Winter? Spring?

Late this week, Bros. Josép and Samuel came home from their respective family visits. And Br. Robert James departed for a week of retreat. Br. Francis is visiting his family in Florida.

The guesthouse is seeing a lot of visitors, both self-directed retreatants and people attending one of our many retreat programs (you can see the calendar for future ones here).

The weather oscillates between days that feel like mid-spring and late winter. It feels bizarre but the warmer sunny days are nice to have. Our bees have started foraging the early blooms. In colder years, they might still have been clusteing inside their hives at this stage.

The hellebores are coming into full bloom and the crocuses (or is it croci?) are putting on their show.

Blossoms and people. From top left, clockwise: wine-colored hellebore; a foraging bee sampling crocus nectar and pollen; white and pink variegated hellebore; white and yellow crocuses in front of the guesthouse: attendees at a Centering Prayer introductory retreat (two pictures, one with Br. Bernard in front of the room).

We have several volunteers who regularly help at the monastery. They work in the guesthouse, in the gardens, in our libraries and in our Associates program. A lot of work would get delayed or neglected without their help. We are very grateful to them. If you live in the mid-Hudson valley and would like considering volunteering options at the monastery let us know.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: intern Clay and Bros. Ephrem and Robert Leo giving communion; Associate Rodman Neumann, of Garrison, NY, reading in front of the Guesthouse; Associate Emily Trautmann, of New Paltz, NY, volunteer in the gardens (3 pictures). 

We hope you have a blessed second half of Lent.