Merry Christmas!

With the exception of Br. Luc who is visiting our South Africa brothers, everyone was home for Christmas. In the months leading up to Christmas, Br. Josép has assembled and rehearsed a schola of seven men to sing before the First Vespers of Christmas and the mass on Christmas Day. On the performance days we were joined by the Rev. Suzanne Guthrie who added flute music to many numbers. By all accounts, we sounded good. It is a joyous thing to make beautiful sounds together.

The schola. From top left, clockwise: the singers listen to the Rev. Suzann Guthrie accompanying Br. Josép's singing on the flute; a warm-up session in the North end of the Monastic Library before the first Vespers of Christmas; Br. Josép singing before Vespers; our aspirant Ephrem Arcement (in the background) singing in the visitor's gallery for Christmas mass; Br. Josép giving us our beginning notes with Br. Aidan listening.

On Wednesday evening, at the initiative of Br. Robert Leo, Saint Nicholas made an appearance for readings and  songs on this not not-so-well-known saint. Saint Nick had a beard that reminded some of our Postulant Daniel and was assisted by our Intern Eric.

Honoring Saint Nicholas. From left, clockwise: the narrator of the evening, Br. Robert Leo in a suitably festie t-shirt; St Nick and his helper, intern Eric Anthony, distributing goodies; St Nick processing in.

On Christmas Eve, our guests swung into action and helped us to decorate the Christmas tree and deck Pilgrim Hall beautifully. We had the biggest, fullest Christmas tree I have yet seen in Pilgrim Hall. It took a dozen of us to trim it appropriately.

Trimming the huge Christmas tree. From top left, clockwise: Jake and Jess, from Virginia; Br. Bernard as one of Santa's elves; intern Eric Anthony and Br. Aidan looking up to a tree decorator on the ladder; Jonathan Mudge of Austin, TX, Mary Allan of Medford, NJ and aspirant Ephrem Arcement of New Orleans, LA, decorating the tree; an angel keeping watch at the top of the tree.

Christmas decorators. From top left, clockwise: Jess and Jake from Virginia; Beth Beaudin from Fairfield, CT and Mary Allan from Medford, NJ; guests in decoration mode; Jane Nunez of NYC; Br. Aidan posing in front of his patron saint's stained glass window.

While the guests were busy in the Guesthouse, crews of monks took care of greening the church and decorating our enclosure common room.

Church and enclosure decoration. From top left, clockwise: Br. Josép setting up lights on top of our common room bookshelves; Br. Randy next to a fully trimmed tree; poinsetias in the church; the "before" picture of the creche; greenery gracing the statue of the Lady and Child.

This year the creche took center stage in fron of the altar. We enjoy it more visually than in the back of the church and it is more accessible for worshipping baby Jesus.

The creche with baby Jesus having arrived.

As always, our staff enabled our hospitality to flourish. Chef Bob Morano served a great feast for Christmas Day. We fetched Br. Laurence at his nursing home for the day and he thoroughly enjoyed conversing with brothers and guests.

Christmas guests. From top left, clockwise; overview of the refectory; Br. Laurence, Br. Robert Hagler and Jonathan Mudge with his uncle Br. Bede (back visible); Bros. in conversation; Christmas mass visitors (Sisters Shane and Elizabeth, CMA and the Rev. Suzanne Guthrie); the Rev. Matthew Wright with Br. Josép and intern Eric Anthony.

May you encounter God amongst us in these twelve days of Christmastide.