Last week of this Guest House season

This is the last week of our current Guest House season. On Sunday, we will close the Guest House until Thursday, August 22. The monastery will be on "summer recess" schedule. A simplified liturgical schedule that leaves open days for excursions, hikes, and visits to attractions in our region.

The closing gives time to our Guest House and maintenance staff to do all sorts of tasks that would interfere with the hospitality ministry. For example, we will shampoo all the carpets throughout the Guest House; we will have the tarmac surface of our driveways and parking lots maintained.

Many brothers take advantage of this time to take their vacation. For the moment, Br. Robert James is vacationing at a friend's house in the valley. And Br. Josép is in the middle of a two-week scouting trip to Scotland to prepare next year's Celtic Pilgrimage. Next weekend, I will be visiting my family in Belgium to attend the civilian wedding of my nephew and godson Ludovic to his Chinese fiancee. I love that our world is ever more becoming One.

Our Open Hearts, Open Doors Capital Campaign projects continue to be undertaken. For the moment, the focus is on the renovation of our sacristy. It will be a beautiful and more functional sacristy when it is completed. The renovation means that the sacristans (Br. Robert Leo and Br. Max) have had to move to a temporary location inside our recently completed indoor garden atrium. Their temporary space is much larger than they need and it is distant from the church. But they are enjoying the roominess and air conditioning of their exile.

Sacristies: temporary and under renovation. From top left, clockwise: Br. Roy getting some computer help from Br. Max in the temporary sacristy (it has its own winter garden...); in the permanent sacristy, new enclosed closets to store vestments; pots of paints on the ground and tools of the trade for our builders; ladders to work on the dropped ceiling; Br. Robert Leo getting ready to go mop and dust the church (can you tell he loves cleanliness). 

After an exceedingly hot weekend last week, we have enjoyed cooler and more seasonal weather this week. Guests have been enjoying our cloisters and gardens to the full.

Guests and flowers. From top left, clockwise: two best friends enjoying one of their favorite place (The Rev. Alison Quin and The Rev. Gwyneth Murphy); thistles honoring St Benedict; agapanthus blooms in the front, tobacco plants in the background; Japanese lilies at the feet of  Our Lady and  Child statue; lots of people on the Great Cloister to enjoy the evening cool breeze before supper.

Check out our retreat programs for the new Guest House season on our website at:
https://holycrossmonastery.com/events/
It is not too early to plan your next visit to the monastery.

Blessings on your summer.