Happy Pentecost!

Happy Pentecost! Hail Holy Spirit!

This week, Br. Randy came home from a two-week vacation and family visit in Texas. Last Sunday, Br. Josép came home from a one-week retreat at St Mary's House (up the driveway). Br. Adam McCoy from Cathedral City, CA, is visiting for several weeks. Br. Bernard co-led an 8-day Centering Prayer dual track intensive/post-intensive retreat at the monastery this pas week.

And just this past Saturday, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Br. David Bryan Hoopes' ordination to the priesthood on the eve of Pentecost. Many friends from near and far away gathered for the occasion. After a beautiful late morning mass, we had a feast in the refectory.

Br. David Bryan's priestly ordination jubilee. From top left, clockwise: an artistic representation of the original Pentecost: Br. David Bryan presiding at the altar; our Superior, Br. Robert James with the Right Reverend Andy Dietsche, Bishop Visitor of the Order of the Holy Cross; the celebratory cake at dinner; Br. David Bryan reading the collect of the day; (center picture) Br. David Bryan preaching.

Last week, library volunteer Felix Hosmer of Hurley, NY, surprised his library colleagues with a delicious blueberry clafoutis. We'll let him bake again anytime he likes. Also last week, Associate Janine Thwaite of Peekskill, NY, made a pre-ordination retreat at the monastery. Congratulations on her ordination.

Last weekend, we hosted a group of Marist Brothers interns from Texas who are doing a tour of religious institutions in the Northeast.

We received two new people into our Associates program this week: the Rev. Brian Steadman of Port Ewen, NY, and Joshua Clayton of Sunnyside, NY.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: Marist Brothers interns with Br. Bruno; Marist Brothers interns with their Director and Br. Robert James; Br. John, Felix Hosmer and Elisabeth Sheehey enjoying Felix's delicious clafoutis in the monastic library; Asssociate, the Rev. Brian Steadman with Br. Bernard; Br. Bernard with Associate Joshua Clayton; Dave Coppola posing behind his completed beautiful renovation of the Little Cloister's stone path; Associate, the Rev. Janine Thwaite (in the red chasuble on the left) with the Right Reverend Matthew Heyd, Bishop of New York; the Reformed Church buddies (the Rev. Daniel Meeter, the Rev. Brian Steadman and his wife Jessee Steadman).

The weather was very hot this past week. But the week before had perfect spring weather. Brothers took the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and do some gardening.

Monks at work and rest. From top left, clockwise: Br. Ephrem reading on one of the monastic enclosure's porch: Br. Ephrem in-between bell-ringing sets in the Little Cloiser; Br. Ephrem giving you peace on the porch; Br. Jacob raking leaf mulch back over recently planted shrubs (too small to see on the picture at this stage).

This past Friday, Junior monks, the formation team and our friend Dave Coppola were hard at work uncluttering, cleaning and reorganizing the large toolshed situated behind the monastic enclosure. This is was in answer to a request from Groundskeeper, Br. Timothy.

Refurnishing the enclosure toolshed. From top left clockwise: Bros. Will and Daniel dismantling a shelf in the library's utility closet for transfer to the toolshed (2 pictures): fromator Br. Josép selecting the right tool for the job: postulant Jeffrey Costello, Br. Timothy (overseeing), Bros. Jacob and Josép dismantling a discarded wooden shelf; Br. Timothy and Dave Coppola inside the toolshed.

The gardens are offering a profusion of flowers. 

Spring blossoms in the gardens. From top left, clockwise: clematis; irises and budding peonies near the vegetable garden; columbines: unidientified alpine flower; Sweet William carnations: white park roses.

Some of the flowers end up decorating the church and its chapels.

Indoors floral decorations. From top left, clockwise: allium and irises in the downstairs Lady Chapel (3 pictures); first peony blossoms in an office; irises in front of the Mother and Child statue in the Church: a floral arrangement gift for Br. David Bryan's ordination anniversary by the St Benedict icon (2 pictures).

May flowers abound in your surroundings too.