CAROA gathering

Our formation team (Bros. Josép, Francis, Marc and the Rev. Samuel Kennedy) are away at an inter-novitiate formation in Philadelphia this weekend.

The gardens are turning glorious once more. The crabapple-lined lane behind the monastery is awash in pinkish white blossoms. And a purple azalea is welcoming guests in front of the guesthouse.

Blooms inside and out. From top, clockwise: the crabapple lined drive behind the monastery; the azalea in front of the guesthouse; flowering perennials awaiting planting in the garden; lilacs in front of the St Augustine icon at the entrance to our church; crabapple and tulips at the foot of the paschal candle; Br. Daniel Ludik from St Benedict's Priory in Hermanus, South Africa, hard at work in our cemetery.

This week, we were hosting a gathering of CAROA formators and superiors. CAROA stands for Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas. We had representatives of a dozen orders in attendance. They had lots of interesting and fruitful meetings and time to hang out together. The local monastic community got to meet them at meals and at a social the night before the representatives departed. 

Such a wealth of prayer, worship and devotion to service is represented by the member orders of CAROA. Thanks be to God for the varied Anglican religious life in Canada and the United States.

CAROA (Conference of Religious Orders in the Americas). From top, clockwise: portrait of all the attendees in their varied religious habits; Br. Bernard's Thursday afternoon helping angels (volunteers Maryanne De Prophetis, Joan McGilvray and Elisabeth Sheehey); Br. Aidan at table with CAROA members; the farewell social on Friday evening (three pictures).