Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Happy Easter!

Only last week, we were celebrating Palm Sunday and now we're out of Lent.  Alleluias and spring booms have reappeared in the church. Holy Week is always a very special time here. The flow of the liturgies carry us through our history of salvation and resurrection. Three of us preached this Triduum; I preached on Maundy Thursday, Br. Josép preached on Good Friday and Br. Robert Leo on Easter Day. You can always find our sermons on the Holy Cross Sermons blog. Most often you can listen to an audio recording while reading the text.

Before and after. On the left, the icon cross veiled for Holy Week and the Palm Sunday decorations. In the center, the 2021 paschal candle has taken its place in the chancel. On the right, the spring blooms that bring echo the resurrection theme of Eastertide.

We lit the paschal fire on the Great Cloister in the night. We heard the vigil readings in Pilgrim Hall. The renewal of our baptismal vows took place in the Chapter Room. And we ended in St Augustine Church where Br. Robert Leo preached for us. Linking all these locations were processions done with chanting of litanies. It reminded me of all those who walk pilgrimages throughout the world. 

The Easter Vigil. From top left, clockwise: blessing the paschal fire; lighting the paschal candle from the fire; reading the history of salvation; renewing our baptismal vows; hearing Br. Robert Leo's sermon.

We look forward to the time we can again share these celebrations with in-person visitors. Of course, we also appreciate our on-line visitors who have become more numerous through the pandemic. We give thanks for this expansion of our extended community. But hopefully, some who discovered us on-line can in the not-too-distant future come and visit us here as well.

Outside activities are becoming attractive again. As often as possible, I do my daily walking outside. Br. Aidan and our garden volunteer Emily Trautman are seen working in the flowerbeds again. Brothers have been spotted deer watching or river contemplating on the outside porches.

The Brothers. From top left, clockwise: Br. Randy looking at the river from the Little Cloister in-between bellringing duties; ambitiously mounting a cart for his parish on an enclosure porch; Brothers chatting while waiting for Sunday dinner; the brothers past on the wall, some brothers present on the bench (from left to right, Bros. Robert Leo, Will, Carl and John).

We are delighted to host two Aspirants for the moment. As it happens one goes by Danny, the other by Daniel. Thank goodness for keeping us from confusion ;-) They will be with us for a few weeks, living with the community, residing in the enclosure and getting real about whether this might be a vocation for them. Please hold these two men in your prayers (and ask that God keep raising vocations to our monastic life).

Here in Ulster County, more vaccination centers are opening the eligibility has been extended to those over age 30. Our very own Matthew Wright and Yanick Savain (who live at St Mary's House) got their first shots. Yeah!

What about you? Get a vaccine if you can. Stick with protective measures still. Even vaccinated, they are still needed. They still save lives.

You are in our prayers.