A bit of Santa Barbara in West Park

Brothers Robert James and Luc are coming to the end of their quarantine next Tuesday.

This past Monday, the moving truck arrived with our belongings from Mount Calvary Monastery in Santa Barbara. New (to us) items are appearing everywhere. Many will be auctioned off to support the running of the Santa Barbara house until we find a buyer. Br. Timothy and two boarders are on premises to maintain and secure them in the meantime.

On Wednesday, we celebrated the feast of  our founder, Father James Otis Sargent Huntington.

Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving with lovely food and in our own company (bit sad, that).

Friday, Br. Robert Leo led the monastic community in a faith-sharing about "retreat." It was a good preparation for our coming Long Retreat. We will be on Long Retreat from next Tuesday to the Tuesday a week hence. We love our eight-day silent retreat. This year we chose to not have addresses by a facilitator and to further simplify our litrugical schedule to leave ample time for silence and solitude.

From top left, clockwise: my family and Sister Mary Klock RSM at St Mary's house (up the hill) in November 2006; Brothers and alongsiders enjoying dinner on the feast of Father Huntington (3 picutes); surrounding the Thanksgiving dinner with Br. Randy reading the menu and praying grace.

Today is the birthday of my late father, Jacques Delcourt. He would have turned 92. He died ten years ago. My niece shared an old photo of the last time my whole family was in West Park (November 2006). My dad used to be one my most faithful blog and sermons reader. I miss him.

May we all have a blessed Advent.