Annual Chapter

I am brokenhearted and hopeful at the same time as our country deals both with endemic racism and the covid-19 pandemic. I pray for a dismantling of racism, white supremacy and its nasty little brother, white privilege. I pray that we will reform our economic system to invest in the health of everyone and the proper remuneration of those we call "essential workers" without paying them wages that reflect how essential they are. I see signs that more and more Americans see these things as priorities. May our political system soon reflect this refocusing on the common good.

Here on the banks of the Hudson, little by little, the irises are fading away and peonies are starting to drop petals. It's time for the roses to come into their glory. Our garden keeps giving us cutting flowers plentifully.

Flowers succession. From top left, clockwise: pink rambling roses in the little cloister. One last iris arrangement in the church; simple peonies showing their hearts; an arrangement of double peonies and salvias and columbines (by Br. Robert James) in front of Our Lady and Child; a snapshot of peonies on my desk with a friends'peonies on her dining table.

Is it a pandemic side effect, more brothers are adopting corners of the gardens to tend. At least six brothers have ben spotted working the soil and tending the plants.\

Around the grounds. From top left, clockwise: a bulker ship turns with the tide and turns golden as it catches the setting sun; a squirrel surveys its surroundings from the safety of a fallen tree; Br. Robert Hagler has been planting a bed of annuals near his cell in the enclosure: taking a moment to greet the photographer; the golden boat on the river.

The week was dominated by the holding of the Annual Chapter of our Order of the Holy Cross. Typically, all the Life Professed monks of our four houses converge on West Park to meet in person at our monastery. That was not possible this year. The fourteen monks of our monastery gathered in our Chapter Room and convened with our Brothers of Southern California, Ontario and the Western Cape of South Africa on Zoom. 

We had simplified the agenda to the maximum to keep proceedings within the short window of overlap between the South African late afternoon and the Californian early morning. Typically, we meet for days of conferences and presentations before having the legislative sessions.  This year, we had circulated a lot of information in print by e-mail ahead of time. We met for an hour of legislative actions only. All the necessary decisions were made and elections done. This 136 year-old is still nimble enough to adapt to circumstances. Thanks be to God.

OHC's 308th Chapter. A first: the tele-conference chapter.

This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity. May the Creator, the Redeemer and the Sanctifier keep you safe.

Trinity Sunday. From top left, clockwise: garden roses for Our Lady and Child; these roses are ready for their close-up; other roses in front of the icon of the Trinity; the Brothers listen to a postlude that Br. Max composed for the occasion; Br. Aidan vested to preside at the Eucharist while waiting to the ogran prelude to complete; Br. Randy, waiting fo the same as server.