Merry Christmas

We wish you a blessed Christmastide! Yes, Christmas is a twelve-day season. May you enjoy all of it.

But before we got to Christmas we had a beautiful last Friday in Advent. 

This past Friday, the Council of the Order of the Holy Cross approved Br. Edwin Kriel's request to make the first profession of his Benedictine vow. This will happen in South Aftrica in the few months after Edwin's return home at St Benedict's Priory in Hermanus, Western Cape province.

And at Vespers, we clothed Anthony Letchworth as our latest Novice. Br. Anthony looks great in white.

Please hold these two men in prayer as they proceed further along the route of their monastic vocations.

Anthony Letchworth's clothing as a Novice. Center bottom, Brother Anthony flanked by his parents Carol and Thomas Letchworth, of Springfield, MO.

In the days before Christmas, some culinary preparations need to be taken care of. 

This year our South African Brother Edwin prepared a specialty for the monks' Christmas Eve breakfast. Koeksisters are traditional South African sticky donut treats. They are sweet, sticky, crunchy and drenched in syrup laced with cinnamon. Edwin's version is sprinkled with coconut shavings. Yummo!

Br. Josép invited interested parties to attend the preparation of his delicious Coquito cocktail. Coquito is a traditional Christmas drink that originated in Puerto Rico. The coconut-based alcoholic beverage is creamy, sweet and strong. Just don't call it Puerto Rican eggnog to Br. Josép's face. We will taste the Coquito at the Brothers' Christmas Day get-together after we close the Guesthouse for a day of sabbath.

Getting ready for Christmas. From top left, clockwise: Br. Josép preparing Coquito bottles with the help of Novice Edwin and frequent visitor Julien Deshler (4 pictures); center picture, rising sun reflected in the refectory windows; bottom center, Br. Edwin's delicious Koeksisters; Br. Josép on a hike with Julian to the Black Creek in the nearby John Burroughs Sanctuary.

We host a full house of guests at Christmas. They keep arriving through the days leading to the feast and enjoy the quiet, prayerful lead up to the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. We keep Advent till the end. The Christmas decorations go up on Christmas Eve (it's been know to happen on December 23 in some years; nobody is perfect).

Decking the halls. Brothers and guests decorating the guesthouse Christmas tree in Pilgrim Hall.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: the four candles lit on the Advent wreath; Lynne Mehalick, from VA and Gretchen Price, of West New York, NJ, doing a jigsaw puzzle; Julian Deshler reading near busy puzzlers; Bill Consiglio and Suzanne Guthrie, of Woodstock, NY, and Lila and Claire, from ME, collaboratin on a puzzle; James Rostron, of Silver Spring, MD and Jane Nunez of NYC resting; Christmas tree decorators Lila and Claire; Beth Beaudin, of Fairfield, CT and Br. Ephrem (intern Clay Wackerman in the background).

Br. José rehearsed and led a talented Christmas Schola. They performed both before the First Vespers of Christmas (on Christmas Eve) and before Christmas Day Mass. They play and sing for a half hour before the liturgies. It is a delightful and soothing way into further devotions.

The Christmas Schola. From top left, clockwise: Br. Josép leading the seven-strong schola; The Rev. Suzanne Guthrie, of Woodstock, NY, playing the flute and Br. Anthony, playing the mandolin; two group pictures of the Schola; Bros. Anthony, Ephrem and Marc singing (Postulant Samuel Kennedy in the right forefront).

The Church is looking very festive with its many poinsetias and the beautiful crèche. Now to remember to water those poinsetias...

Greens and the crèche around the church.

Peace!