Preparing for the Guesthouse reopening

This is the last full week before we reopen our doors to overnight guests next Wednesday (September 1). The staff and Brother Aidan have done a fantastic job of cleaning, refreshing and sprucing up our guesthouse.

This past Saturday, I sent an email to 450+ Associates to invite them to write and send their annual report in the weeks to come. We will now work on the print mailing to the 80 Associates we have no email for.

I have already received a couple dozens reports. It is inspiring to read some of what our Associates are about in their various living conditions.

We have many more Associates to connect with because we have integrated the Associates who were connected to Mount Calvary Monastery in Santa Barbara in what we do from West Park.

This Saturday, I read Associate Vern Jones' report with joy as he recounts 71 years of association with our Order. After reading him, I called him to thank him for his report and chat a bit with him. He is a sprightly 94 years old and still ministers to a local parish in California. We reckon he might be the Dean of Associates. But I'm new to this job, so I'll see if we find someone with more seniority than Vern.

Garden blooms. Left, a very large hibiscus flower.
Right, a delicate clematis vine growing through a lilac bush.

Be safe. Let's keep one another safe.