Brothers and Beguines

I got back from my two-week family visit and vacation a week ago. I had a great vacation in the region of Apulia (the heel of the "Italian boot") with my older brother Benoit and my sister-in-law Annick. We had a wonderful time touring various cities and towns of Apulia, visiting lots of "historic centres" and churches, and enjoying the local cuisine and wine, not to forget the occasional Aperol Spritz.

My family trip to Apulia. From top, clockwise: me, my sister-in-law Annick and my brother Benoit on a cliff at Polignano a Mare, on the Adriatic Sea; we made a refreshment stop on the Saint Benedict Square; my brother Benoit (Benedict in French) enjoying an Aperol Spritz,on the Piazza San Benedetto.

On the few days that I was in Belgium, I got to visit my nephew and my niece in their respective apartments in Brussels. My nephew lives in the building where I used to live with my then-partner in the center of Brussels. When he rang me in, I ran into a former neighbor who recognized me (after 20 years) and invited me to briefly go up to his apartment to say hello to his wife (memories, memories).

On the day before I was due to fly back to the US, my friends Marie-Do and Olivier hosted a party for several of my friends. I sometimes think I would need to visit Belgium for a couple of months to see all the friends and extended family whom it would be so nice to see.

Belgian encounters. From top, clockwise: my nephew and godson, Ludovic and I enjoying a platter of seafood and the obligatory "moules-frites" (mussels in a white wine sauce with Belgian frites); a popular bare in my nephew's neighborhood of Brussels (The Monk Bar...); friends from my high school and university days enjoying each other's company al fresco.

On a free day, I took a solo excursion to five beguinages I hadn't visited yet. I have a few more to visit before I have seen all thirteen beguinages that are on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

My Flemish Beguinages day. From top left, clockwise. Beguine houses in Tongeren; a Beguine's front yard in Hasselt; when you drink a Tripel Karmeliet in a Beguinage, does that count as prayer? The perfect mid-day snack on a busy touring day; Belgian Frites; the Beguinage Church in Sint-Truiden.

Upon my return home, I caught up with my Brothers, distributed Belgian chocolates and got to my mail and e-mail backlog. In only had a couple of days to do so for I led a wonderful retreat from Thursday to Sunday: "Living Love Mystically and Apostolically," a retreat on the Beguines.

I led the retreat with Sr. Greta Ronningen, of the Community of Divine Love. Sr. Greta wrote a Master's thesis on the Beguines. We taught, we conversed, did Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, and Ecstatic Dance. Of course, I got to share some of my recent beguinage pictures.

From top, clockwise: participants in the Beguines Retreat framed by Br. Bernard on the lefft and Sr. Greta on the right; Br. Aidan is on Bell duty this week; guess what he does in-between ringings?: retreat participants check out the Beguines literature table.

I'm back in the saddle. I should be back to blogging next week. It's good to be home!