Reopening the Guesthouse

We reopened our Guesthouse on Wednesday, the first day of September. We had long awaited the time when we could safely restart our hospitality ministry. We have welcomed lots of guests during the week and this weekend. Return visitors are pleased with the improvements we have made. First time visitors seem to fit right in.

Then hurricane Ida invited herself too and dumped over four inches of rain on us in a few hours. We had feared flash floods (which didn't happen). And we got away with a few infiltrations in the usual spots. The belltower always captures a lot of water in situations like this. But all counted, nothing dramatic. However, rail service on the Metro North Hudson line has been suspended since. This complicated transportation for several of our guests.

Monks and Guests. From top left, clockwise: Br. Robert James preaching (2 pictures); our Associates John Chichester and Suzanne Guthrie in the coffee area after Sunday mass; longtime visitors David and The Rev. Colleen Spaeth; longtime visitors Larnie and Anne Hiller and Bill Consiglio.

On Friday morning, I was to give a presentation on how to write a Rule of Life in NYC, at the General Theological Seminary's orientation retreat for new and returning students. A GTS friend collected me by car at the monastery early Friday morning and returned me home on Saturday morning. It was great to see the students on campus and to hear the faculty do presentations on the virtues (the theme of the retreat).

Pandemic allowing, I will return to the GTS campus every month this academic year to once more offer spiritual direction to students and faculty.

This Sunday, our Superior, Brother Robert James restarted our habit of dominical sermons. You can find his sermon on our semons blog.

This week we have compleded the installation of an electric vehicle charging station in the Sacristy parking lot (along the Middle House). It will accommodate up to two EV's charging simultaneously. We are happy to contribute to the energy transition away from fossil fuels in this way. You can now visit us with you electric car. Saint Eligius and Saint Lucy are patron saints of electricians. Maybe this should be known as the Saints Eligius and Lucy station...

The Saints Eligius and Lucy station - our new electric vehicle charging station (3 pictures)

This weekend, the Rev. Alison Quin came on retreat with a member of staff and five fellows of the Grace Year program at Grace Church in Millbrook, NY. Grace Year is a community of young adults sharing in a year of reflection and development — a grace period in life — to prepare for lifelong journeys of ​sustained leadership for the common good. We always welcome young people who aspire to serve in the world.

Monks and Guests 2. From top, clockwise: Br. Aidan reading the menu before Sunday dinner in front of assembled monks and guests in the refectory; Associate Carol Craddock and regular Sunday visitor Sarah Gardner sharing coffee and conversation on the Great Cloister (2 pictures); the Grace Year fellows (2 pictures) John, Thomas, The Rev. Alisonn Quin, Adelle, Kristin, Kira and Ris.

As always, be safe. Share vaccine success stories and wear a mask when in public.