Fall Contemplative Days

Everybody is home this weekend. Yeah! Br. Josép returned from visiting his Mom in St Petersburg, FL. And Br. Robert James returned from his vacation in France.

Fall and spring are ideal seasons for hiking in the Hudson valley. This past monday, Bros. Aidan, Ephrem and Marc went to Minnewaska State Park (about 20 miles from the monastery) for a beautiful hike.

Hiking in Minnewaska park. From top, clockwise: Bros. Ephrem, Marc and Aidan by one of the park's lakes; Br. Aidan having a chuckle at an overlook; Bros. Marc and Ephrem climbing down a demanding stretch.

This week, we received three new Associates: Steven Wrigth from Carrollton, GA, Rodman Neumann from Garrison, NY, Gigi Conner from New Orleans, LA. Steven was received on Zoom, in the presence of his parish priest and a half dozen Associates from around the world.

On Saturday, about 35 Associates joined Bros. Bernard and Aidan on Zoom for the third of our Fireside Chats. These are quarterly online events to enable Associates from far and wide to catch up on Monastery news and connect with each other.

Associates. Clockwise, from top left: Rodman Neumann and his wife; Br. Bernard and The Rev. Gigi Conner; a few Associates on the Zoom Fireside Chat; screen shot of the chat in Br. Bernard's office.

It was an otherwise quiet week as we observed Contemplative Days from Tuesday to this Sunday morning. These days involve a simplifired liturgical schedule, fewer guests and every one observing Greater Silence round the clock.

Fall scenes. From top left, clockwise: Samuel enjoying the view with Summer, his golden retriever; a beautiful moonrise over the Hudson (2 pictures); Br. Josép bringing in the geraniums from the enclosure porch before nights get too cold.

Br. Timothy who is now our Grounds Steward is busy in the gardens getting them ready for the fall and winter. And this column wouldn't be complete without a church blooms report.

Fall themed blooms. From top left, clockwise: foliage and daisies by the Pantocrator icon; foliage and daisies in front of St Augustine; asters and daisies at the feet of Our Lady and Child.