An Associates retreat

This week, we were welcoming 25 Associates, Probationer Associates and observers to our Winter Associates Retreat. Associates of Holy Cross have been a part of our Order's life for over a century.

Associates are interested in cultivating a more ordered spiritual life in companionship with Holy Cross Monastery.  Like OHC brothers, Associates commit to anchoring daily life in the basic values of Benedictine spirituality: Community, Hospitality, Humility, Balance, and Mindfulness.

This winter retreat was devoted to the study of four of those values. Bros. Aidan, Robert James, Robert Leo and Randy led the retreatants through a reflection on Balance, Humility, Community and Mindfulness over a four-day period.

The Associate Fall Retreat. From top, clockwise: Br. Robert Leo spoke with the Associates about the Benedictine value of humility; Associate Raymon Harbort of Newtown, PA; from left, Associate Mary Allan of Medford, NJ, new Associate Denise Bessette of Cortlandt Manor and Maryann de Prophetis of New Paltz, NY.

During this retreat, we had the pleasure to receive seven (7 !) Associate Probationers into the Associates program. We received four one day and three of them another. Would you say a prayer for our new Associates?

Seven new Associates! From top left, clockwise: Christopher Sanderson of Hyde Park, NY; Denise Bessette of Cortlandt Manor, NY; Michael Cudney of Manhattan, NY; James Snodgrass of Baltimore, MD; Tim Grayson of Timonium, MD; Maggie Breen of Chaplin, CT; Tim Auman of Winston Salem, NC; and the seven Associates crosses lying ready in Br. Bernard's office at the beginning of the week.

On Wednesday, we observed the Office of the Dead and sang a Requiem mass for the benefit of our late Br. Christian Swayne who died in Toronto on October 25. He had suffered a debilitating illness for the last several years. We will miss him. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

An archive photo of Br. Christian Swayne, OHC.

All our retreatants took advantage of the clement weather and beautiful autumnal colors.

Various views of the meadow and the river Hudson, one with Samuel Kennedy, our alongsider, walking his labrador Summer (she loves it down there).

Our guests and Associates also rested and relaxed in our Guesthouse.

Associates and guests. From top clockwise: Associate Joan Golan of Bronxville, NY, solving a jigsaw puzzle; Associate Meg Galbraith of East Longmeadow, MA, enjoying a quiet read; frequent guest Sue Nanka-Bruce of Richmond Hill, NY doing her steps indoors; new Associates and long-time friends James Snodgrass and Tim Grayson in the church; frequent guest Ellen Wright of Brooklyn, NY, in the refectory; Associates Suellen Nelson of Beacon, NY, and Maggie Breen of Chaplin, CT, having a chat in Pilgrim Hall.

And on Thursday afternoon, we all had a reception in honor of our Associates.

Reception in Pilgrim Hall. From top, clockwise: Associate Karen Freitag of York, PA in conversation with Br. Josèp; conversation groups; Postulant Marc Santana in the middle ground in conversation with pastor Jonathan Campbell of Forked River, NJ; Associates Jenny Brown of Hewitt, NJ and Nadine Revheim of Beacon, NY; new Associate Michael Cudney of Manhattan, NY, in conversation with Br. Carl; two associates who are also monastery volunteers, Maryanne de Prophetis of New Paltz, NY, and Suellen Nelson of Beacon, NY.

Being a Holy Cross Associate is not all parties and fun, but if you're interested in deepening your spiritual life in association with our monastic community, check out our Associates webpage.