Abbot Christian has named Brother Elias Sanchez Chavez as the new Prior of the Monastery of Our Lady of Solitude (La Soledad), near San Miguel de Allende, in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico. Brother Elias succeeds Father Ezequiel Bas Luna, who has served as Prior of La Soledad for the past many decades and is now taking a well-deserved break. Thanks to both of these monks for their good zeal and willing service to the community of La Soledad!
In today’s photo, Father Ezequiel is in the center, back row. To his left is Brother Elias. The La Soledad community used this photo as their Christmas greeting for 2023.
La Soledad was the hermitage of the founder and first Prior of Christ in the Desert, Father Aelred Wall, where he lived from 1973 until his death in 1984. After his death, the hermitage expanded into a full-fledged monastery, as a dependent monastery of Christ in the Desert. Both our monasteries live the Benedictine life of prayer, work and reading in beautiful settings, offering hospitality for private retreats at the monastery.
At one point in time, the monks at La Soledad adopted the color blue for their habits, as part of their special dedication to Our Lady, whose “color” is blue.
To Father Ezequiel, thanks and prayers. To Brother Elias, assurance of support and prayers in his new assignment.
Abbot Christian and the monks of Christ in the Desert
