Is it peak yet?

Br. Francis is on a family visit in Florida for the week.

Br. David Bryan came back from his vacation in England. We are glad to announce that cookies have reappeared with 4 o'clock tea!

Our Associate John Decker was with us for several days continuing the shooting of various sequences for the "Portrait of a Monastery" documentary. He will continue visiting us regularly for complementary shooting until February.

On Monday evening, Brother Josép and men in formation organized a firepit gathering. We introduced Bros. Ephrem and Mpumelelo to the joys of grilling marshmallows and making their own s'mores. As the name indicates one wasn't enough.

Enjoying s'mores around the fire pit.

On Thursday, the formation team went on a one day pilgrimage to New York city. They left very early and came back late that evening. They visited several episcopal churches and visited the Community at the Crossing at the Cathedral of St John the Divine. But they didn't forget to give Br. Mpumelelo a taste of the more secular side of the city. They visited Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum. Some of us got tired just reading the list of the places they visited in a single day...

A New York city pilgrimage. From top left, clockwise: with Sister Hannah of the Chemin Neuf community; in Central park with one of the recent "skinny skycrapers'; on Times Square; in front of the Metropolitan Museum; inside the Cathedral of St John the Divine.

Now the important question of the week is: "is it leaf colors peak yet?" The cruise boats that skim the Hudson seem to think the answer is yes. Br. Ephrem took a large group of guests on hiking trips themed on naturalist writer John Burroughs (who lived and wrote extensively in West Park).  They had perfect hiking weather and thoroughly enjoyed the autumnal splendor of our beloved Hudson valley. We are told that the roads in the Catskills are clogged with slowing vehicles of leaf peepers. Walking was definitely the way to do it.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: our two interns, Robb Benson-Ernst and Chris Renshaw; a "leaf peepers" cruise boat on the Hudson; morning fog on the meadow and the river (three pictures); the Holy Cross hikers (with Br. Ephrem behind the camera - two pictures).

And the "blooming report" is that the color of the week was dark purple with accents of orangey red.

We hope you enjoy the blessings of whatever season surrounds you wherever you are.

Fall Contemplative Days

Br. Timothy's sister-in-law Carmen died this past week. He continues to be with her husband, his brother Charley, in Texas. Please hold them in prayer.

Br. David Bryan continues his vacation in England.

The monastery observed Contemplative Days this week. This means we are in round-the-clock greater silence from Tuesday to Sunday morning. Many guests specifically seek out these weeks to make their retreat at the monastery.

Mid-week, some of our brothers and guests saw an aurora borealis (Northern lights) above the monastery. It's the luck of the time and place you are. They can't be forecasted more than 15 to 45 minutes ahead of time. Thank you to Bros. Francis and Anthony for the pictures.

A beautiful home in beautiful lights.

The weather has continued to be very mild for the season. The gardens have been popular for some quality time with God.

Br. Anthony has been tending the vegetable garden for its last few frost-free weeks. Our refectory salads have greatly benefited from his garden ministry.

A yacht parked in the middle of the river for a few days. At first some thought it was a cruise boat but it turned out to be a 100 million dollar private yacht (Br. Robert Leo researched it online). This changes us from the more usual company of underpaid, developing country crews on the many bulker ships that often park in the river by us. Inequality illustrated.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: Br. Anthony hard at work in the vegetable garden by the guesthouse kitchen (2 pictures): guests reading and meditating in the gardens; a charter yacht enjoying the river views; a bee hungrily visiting an aster in front of the guesthouse: mums inside and out (two pictures)

Some trees are slowly changing colors but mostly green is still the dominant hue. More autumnal colors are coming though.

Dedication

This week, the formation team went to a CAROA New Members Conference at the Community of Saint John the Baptist, in Mendham, NJ. CAROA stands for Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas. That's six men gone for the week (Bros. Josép, Francis, Bruno, Anthony and Mpumelelo, and our postulant Ben). The monastic choir did well though a little weaker than usual.

Br. David Bryan is away for a two week vacation in England with his best friend and our Companion, Suzette Cayless.

Br. Timothy is on a family leave in Texas to visit his brother Charlie whose wife Carmen is ill. Please keep them in your prayers.

This Sunday is the feast of the dedication of Saint Augustine's church, our monastery's main place of worship. Br. Scott preached a great sermon for it.

Dedication. From top left, clockwise: a glorious flower arrangement by Br. Robert James for the feast of the dedication (asters, mums, cosmos, all from our gardens - three pictures); a guest enjoying the quiet of our gardens; a votive in front of  a face of Christ in a monk's cell.

This weekend, we have a large men's group from Manhattan having their annual retreat here. The group has been coming to the monastery for many, many years.

Monastery people. From top, clockwise: Bros. Robert Leo and John working on shelf lists checked by library volunteers to tidy up our online catalogue (2 pictures); two guests pitted in friendly chess combat in the Pilgrim Hall.

Signs of the turning of the leaves are progressively appearing. Green is still dominant. For how long?