A Postulant joins the monastery

We had many guests this week. At the weekend, we reached our (pandemic) capacity of about 28 guests (groups and mostly individuals). It is so good to welcome pilgrims and visitors again.

Guests and guest protection. From top left, clockwise: Jennifer Brown, from Hewitt, NJ; guests and monks enjoying the lovely weather; a nearly full parking lot (sight unseen for months); Brothers wear a mask filing in and out of choir (masks hanging with a cowl in the statio - 2 pictures).

The great news of the week is that Mr. Daniel Beckham, of Pittsburgh, PA, entered the monastery as a Postulant to try his monastic vocation with us. Please pray for Daniel and for those in charge of his monastic formation (Brothers Robert James and Josép).

A new face in choir and in chapter. From top left, clockwise: Daniel in choir (2 pictures) behind Br. Carl celebrating mass and Br. Robert James; Daniel received as a Postulant in Chapter after mass (3 pictures).

Our guests and visitors are very good about wearing their masks to protect each other. At meals, the monastic community eats in a separate room to leave enough space for guests to be properly distanced in the refectory. All the meals are taken in silence in the refectory to limit the risk of contagion.

Gathering at the church entrance after Sunday mass. From top left, clockwise: Sister Elizabeth Broyles of the Companions of Mary the Apostle and Sister Annie-hannah Mancini, a religious solitary from Woodstock, NY; our favorite missionaries (Argentina-based) are here for a week of retreat - Monica and Vega and Heidi Schmidt; Br. Robert Leo and Sister Annie-hannah; Br. Aidan and The Rev. Suzanne Guthrie.

I love to see projects come to completion. Sometimes it is a long arduous path to get there. Fifteen years ago, as a novice in charge of our monastic library, I purchased a computer-based catalog with the hope of converting our card catalog to it in a couple of years. In the intervening years, we have catalogued upwards of 11,000 volumes and made the catalog available online. Now the time has come to retire the old faithful card catalog which has become obsolete. I offered Sister Annie-hannah the pieces of furniture that housed the library cards. She rehabs old furniture and constrution pieces into "industrial rustic" pieces. You can sample her work on her website. This Sunday morning, she came to disassemble the card catalog and adopt it for creative reuse.

One of our contractors replaced the French doors to the back entrance to the monastery that were in very bad shape. They fit right in with the style of the guesthouse. This will give a more fitting entrance to the Iona suite, a series of bedrooms with sitting room, kitchenette and bathroom for long-term visitors.

From top left, clockwise: Sister Annie-hannah disassembling our old library card catalog; the new French doors at the back of the guesthouse (2 pictures); the card catalog as it stood during the many years it served us well; more disassembling.

This is the annual reporting season for the Holy Cross Associates. I receive and read and respond to dozens of reports each week. It is wonderful to get a view of  how their Associate Rule of Life supports our Associates into faithful lives. They do a lot of good in the world.

Be well, be safe.