The two first weeks of Eastertide

Br. Luc is currently visiting family and friends in Kenya for a month.

In Easter week, Br. Bernard represented the monastery at a celebration of life of Dr. Audrey Evans in the Philadelphia area. Audrey was a frequent visitor to the monastery for over 30 years and an Asssociate of Holy Cross the last 12 years of her life. She was a renowned pediatric oncologist who pioneered a successful treatment for neuroblastoma. In 1974, with the the help of Philadelphia Eagles manager Jimmy Murray, she founded the first Ronald McDonald House near The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. There are now over 380 RMDC's across the world to care for families of hospitalized children. In her retirement, with The Rev. Sean Mullen of her parish, St Mark's Philadelphia, she founded St James School for under-served children in North Philadelphia. Br. Bernard was hosted at St James School which shows many resemblances with Holy Cross School in Makhanda, South Africa.

Celebrating an Associate in Philadelphia. From left, clockwise: Philadelphia Eagles manager Jimmy Murray and Holy Cross Associate Dr. Audrey Evans at the opening of an extension of Ronald MacDonad House, Phildelphia, in the mid 2000's; St James Head of School, David Kasievich and Br. Bernard receiving a tour of RMDC, in front of portraits of Audrey (2 pictures): Br. Bernard on the bank of the rive Schuylkill; a blooming magnolia grandiflora welcoming guests to the monastery. 

This past week, we received four new members in the Associates of Holy Cross. What a remarkable and inspiring collection of people our Associates are. All four are clergy but you don't need to be one to be an Associate of Holy Cross. Just get in touch with Br. Bernard, our Director of Associates.

Newest Associates and very happy Associates Director. From top left, clockwise: the Rev. Ian Montgomery, of Bryn Mawr, PA; the Rev. Mark Stiegler, of Henrietta, NY; Mark, with his partner Sharon Cotteleer; the Rev. Jonathan Campbell, of Forked River, NJ; the Rev. Olivia Hilton of Washington, DC, with her son Aaron.

All the while, construction on the new Guesthouse kitchen is moving along.

Work in progress. From top left, clockwise: digging trenches in the kitchen ground for plumbing brings up lots of big rocks (three pictures); a robotic tree stump grinder being remotely controlled in the cemetery; digging to waterproof the south wall of the kitchen.

But none of it keeps the spring from blooming all aound us and monks venturing outside to enjoy it.

Springtime. From top left, clockwise: rosebud branches from the garden gracing the church; a foggy morning on the river; garden blooms at the foot of the paschal candle (two pictures); Br. Bede enjoying quite contemplation on the enclosure porch; Br. Timothy deadheading a large plant of Moutauk Daisies near the refectory (two pictures).

At the end of Easter week, Br. Francis brought home two colonies of honeybees. They reside at the north end of the upper parking lot level of our property.

Blooms and Brothers. From top left, clockwise: a variety of daffodils near the driveway; a Lenten Rose (aka a Hellebore) nearby; freshly repainted beehives and their residents (two pictures); Br. Francis conducting a hive inspection (all is OK); Br. Aidan preparing to celebrate the Eucharist at Ascension Holy Trinity church at the top of our hill.

Eastertide blessings to you.