We have now completed our annual monastic retreat, which began on November 16th and ended on November 22nd, under the guidance of Abbot Elijah of Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas.
Abbot Elijah’s ten conferences and daily homilies at Mass were encouraging, enlightening, challenging and helpful in our monastic journey at this time and in this place. We are very grateful for Abbot Elijah’s insights, humor and seriousness(!) when it comes to living the Benedictine life. His emphasis was on “Seeing Christ,” “Being like Christ” and “Sharing Christ” with all we meet.
During the retreats days we were blessed with some rain and today’s photo shows it falling in our cloister garden on the “very last rose” of Summer. It’s hard to believe it is almost Thanksgiving Day and we have still been able to enjoy one final rose. The rosebud in the background of the photo never made it to full bloom, due to colder morning temperatures after the photo was taken.
On his Thanksgiving break lasting over a week, one of our student-monks, Brother Savio, is home from studies at Saint Joseph Abbey Seminary College in Louisiana, and will be here until after Thanksgiving.
We are deeply grateful to all who have responded to our annual appeal for purchase of propane for the Winter months, for heating buildings, especially the Guesthouse, and supplying fuel for cooking.
Our sincere thanks to all, and we’re almost, but not quite completely, caught up with sending personal thanks to each donor. Your patience is appreciated if you haven’t heard from us yet.
Be assured of our prayers and we are grateful for yours. May all have a peaceful preparation for Thanksgiving Day and a joyful celebration.
Abbot Christian and the monks
