formator and men in formation visiting the Rev. Matthew Wright at St Gregory's church in Woodstock, NY; Br. Bernard with our latest Associate, Diane Kraus, from Covington Township, PA (2 pictures).

On Friday, Br. Timothy came home after a few weeks in rehabilitation at the Baptist Home in Rhinebeck, pursuant to surgery. He's mighty happy to be home.

This week, we said goodbye to our intern Chris Renshaw, from Princeton, NJ. Chris was a great addition to our community over the nearly eight months he was with us.

A farewell tea party. From top left, clockwise: Br. Robert James and the Rev. Chris Renshaw, intern; Bros. Bernard and Aidan; from the left, intern Jack Mullins, intern Jeremy Cannon, Bros. Robert Leo and John; postulant Raphael Okafor, Br. Bruno); Bros. Aidan, Timothy and Bruno.

On Saturday, we had a snow fall followed by sleet and freezing rain. Luckily the magnolias are still in buds. They may have weathered the wintery episode. Will they bloom for Easter?

Magnolias and snow. From top left, clockwise: budding magnolia (two pictures); snow on the meadow and fog on the river; our neighbor across 9W is in festive mood for secular Easter.

This Sunday, we have observed Palm Sunday. We blessed the palm in Pilgrim Hall and processed to the church to hear the account of Jesus's passion. Visiting Princeton seminary students read the various parts of the account.

Palm Sunday. From top left, clockwise: icons and statues are veiled for Holy Week (2 pictures): the palms waiting to be blessed and being censed (2 pictures); Bros. Bruno and Robert Leo distributing the palms; guests processing from Pilgrim Hall; Brothers processing into the church (2 pictures).

May you have a blessed Holy Week.