Superiors on retreat

This week, Br. Francis was visiting family in Pittsburgh, PA. Br. Robert Leo was on retreat at St Beuno's Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Tremeirchion, Denbighshire (Wales). This weekend, our men in formation (postulants, novices and juniors) are away on an inter-novitiate formation.

On Monday, Bros. Aidan and Bernard left early to catch the sunrise bird activity at Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. They didn't see that many types of birds but the walk was pleasant the views of the Shawangunk ridge beautiful.

Out and about. Left, three pictues of the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge (Bros. Aidan and Bernard with binoculars around their necks in third picture with the Shawangunk ridge on the horizon); right, Br. Robert Leo's place for a week at St Beuno's, Wales

All week long, we have hosted the annual retreat of the CAROA superiors at the monastery. CAROA is the Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas. There were thirteen superiors in attendance.

Superiors, ordinands, boats and creatures. From top left, clockwise: CAROA Superiors on the stoop of our guesthouse; CAROA superiors in conference in St Augustine meeting room; Diocese of NY ordinands on retreat last week: a tanker ship negotiating the turn of the tide on the Hudson at night (two pictures); our local fox hunting in our meadow (two pictures).

We pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters as they celebrate Rosh Hashana which coincides with the Fall equinox this year.

Holy Cross day, our feast of title

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is our feast of title. We celebrate it as a first class feast. All the Brothers, Associates, guests and friends of Holy Cross are in our prayers.

Holy Cross Day. From top left, clockwise: an antique pear wood corpus; a portrait of our Father Founder, James Otis Sargent Huntington, OHC; as modern stylized cross; flower arrangements by Br. Robert James throughout our church (5 pictures); the glorious gold, burnt orange and white bouquet at the ambo, with the icon cross in the background.

Br. Robert Leo is on the first leg of his sabbatical in England. He is enjoying Salisbury, London, Oxford and is on his way to Wales. This week, Br Josép has been visiting his mom in Florida and has moved on to Vermont to be at the wedding of a friend. Bros. Randy and Scott attended the first of four weeklong residential programs to explore Jungian spiritual direction.

From Robert Leo's sabbatical. From left to right: Tower of Parliament, London; Salisbury Cathedral; the dining hall at Keble College, Oxford.

This past week, Christine Hale led an icon-writing retreat at the guesthouse. We take advantage of the waning days of summer by being outside as often as possible. This week we spotted an unusual vessel on the Hudson. Ariadne is an undersea cable-laying ship. We hadn't seen one of those on the Hudson yet. There are only a about 60 such ships in the world.

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: volunteers Felix Hosmer and Elisabeth Sheehey work in the library; Br. Aidan installed a suet dispenser for the birds in the cemetery magnolia; the men in formation returning from a successful weeding and brush-whacking expedition under the supervision of Br. Jacob; Ariadne's cable-laying crane; Ariadne's massive cable spool in the middle of the ship; Ariadne's helicopter pad at the prow of the ship.

Br. Jacob's care of our vegetable garden continues to produce goodies. Those heirloom tomatoes remind you of what a tomato should taste like. And chef Bob is going to make pickles with the bonanza of cucumbers.

Flowers, flowers everywhere. From top left, clockwise: Impatiens flowers at the bottom of the Little Cloister bird bath; a prodigal clematis competing for the vegetable garden fence with a summer squash plant; garden flower arrangements by Br. Robert James in the church; a flower bed at the corner of the guesthouse.

May you enjoy God's bounty in creation wherever you are.

Excursions and gigantic tomatoes

Our guesthouse reopened this past Tuesday. We are glad to welcome visitors again after a month without them. It's just like our Monday sabbath; the discontinuity makes us that much more hospitable.

During the guesthouse closure in August, we had a simplified liturgical schedule to allow day trips for those so interested. We sang matins and vespers. But after daily Eucharist and daily chapter meeting, we were free to roam for the day.

From top left, clockwise: Br. Jacob tending the vegetable garden: Bros. Josép and Randy at Innisfree Garden in Millbrook, NY; Br. Josép visiting Br. Josép who was pet-sitting in Cottekill, NY: Brothers and intern Jeremy at a  Hudson Valley Renegades baseball game, in Wappinger Falls, NY; the formation team sprucing up the St Mary's House garden on Route 9W at the top of our driveway; our intern Jeremy Cannon typing on his hebrew typwriter in the Little Cloister.

Br. Jacob with the help of Mother Nature has produced lots of delicious and nutritious veggies and fruits. One favorite is the daily supply of ginormous and tasty tomatoes that go by exotic or funny names like "mortgage lifter" (?).

Excursions. From top left, clockwise: Br. Aidan with a lotus flower; Bros. Aidan and Bernard with the Companions of Mary the Apostes (Srs. E and Shane); Bros. Aidan and Josép sporting their straw hats; Bros. Josép and Randy lost in the greenery (all four photos at Innisfree garden); Bros. Bernard, Aidan, Randy and Jacob at the Tuthilltown Distillery in Gardiner, NY (three pictures).

Several of us have taken the August opportunity to go on staycations, vacations, retreats of family visits as they have a lesser impact on the community life during that month.

More people and places. From top left, clockwise: Br. David Bryan is never idle (here gardening); Br. Bernard at a party with friends from high school and college in Belgium; benches in the guesthouse gardens; Br. Jacob working his magic among the tomato plants; the results in the atrium kitchen for everyone to feast on; a blue heron perching on a clump of (invasive) water chestnuts on the Hudson river, in Port Ewen, NY.

We're eager to see you visit us for your retreat soon.

Monastery scenes. From top left, clockwise: the bell towere and guesthouse before sunrise; flowers gracig the icon of St Benedict in the church; oakleaf hydrangea and allium arrangement by Br. Robert James; burning votive and incense in monk's cell; the Peace pole in the gueshtouse garden; a moonset above the Old Oak in the Little Cloister.

And remember, our public worship is always open to visitors, even at times when the guesthouse is not offering its services.