Summer wanderings

From June 4 to 9, we hosted the Annual Chapter of the Order of the Holy Cross. Most Life Professed Brothers from around the world converge on West Park for a few days of prayer, discussion, learning, and decision-making. This year, we were lucky to have theologian James Alison talk to us and discuss with us "Violence, Desire, and Christian Living." We were also delighted to have two of our SSJE Brothers with us as observers of our proceedings (Br. James Koester, Superior, and Br. Jonathan Maury of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist in Cambridge, MA).

Chapter gatherings. From top left, clockwise: Br. Josép plants a rose garden near the enclosure; while Brothers Bernard, Rob and Daniel Ludik (our South African Prior) walk the Walkway Over the Husdaon; end-of-day refreshments on the Great Cloister (Brother Josép, Max Esmus, our Postulant, Brother John); a greater group in Pilgrim Hall (facing the camera, Br. Richard, Br. Randy, Br. James Koester, SSJE, Br. Adam,, our Californian Prior, Br. Roy, Br. Bob); back on the Great Cloister, Br. David Bryan, our Canadian Prior, Br. Daniel Ludik and Br. Timothy Jolley.

Chapter is a great time to reconnect with Brothers who live far away. On Saturday, June 8, the Superior treated us to a cruise on the Hudson River aboard the Rip Van Winkle. The weather was perfect; sunny, not too hot and the motion of the boat provided a light breeze.

Happy Boaters. From top left, clockwise: Br. Rob with Brs. Jonathan Maury and Br. James Koester, both of SSJE; Bros. Bede, Richard, and Tom Schultz; Br. David Bryan and Mrs. Suzette Cayless, OHC Companion; group including Bros. Bede, Carl, Daniel, Tom, Richard (half hidden), Adrian, Intern Ben Hansknecht, Yanick Savain, Bros. David Bryan, Adam, The Rev. Matthew Wright.; Bros. Bob and  Laurence in conversation; Bros. Adam McCoy and Timothy Jolley.

Throughout the summer, we often see the Rip Van Winkle turn back towards Kingston at the level of the monastery. This time we were onboard looking at our lovely abode from the River.

From top left, clockwise: Bros. Josép, Bernard and Randy; Br. Laurence in conversation with new friends; the view of the Guest House as the boat turns away;  Max and Br. Bernard; Bros. Rob, Bernard and Josép with Matthew Wright; Bros. Bernard and Aidan with Yanick Savain;  the full view of our monastery from the River; Br. Carl scanning the horizon.

On the Monday following Chapter, I left for Catalonia to attend the 21st gathering of the International, Interconfessional Congress of Religious (CIR) at the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. The Abbey will celebrate its millenary in 2025! I met with 45 religious. There were all kinds of Christian religious represented: Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran, Reformed, Catholic, and Anglican. Two Coptic Sisters came from Cairo and I came from NY State; the rest of us were from throughout Europe.

The CIR meets every other year in a different country. This year's theme was the Spirituality of Communion. We received addresses from four participants. All addresses were written in English, French and German. Then language groups got together to discuss reactions to the addresses. I was reminded of how wonderfully multilingual many Europeans are.

Montserrat and its abbey. From top left clockwise: votive candles lit for the intercession of our Laday of Montserrat (a beautiful 12th century sculpture of Mary and baby Jesus found in the Basilica); a view of  the main plaza of the monastery; the 20th century front of the Basilica (see how the rock cliffs fall right beside the buildings); a painting of the mountains and the monastery in the remarkable Montserrat Museum; a panorama  of the Abbey and the mountains from one of the many hiking trails; selfie with the whole site.

I got to speak French, English and Italian on this trip. And I picked up quite a bit of Catalan. The monks chant the office in Catalan. The monks were very hospitable. On a Sunday afternoon, three of them took the funicular to Sant Joan with 20 of us and we hiked to the remains of ancient hermitages lodged within the cliffs. On our last day at Montserrat, we were also welcomed at the Monastery of Sant Benet (Benedict in Catalan) three kilometers down the mountain where a community of Benedictine Sisters lives.

Oecumenical brotherhood. The CIR participants in our own refectory in one of the two (!) Guest Houses of the monastery; our group hiking towards Sant Joan chapel; taking a sunny break on the main plaza; hiking down from the hermitages, helping one another over the treacherous stones; waiting to go into our conference room.

My journey to Montserrat took me through Barcelona, the main city of Catalonia. A good friend of mine, Marie-Noëlle Crabbé relocated there for work from Boston, MA a couple of years ago. She invited me to spend a few days with her to discover her new living environment. I spent several days at her compact but beautifully designed modern apartment in the neighborhood of Poblenou. I took in the sites while Marie-Noëlle did her social audits of corporations.

When she had some free time we drove to the village of Sitgès, forty kilometers south of Barcelona. It's Catalonia's equivalent of Provincetown (a seaside old and lovely downtown, a long history of resident artists and a thriving gay community). Marie-Noelle's 24-year-old youngest son, Antoine is visiting for a few months. I got to know him better. I also met a few of Marie-Noelle's local friends. All of it around leisurely meals with lots and lots of fresh Spanish produce and reasonably priced but very quaffable wines (yum).

Barcelona. From top, clockwise: the cityscape from the top of Marie-Noelle's building (to the right, the Sagrada Familia Basilica, still under construction); Marie-Noelle at a tapas bar in Sitges; selfie on the Sitges beach; I loved the apartment's balcony where I read abundantly taking in the urban scenes below. center. a happy balcony dweller.

Barcelona is beautiful but suffers under an abundance of tourists. I couldn't get into the Sagrada Familia the first time I went. I went home and bought a ticket online a few days in advance. I visited the Sagrada Familia over thirty years ago. Other than the crypt, there was no inside to it. It was exhilarating to see the progress that has been made. Hopes are that the basilica will be completed in 2026. Fingers crossed. If this is anything like renovation work at my monastery, it might end up being a trifle later...

Barcelona's street life is vibrant and fascinating. Despite the tourists' invasion, the Catalans are cool and kind. But watch out for the electric scooters. Zoom!

The colors of Barcelona. From top left, clockwise: first visit to the Sagrada Familia (outside only); a metro station to remind me of Br. Josép; street art on a business' facade; a Football Club Barcelona boutique (there's several around the city); second time lucky, the stained glass windows within the Sagrada Familia; a happy tourist selfie.

It will be another couple of weeks before I come back to the blog. This time, Sister Elizabeth Broyles, CMA, Br. Aidan and I are going on vacation for two weeks in Telluride, Colorado. It's my first trip to Colorado. You'll be in my Rockies prayers.