Br. Francis's Life Profession

This weekend, our Postulant, Novices and Juniors are participating in an Inter-Religious Formation Program which we are hosting here at the monastery. It is good to see so many young religious together.

But the big news is that on Saturday, we had a Life Profession of the Benedictine Vow! Br. Francis made his profession during a festive Eucharist in the presence of his family and the many religious assembled here for the weekend. We are blessed to count Francis as our Brother. Please hold him in prayer in this new stage of his monastic vocation.

The profession mass. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Jacob, Josép, Ephrem and Daniel chant a psalm in Anglican chant: Br. Jacob offers a mandolin interlude between readings; Br. Ephrem censes the gospel reading; Br. Timothy was our preacher (here turning back to address Br. Francis); our preacher: Brothers singing the closing hymn: the altar party processing out (Postulant Jeremy is the crucifer and Br. Will is the thurifer).

Having a Life Profession is always a highlight of our lives. It reminds those of us who are professed what we have consecrated our lives to and it shows the rich blessings that our community is receiving from the Holy Spirit.

The Life Profession. From top left, clockwise: Br. Francis giving his family a tour of his working areas and showing how he prints the monastery t-shirts (from left to right: his father Jack, his brother-in-law, Francis, his mother Linda and his sister); Br. Francis at the end of his examination by the Superior: Br. Robert James our Superior embraces the newly Life Professed Brother: the Superior presents the newly Life Professed to the assembly; Br. Francis receiving the love of his Brothers (notice Br. Bede on the left who was visiting for the occasion).

On the weather front we enjoyed the freakish three days of summer weather before returning to more seasonable weather. Last Sunday, Br. Bernard attended a play written and acted by Associate Denise Bessette in Croton-on-Hudson. The play was about one of his mother's favorite French writer Colette.

From top left, clockwise: first crocus among a carpet of snowdrops: Associat Denise Bessette playing Colette: crescent moonrise over the Hudson: the play's program.

May you have a blessed second half of Lent.

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.