Missionaries

Br. John is on a family visit and vacation in Indiana for a couple of weeks.

This week, we were hosting the orientation week for Episcopal missionaries in two programs: the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) and the Episcopal Volunteers In Mission (EVIM). Our Associate Elizabeth Boe, Mission Personnel Officer at The Episcopal Church, skilfully and gently herds the whole process.

There were seven missionaries getting ready this year. As is our custom, we gather around them and bless them on their way to serve the church and the world.

YASC and EVIM. From top left clockwise: the Brothers circle around the missionaries while Br. Ephrem prays a blessing over them (three pictures); the 4 YASC'ers and 3 EVIM's in front of the Guesthouse.

We hosted few guests this week. July is usually a quiet month in the Guesthouse. Our guest rooms are not air conditioned and it can get hot and muggy in the Hudson valley in the summer. Luckily, the air conditioned church and refectory offer reprieve from the heat.

On Monday, postulant Ben offered an orientation to the tabletop role playing game Dungeons and Dragons for Bros. Aidan, Anthony and Bernard. We got to create our characters and got a taste of the role playing part. The game will continue episodically in the months to come.

Meanwhile, on the enclosure porch, Associate Susan Barbarisi was visiting Br. Bede with her rescue black poodle. They enjoyed conversation and canine companionship.

On Friday, our Associate, videographer John Decker, came to shoot thunder storm scenes for the "Portrait of a Monastery" documentary. John is halfway through the year-long shooting of the meteorological and liturgical seasons at the monastery. The plan is to wrap up shooting by the end of winter. John will edit the documentary in the spring and ambitiously wants the documentary to be ready for showing by the summer 2025.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: postulant Ben initiates Bros. Anthony and Bernard to D&D (Br Aidan played before; two pictures); John Decker, from Ocean Township, NJ, readies his gear for capturing video images of life at the monastery (two pictures); Susan Barbarisi, from Port Ewen, NY, visits Br. Bede with her recently rescued black poodle (two pictures).

Also on Friday, Br. Josép, our Formator, took the men in formation on a hike to Black Rock Forest.

Formation team's Black Rock Forest hike. From top left clockwise: Br. Mpumelelo blazing the trail in victory; Br. Mpumelelo appreciating the overlook on the Hudson valley; Bros. Mpumelelo and Anthony, intern Robb and postulant Ben on the covered bridge; a juvenile Eastern Newt, familiarly referred to as "red efts;" the formation team at the overlook; Br. Josép and part of his gang.

Our Guesthouse ministry takes a breather during August. The Guesthouse will be closed until Tuesday, Septermber 3 (the day after Labor Day). Several monks will take advantage of this time to go on retreat, vacation or family visits. During that time, several pieces of repair and maintenance can happen without inconveniencing our guests. Our public worship remains open to all (matins at 7 a.m., mass at 9 a.m. and vespers at 5 p.m.; diurnum and compline are dispensed during this time).

In the church. From top left, clockwise: hydrangeas from the garden in the church entrance (2 pictures)
Brothers praying the Our Father at mass; listening to the gospel at mass.

The Monastery column will be on a hiatus until early September.