Summer down time

Our Guesthouse reopened to visitors this past Friday. We have had some much needed down time during August. Several brothers took this opportunity to go on vacation, family visit or staycation.

The month of August started with a joyful occasion. The Rev. Samuel Kennedy who has been a claustral alongsider for a year, entered the monastic community on Tuesday, August 1. "And then, there were three!" West Park postulants that is. Our Formator, Br. Josép has his hands full. Thanks be to God for all our men in formation.

Samuel's reception as a postulant. Our three postulants (from left to right) are Anthony Letchworth, Jeffrey Costello and Samuel Kennedy.

During August, there is some more time for leisurely activities. We go on hikes, to sports events, on excursions and the like.

Outings. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Josép and Randy's yearly walk round the Ashokan Reservoir; Br. Josép vacationing while pet-sitting at a friend's house in Cottekill: saying goodbye to the pooches; Bros. Randy and Josép and our three postulants rooting for the Hudson Valley Renegades (our local baseball team); our men in formation visiting St John the Divine Cathedral in NYC sporting the same Holy Cross Monastery t-shirt; Br. Bernard piloting a friend's boat on Lake George; Bros. Bernard and Aidan hiking in Saratoga National Historical Park.

We saw many places of beauty this August. But then we come back home and appreciate the local beauty all the more.

Sights of beauty. From top left, clockwise: Mother and Child in a small side chapel in our crypt; the Mystical Lamb polyptic in St Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium; the little church at New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, NY; a sprawling white clematis overtakes the lilac bush at the corner of our Guesthouse.

We hope you'll visit us again soon. Peace.