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.

The Presentation and the Associates winter retreat

 Br. Robert James, our Superior, is in the last week of his visit to our Brothers in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. This past week, Br. Josép paid a visit to his mom in St Petersburg, FL.

Last Sunday, we celebrated the feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the temple. We started with a blessing of the candles in the Pilgrim Hall. We then processed to the church with our lit candles and continued with the rest of our Sunday Eucharist.

The feast of the Presentation. From top left, clockwise: Br. Randy, our presider, blessing the candles; the procession to the church with lit candles (2 pictures); settling in the church before extinguishing the candles to start the Eucharis (2 pictures).

At the monastery, Br. Ephrem led a retreat on Medieval Women Mystics, focusing on St Hildegard of Bingen and Hadewijch of Brabant (go Belgium!). We had 18 Associates in attendance. A few people had cancelled late due to the inclement weather. 

On Saturday, we received a new Associate, Catherine Illian, from Cold Spring, NY.

Associates and frozen Hudson. From top left, clockwise: Associates and monks at our Thursday afternoon social in Pilgim Hall (2 pictures left and right); the Associates in St Gregory's meeting room prior to one of Br. Ephrem's presentations; the Port Ewen lighthouse on its islet in the middle of the Hudson; Demetrio Munoz Associate for 17 years already; graphic treescape against the background of ice floes on the Hudson; Br. Bernard with latest Associate, Catherine Illian.

Have you considered becoming a Associate? Talk to Br. Bernard, Director of Associates.