The beginnings of summer

Last Sunday, Brothers Josép and Aidan went on a visit to the congregation of St Mark's, Brooklyn. The women's group of St Mark's has been visiting the monastery in September for years. Our brothers were warmly received and enjoyed the companionship.

On Memorial Day, we had our traditional cookout on the porch of the enclosure. The weather was perfect for it and Br. Josép grilled our meal like a pro.

From top left, clockwise: Brothers Josép and Aidan returning from a visit to St Mark's, Brooklyn in great spirits; Sr. Shane Phelan, CMA, Brother Bob and Max Esmus, our Postulant enjoying a game of Qwirkle; Memorial Day cookout under the porch; Br. Josép is glimpsed through the smoke in the background, grilling away for his brothers.

We had two feast days in a row this week: Ascension Day on Thursday, followed by the Visitation on Friday.

Blooms and Brothers. From top left, clockwise: a flower arrangement in the Western Atrium of the enclosure; Brothers Carl and Aidan enjoying the spectacular bouquet of peonies prepared for Ascension; Mrs F.D. Roosevelt peonies, fresh from the garden and they smell delicious too; our Postulant, Max Esmus enjoying some origami on the porch.

The weather continues to be excellent for the garden: sun, warmth and regular rain. The church and the house benefit from many blooms. The weather also permits outside refection work on the church's bell tower. Some re-pointing is taking place with the help of a very long-arm cherry-picker.

Symphony in reds. From top left, clockwise: the poppies are popping - a serrated variety; a Hong-Kong registered bulker parked in the fog on the river; our contractor's cherry-picker for washing the clerestory windows of the church and doing some re-pointing on the Bell Tower; the articulated arm; another variety of poppy.

This coming week, most all the Brothers of the Order of the Holy Cross assemble at our monastery for the 307th chapter. By now, we usually have only one chapter meeting a year. Our Brothers are coming from Grahamstown, South Africa, Santa Barbara, California, and Toronto, Canada.

Please pray for us as we pray, learn and deliberate together for the continuation of God's service through our Order.

On the day after OHC's Chapter closes, I will be traveling to Spain for an inter-religious conference at Sant Benet Monestir (St Benedict Monastery in Catalan) at Montserrat. I may be a few weeks before I post again. I'm not forgetting you.