Chapter of the Order of the Holy Cross

This week, we prayed for Br. Randy on the anniversary of his Life Profession (in 2010).

This Saturday, Br. Luc was off to a two week vacation at our monastery in Santa Barbara, CA.

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On Thursday, we held the 309th Chapter of the Order of the Holy Cross. The West Park monks gathered in our Chapter Room and we got all together on Zoom (from California, Ontario and the Western Cape province of South Africa). Due to the time difference with South Africa, we held our meeting in the morning, starting at 8 a.m. EST (2 p.m. for our South African Brothers, 5 a.m. for the Californians).

A second chapter on Zoom. From top left, clockwise: the Brothers in West Park's Chapter Room (Bros. Bede, Josép, Robert Leo, Scott); all the West Park Brothers facing the screen and camera; the gallery view of our Brothers on the Zoom call; Bros. Bernard (Secretary of Chapter), Robert James (Superior), Aidan (managing the Zoom screen and the mikes) - (2 pictures)

This is the second time we conduct our Chapter on Zoom because of the Covid 19 pandemic. We were well prepared and conducted our business swiftly (reports, council elections, resolutions and the like).

At 10 a.m. we had the in-person visit of Derek Nolan, our Account Manager at Merrill Lynch to give us an overview of how our long-term financial reserves are performing (the short of it is "very well despite a harrowing year"). He brought donuts. Too bad you can't share those on Zoom...

At 11 a.m. we had a Zoom presention by Bishop Stacy Sauls and Andrew Joyce of Love Must Act about Holy Cross School in Makhanda (Grahamstown's new name), South Africa. Check out their website. We are grateful for the work they do on behalf of the students and their families, and the devoted staff of the school.

We look forward to the day we can do this all in person in the same locale again. Zoom works. But there is a richness and depth of interaction in being together in conference and meetings for a few days that we are all missing. Patience, patience!

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The blooming report says roses, roses, roses; in all colors and with or without sweet perfume but always with thorns.

Blooms from our gardens. From top left, clockwise: a little arrangement of coreopsis and lavender on my office's desk (2 pictures); salmon pink roses near the Pantocrator icon (3 pictures); an arrangement of yellow roses and lavender in front of the St Augustine icon.

This coming week, I am leaving on an eight-day Ignatian retreat at Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, Massachussets. The Monastery Column will be back in two weeks' time.

If you're vaccinated, thank you. Tell folks how great it is to be able to do things that were no longer advisable before. The more unvaccinated people hear from friends and family about the benefits of being vaccinated, the more likely they are to join you in getting the jab. I am getting to go visit my family in Belgium in July. I haven't seen them in person in two years.