Entering into Holy Week

Last Sunday, we had our lenten service of lessons and hymns. Kairos, A Consort Of Singers, led the musical part of the service. Several readers drawn from our community and Kairos read the lessons.

This week we hosted a large group of clergy from the Diocese of Newark, NJ, with their bishop for their retreat.

Lent continued. From top left, clockwise: Kairos, AConsort Of Singers, singing in St Augustine's church for the lenten service of lessons and hymns; the Brothers joining in for a hymn (Br. John in the forefront); Newark Diocese clergy relaxing in Pilgrim Hall (two pictures); Br. Ephrem, Mr. Jim Huston, monastic intern and the Rev. Samuel Kennedy, claustral aspirant look at a picture on Jim's phone; the Rev. Landon Moore, from Brooklyn, NY, enjoying his retreat.

On Thursday, March 30, Mr. Josias Morobi was received as a novice into our St Benedict's Priory community in Hermanus, South Africa. The SBP community is currently forming two monks, Edwin and Josias. Thanks be to God.

A clothing in South Africa and spring blooming in West Park. From top left, clockwise: Mr. Josias Morobi receiving his monastic habit from his Prior, Br. Roger Stewart; Br. Scott, Br. Edwin, Br. Roger and Br. Josias after the clothing; Br. Scott congratulates Br. Josias on his entry into the novitiate; first glimpse of daffodils in the meadow (two pictures); maple blossoms on the branch.

This week, demolition work started in the old Guesthouse kitchen. Food service tranferred to the temporary kitchen stationed in the Sacristy parking lot. Our chefs Bob and Melissa continue to produce delicious food for our guests and the community from their new digs.

Kitchen old and temporary. From top left, clockwise: demolition reveals architectural features not seen in decades (four pictures); the inside of our temporary kitchen (2 pictures), with chef Melissa cooking a storm.

This Sunday, we started the observance of Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday. As has been the case for several year now, Princeton Seminary students and alumni on retreat at the monastery participated in the reading of the passion.

Before the Palm Sunday eucharist. From top left, clockwise: Br. Randy calls us to worship by ringing the tower bell (two pictures); Professor Bo Karen Lee (center) with Princeton Seminary retreatants; Ann Hiller of New Paltz, NY; Ellen Metzger O'Shea, of Poughkeepsie, and Maryanne De Prophetis, of New Paltz, NY; Agnes and Richard West, of Esopus, NY; Bros. Bede and Timothy seated and Jim Huston, standing; the palms ready to be blessed.

We start the Palm Sunday liturgy in Pilgrim Hall and then process to the St Augustine Church.

The liturgy of the palms. From top left, clockwise: Br. Robert James, our celebrant sprinkles the palms with holy water; Br. Robert James censes the palms under the attentive eye of Br. Luc, our thurifer; Br. Robert James distributing the palm; Br. Josép leading the chanting during the procession to the church (followed by Br. Randy); gathering in the statio before entering the church; the procession enter the sanctuary; Br. Robert James censing the ambo; retreatants processing through the ambulatory on their way to the church.

We wish you a blessed Holy Week.