Vacations, maintenance and capital projects

During our three and a half week summer recess, a lot of out-of-the-ordinary activity takes place at the monastery. Maintenance work and capital projects that would intrude on our guests get done while we are without guests. Both Brothers and members of staff get to take time off.

Following are a few pictures of the work that has been ongoing while the Guest House was closed.

From top left, clockwise: installation of a fire suppression system in the Middle House; use of a "cherry-picker" to repaint the window frames of the main Guest House; the fully sanded and refinished refectory tables; ongoing tiling in one of the new Middle House bathroms; sheetrocking of one of those bathrooms.

New windows in the church. From top left, clockwise: the new windows upon arrival; the removed stained glass windows (they're now off to renovator's workshop); the gaping windows where the stained glass windows were; temporary covering while awaiting the installation of the new windows; a new window frame looking into the crypt; a gap ready to receive its new window.

Electrical revamp in the church and Middle House. Electrical panels in various states of disassembly and upgrade.

This August, Robert James, John, Roy, Bernard, Robert Leo, Josép were away on vacation, family visit or retreat at one time or another. Things were relaxed for the Brothers at home too. We observe a simplified work schedule during our summer recess which allows people to take off on day trips between Chapter and Vespers.

I myself took the annual offer of my friends Jamie and Mary to occupy their Manhattan apartment for a bit of a vacation. I was in Morningside Heights (just South of Harlem) for a week. I made four museum visits, had four meals with NYC friends, read the New York Times for a couple of hours each day, caught up on TV series on Netflix and finished three books I had running.

On the Thursday I was in Manhattan, Br. Aidan, Matthew Wright, and Yanick Savain came to the city for the day. We met up with my friend Lewis at the Met Fifth Avenue to take in the "Heavenly Bodies" exhibition (I also visited the Cloisters for the second part of that exhibition a couple of days later). That evening, Aidan, Matthew, Yanick, and I visited a Sufi Dergah (meeting place) in Tribeca to participate in a Zikr ceremony. I experienced peace, openness and passionate love of God with this Sufi community. Just a couple of examples of the openness: the prayers are led by a female Sheikh and included the Our Father and the Shema to honor the Christian and Jewish guests who were there.

From top, clockwise: Br. Randy dropping off Br. Bernard at the Poughkeepsie train station for his one week vacation; a Valentino dress at the Cloisters Museum as part of the "Heavenly Bodies" exhibition; Yanick Savain, Matthew Wright, Br. Aidan and Lewis Folden enjoying lunch at the Met Fifth Avenue.

This past Monday, Br. Aidan, Matthew Wright and Yanick Savain took off for a two-week scouting trip in Southern India to prepare for the January pilgrimage Aidan and Matthew will lead there. The pilgrimage will explore the conversation between Hinduism and Christianity.

This past Thursday, we reopened the Guest House and welcomed again the group of Education for Ministry (EfM) mentors who come here yearly for some ongoing formation.

This past Saturday, Br. Josép and I visited the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory's Annual Convocation. They were meeting in nearby Wappinger Falls and we attended the initial profession of Brothers Angel Gabriel Roque and David Benedict Hedges. It is always a joy to see novices move deeper into their religious vocation. It was a beautiful and joyous occasion. Blessings on our Gregorian Brothers.

Initial Professions of the Religious Vows in the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory. From top, clockwise: Br. David Benedict Hedges, BSC, as a novice; Br. Angel Gabriel Roque, as a novice, in conversation with a Brother; the same two, now dressed in their professed habit (kneeling).

From top, clockwise: Br. Josép and Br. Bernard framing several of the BSG Brothers in choir; meanwhile the deer take it upon themselves to mow the cemetery in West Park; chatting with the BSG Brothers before lunch.

I will be on a family visit to Belgium the first half of September. So there will likely be no Prior's Column blog entries for the next three weekends. I have not forgotten you. I'll be back with more monastery news in the seccond half of September. Blessings on all those who teach and study as the academic year restarts.