Clothing of a novice

Br. Robert Leo is in the final stretch of his sabbatical and will soon return from South Africa. Br. David Bryan is on the last week of a visit to friends in England. Br. Aidan is on a one week vacation in Delaware.

The big news is that we clothed Br Raphael Okafor as a Novice at diurnum (our midday office) last Sunday (October 12). We now have two novices; Bros. Ben and Raphael. They continue their monastic formation under the guidance of our Formator, Br. Josép.

Br. Raphael's clothing as a novice. From top left, clockwise: the examination of the postulant; Br. Raphael coming back from the sacristy with his new habit on and hood up (two pictures); Raphael being blessed by Br. Robert James, our Superior; our two novices, Bros. Raphael and Ben; Raphael with friends who came to witness his clothing as a novice; Br. Raphael between our Formator, Br. Josép and our Superior, Br. Robert James.

On Monday, our Novitiate and our Juniorate departed with Br. Josép to attend the third annual CAROA New Members Conference. CAROA is the conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas. The conference was taking place at the convent of the Community of Saint John Baptist in Mendham, NJ.

CAROA New Members Conference. From top left, clockwise: Br. Josép addressing the conference; Bros. Raphael and Jacob sporting the two styles of our habit (the black habit is authorized for travelling); formators, postulants, novices and juniors at the conference: recreation with a board game.

It has been a gorgeous week of autumnal colors and weather. Br. Ephrem led a hiking retreat this week. They went twice into the Catskills and also hiked nearby Shaupeneak Ridge.

Monastery scenes. From top left, clockwise: a cruiseboat on the Hudson; morning scene on the guesthouse lawn; one of our groundhogs; Br. Josép's altar for the Dia de los Muertos (the deceased pictures will appear closer to November 1); a crocheted Franciscan givng greetings (Pax et Bonum) near Br. Francis's cell.

Our honeybees and other pollinators continue to enjoy abundant blooms across the gardens.

Autumn blooms. From top left, clockwise: orange mums and purple asters; ornamental cherries; purple gomphrena and white West Indian lantant: purple aster; purple gomphrena.

Speaking of honeybees, I found more good pictures of Bros. Francis and Jacob harvesting honey over a week ago.

Honey harvesting. From top left, clockwise: Br. Jacob uncapping honey frames (three pictures); the honey dripping out of the centrifugal honey extractor.

May your season also be filled with blessings.