Time with our Associates

This week, we had the pleasure to welcome a couple dozens Associates for their winter retreat. Our Associate of fourty years, Kurt Ascherman, led his fellow Associates in reflection, prayer and practice about "Benedict for the rest of us." Bros. Timothy, Josép and Robert Leo also contributed sessions.

Associates of Holy Cross on retreat. From top left, clockwise: the Rev. Mark Stiegler, from Henrietta, NY; Kurt Ascherman, our retreat leader, from Leesburg, VA; Ann Wait, from Gansevoort, NY; the Rev. Fletcher Davis, from Amherst, MA; Walt Liefeld, from Coatesville, PA; Ann Burlein, from Jackson Heights, NY; John Elliott, from Philadelphia, PA; Allan Spencer, from St Catherines, ON.

We had a mix of seasoned Associates, Associate Probationers (trying their Rule of Life for an initial six months) and inquirers on the retreat. There was a great atmosphere of studiousness and camaraderie.

Associate retreat. From top left, clockwise: gathering in the refectory to hear the menu and say graces; the great oak in the little cloister at dusk; you know you're in a Benedictine retreat when people carry RB80 (a contemporary version of the Rule of St Benedict) in their back pocket; Suellen Nelson, from Beacon, NY and Ann Wait catching up; tables of Associates enjoying conversation over supper (two pictures).

On Thursday, we had a social reception for the Associates and all our other guests in Pilgrim Hall. We had the joy of receiving Donn Mitchell, from Princeton, NJ. as a new Associate at Eucharist on Friday morning.

Reception and reception. In the center: the reception of Donn Mitchell as an Associate. From top left, clockwise: the Thursday afternoon pre-Vespers social for Associates and guests (8 pictures).

Before the Pilgrim Hall reception, Br. Robert Leo had led the group of Associates on a monastery tour; always a popular activity. Br. Robert Leo has encyclopedic knowledge to share about the monastery. He is well suited to be our Order's Archivist. And he is witty in sharing the knowledge.

Visitors and Guests. From top left, clockwise: Sunday mass attendees (Anne Hiller, Agnes and Richard West and Emilie Trautmann); Br. Robert Leo leading a tour of the monastery for the Associates (2 pictures - first in the church, next in the incense room); Sunday mass attendees (the Rev. Clair McPherson and the Rev. Suzanne Guthrie).

This Sunday, our Superior, Br. Robert James returned home from his month-long visit to our Brothers at St Benedict Priory in Hermanus, Western Cape Province, South Africa.