Contemplative days

Last week, Br. Robert James was on an at-home retreat and Br. Bruno was on staycation (staying at St Mary's House at the top of our driveway). 

Last week also, Bros. Ephrem and Jacob co-led a hiking retreat for a group of seven guests. On Sunday, Bros. Josép and Raphael went to  NYC to see Raphael's friend Maxine Thévenot in her directing debut at Carnegie Hall.

This week we all observed Contemplative Days when we are in greater silence round-the-clock with a lighter liturgical schedule and the expectation of lighter work engagements.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Josép and Raphael at Carnegie Hall: Br. Josép waiting for the right time to ring the church bell (two pictures): Bros. Ephrem (third from left) and Jacob (on the right) at Lake Minnewaska with seven guest hikers: Br. Ephrem with the Rev. Guimond Pierre Louis of Covington, LA, at Kaaterskill Falls:

This past week has seen a heat dome linger of the Northeastern United States. Thankfully, we have several air conditioned spaces for guests and monks to get reprieve from the heat wave.

Monastery grounds. From top left, clockwise: the Old Oak and Little Cloister in the rising sun; a doe browsing low hanging foliage; a bumblebee sampling hosta nectar; St Joseph and child Jesus in the hostas; variety of hostas near the enclosure.

The prominent blooms indoors and outdoors this past weeks are hostas and yarrows.

Indoors blooms. A variety of yarrow and hydrangea arrangements throughout the church and the guesthouse (4 pictures); votive candles in the church (2 pictures).

May you enjoy temperate weather wherever you are.

Last week of spring

Br. Francis was on vacation this past week. He visited a Shaker friend at Sabbathday Lake, in Maine.

On Saturday, three of the Brothers went to the Community of St John the Baptist, in Mendham, NJ, to witness and celebrate Sr. Monica Clare's ordination to the priesthood.

Br. Bruno enjoyed the visit of a couple of Spanish friends from Glasgow, Scotland. It has been good practice for Br. Bernard who studies Spanish.

On Monday, Bros. Josép and Randy went to purchase an new outdoor grill. They are our two grilling chefs. We look forward to testing it on our Fourth of July cookout.

Monastery scenes. From top left, clockwise: our new gas-powered outdoor grill: two types of yarrows near the vegetable garden; scenic clouds sailing over the Hudson; uninvited guest (a bat) taking a nap on the ceiling in the enclosure (Br. Bernard, our bat whisperer, caught her and took her outside): a Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly (Speyeria cybele) visiting Br. Josép's flower garden.

We have several shrubs of white oak leaf hydangeas putting in a great show this week. Some of it graces the church.

St Augustine church scenes. From top left, clockwise: oak leaf hydrangea arrangement near the Mother and Child sculpture (two pictures): Br. Jacob playing the mandolin during communion at Sunday mass (two pictures).

Peace and every good to you.

Falling Upwards

This week, Br. Ephrem was on vacation in Hunter, NY, in the Catskills, before heading North for leading a weekend retreat at St Eustace Episcopal Church in Lake Placid, NY. Br. Carl was on an at-home retreat.

On Wednesday, our men in early formation went on a pilgrimage outing to the Catskills. They visited the Cragsmoor Stone Church in Pine Bush, NY. Later, they went to Stony Kill Falls in Wawarsing, NY. The views at Cragsmoor were beautiful but the Stony Kill Falls was down to a trickle for lack of rain lately. They said the mid-day office of Diurnum in the church.

Novices, postulant and formator at Cragsmoor Stone Church. On the selfie, from left to right: Bros. Raphael and Josép, Postulant Jeff and Br. Will.

Several of us participated in Christine Hiester and Associate Chris Amy's retreat at the monastery entitled "Mirrors to Windows; Falling Upwards" about the spirituality of the later years. Many of us are of the appropriate age after all. Br. John was a retreatant and Bros. Bernard, David Bryan and Robert Leo offered one-off spiritual direction.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: the formation team at Stony Kill Fall: Christine Hiester (second from left, front row) and Associate Chris Amy (right end of front row) with their retreat group in St Gregory's meeting room; the centerpiece of light in (2 pictures); a 4-sail sailboat passing by on the Hudson.

Peace and every good to you.