Same day, two anniversaries

Everyday, we remember in the Prayers of the People the anniversaries of our Order. After mass, we gather for daily chapter. Part of daily chapter consists in reading a biographical notice on a Brother who died on that day. This past Saturday, we read the biographical notice for Br. Roy Parker who died just a year ago. You can see the notice on our Fabebook page. I miss Br. Roy. I sit in Centering Prayer twice a day on his meditation bench which I inherited and when I open my eyes, I see his funeral card which still sits on my little prayer altar.

This Sunday, we marked the fiftieth anniversary of Br. Richard Vaggione to the priesthood. Br. Richard was our preacher and you can hear his reflections on Lent and the priesthood on our Sermons Blog.

You know we post an audio file and a text of sermons most Sundays and First Class Feasts, right? If not, it's time to subscribe to receive e-mail warnings that we have posted a new sermon at the Holy Cross Monastery Sermons blog (look in the upper right corner of the screen for the "Follow by email" field).

Br. Richard can not longer preside at the altar because of mobility and balance challenges. But this Sunday we seated him in the chancel so that he might concelebrate the mass with Br. Robert James our presider and his fellow ordained Brothers. Br. Richard also preached and gave us his blessing at the end of mass and said the dismissal.

Anniversaries. From top left, clockwise: archival portrait of Br. Roy Parker; Br. Richard Vaggione sitting in the chancel to concelebrate the Eucharist (two pictures): Br. Richard preaching at the ambo (two pictures); Br. Richard surrounded by his ordained Brothers.

We are blessed to have seven priests, just half of our monastery's monks. Five of them are regularly able to preside at our altar. Two of them (Bros. Bob and Randy) also take care of local parishes.

May you stay safe. Keep everyone safe too. Wear a mask when you need to. We pray for vaccinations to become widely available. Get one if you can. Don't forget; you are saving lives in all these ways! Yes, you are.