A colourful autumn

Br. Timothy is taking a two-week vacation. Last Sunday before he left was the last opportunity to take a community picture for our upcoming Christmas card. Br. Laurence was visiting us from his nursing home for a couple of hours. We had a short window of opportunity. Our Associate and Guesthouse volunteer Suellen Nelson learned to use Br. Randy's sophisticated camera and took several shots to make sure everyone was grinning and not blinking. The result will appear in mailboxes in  late December.

This weekend, our Associate John Decker, a professional photographer and videographer, offered to do photo shoots with Bros. Robert James and Robert Leo. Selected shots will be used in the YouTube vocation profile videos that Br. Josép puts together from time to time. Inquirers have mentioned those videos a number of time as inspiring them to make contact with us.

Photo shoots. From top left, clockwise: The Rev. Samuel Kennedy pushes Br. Laurence to his position; Bros. Timothy, Randy (back), Luc, Laurence and Robert James after the taking of the Christmas card picture; the brothers filing back inside the enclosure (3 pictures); Associate John Decker at work for a photo shoot of Br. Robert James at sunrise.

This week, Br. Bernard was visited by a friend from his childhood. Mr. François Crabbé, from Brussels, Belgium. François was a leader of Bernard's cub-scout pack when he was 12 year-old (François was 18 at the time; his Jungle Book character was Baloo the bear). In the intervening years, Bernard had become lifelong friends with François' younger brother Bruno who died two years ago. Lifepaths can be sinuous and interesting.

This past Thursday, Bros. John and Bernard hosted a Thank You dinner for volunteers of the Library and Asssociates department. It is heartwarming to see the connections that have built with and among our volunteers. We are lucky to receive their work and enjoy their enthusiasm.

Monastery folks. From top left, clockwise: Br. Bernard and Mr. François Crabbé; Brothers and guests enjoying Sunday dinner in the refectory; Postulant Marc Santana and Bros. Luc and Daniel chatting prior to the Sunday dinner; Br. John and Associate and volunteer Susan Barbarisi enjoying a break from cleaning the library.

The weather continues to be above freezing point during nights. So the asters and chrysanthemum persevere in blooming. Meanwhile the trees are producing glorious colours throughout the Hudson Valley. We have front seats for this show.

Autumn colours. From top: a panoramic view of the fall colours in our part of the valley; three riverviews with the turning of the leaves; two pictures of russet chrysanthemums in the church entrance.

Autumn blessings to you.