Brother Carl's 95th birthday

This week, Br. Jacob was on vacation in Florida visiting friends. This weekend, Br. Ephrem is on a mission at Church of the Ascension, Chicago, IL. This weekend, Br. Bernard was leading an Introduction to Centering Prayer retreat together with Mr. Scott See of the NYC chapter of Contemplative Outreach.

But the highlight of the week, was Br. Carl's 95th birthday on Friday. On Saturday, Jeremy Cannon, our postulant turned 30 the nexty day. Together they span the age range of the monastery. Thank God for intergenerational living.

Br. Carl's 95th birthday. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Carl, John and David Bryan with a beautiful floral arrangement compliment of friends of Carl; Bros. Robert Leo, Daniel, Timothy, Josép, Carl, John and David Bryan; Br. Bruno and our postulant Jeremy playing his double barrel Native American flute for Carl; a scrumptious birthday cake; Bros. Daniel and Timothy.

Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, we received the Rev. Sam Owen, of Croton-upon-Hudson, NY, as our Associate

Monastery people and scenes. From top left, clockwise: Br. Bernard with the Rev. Sam Owen, our lastest Associate; the first snowdrops have appeared; Br. Carl at dinner with Associate Ron Haflidson of Reisterstown, MD; the Coast Guard keeping their watch on Hudson River ice. 

Have a blessed Lent. When is spring by the way?

Summer and winter in OHC

Br. David is back from two weeks a priest-in-residence at the House of the Redeemer in Manhattan. Br. Robert James, our Superior, got back from a one month visitation to our Brothers at St Benedict's Monastery in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Br. Bernard visited Berkeley Divinity School at Yale for a couple of days, meeting with seminarians in spiritual direction.

This Sunday, we are completing our week of Contemplative Days. We had a good number of guests travelling along in silence and solitude.

During his stay at St Benedict's Monastery, our Superior and the five Brothers visited their neighbours at The Crags - Elephant Sanctuary. We couldn't pass on sharing a few pictures.

The Crags - Elephant Sanctuary. From top left, clockwise: Br. Josias taking a selfie with Br. Robert James: the full gang (left to right: Bros. Josias, Aelred, Mpumelelo, Daniel, Robert James and Roger): a sancturay resident: Bros. Robert James and Mpumelelo in front of a couple of elephants:
feeding the elephants: zebras.

Last week, the novitiate visited Br. Bede at The Meadows, his nursing home in Rhinebeck. Br. Bede is always a gracious host and enjoys the company; so did our novices, our postulant and their Formator.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Raphael, Will and postulant Jeremy with Br. Bede at The Meadows, in Rhinebeck; Associates Marty Burt, of  South Burlington, VT, and Chris Amy of Toronto, ON, in the Pilgrim Hall; the Brothers in choir during mass, Br. Randy presiding; Br. Josép preaching; Chef Jason Medina in the refectory.

On the weather front, winter has gone from bitter cold last week, to very cold this week. We are starting to get daytime temperature above freezing for a few hours. The deer are finding the snow cover challenging and get closer to the buildings to browse whatever they can find.

Monastery scenes. From top left, clockwise: a series of arches in the crypt (St Michael's chapel); graphic tree shadow on the snow in the meadow (how's that for an alliteration?): deers browsing on the hillside behind the enclosure; bringing a bit of spring indoors.

May you have a blessed Lent. 

Quiet days of winter

Br. Robert James, our Superior, is in the last days of his stay with our South African Brothers at Plettenberg Bay (Western Cape Province).

Three of our Juniors, our two novices and our postulant are at a Religious Formation Program with Br. Josèp, in Mariandale, NY, for the weekend. That's eight people out. The "old guard" keeps the divine office going beautifully nonetheless.

The Council of the Order of the Holy Cross, after order-wide consultation, as mandated by our constitution, has given a warm approval of Br. Francis' request to make his Life Profession of the Benedictine Vow. It will take place at an 11 a.m. Eucharist on Saturday, March 14. We are rejoicing and asking for your prayers for Br. Francis. 

Quiet days of winter. From top left, clockwise: our Postulant, Jeremy Cannon, doing his usual meadow morning walk (two pictures); a barge and its tugboat making its way through the ice on the Hudson; the Coast Guard patrolling the river to check that navigation remains possible; graphic tree shadows on the snow.

With a covering of snow everywhere the silence is deeper than usual. From time to time, you can hear a low rumble as a ship crushes ice flows at its prow on the river.

Monastery scenes. A votive in front of St Benedict's icon in the church after curfew; Brothers conversing in the enclosure's atrium after supper.

Peace and all good to you.