90th Birthday:
On the first of February, the community had the rare privilege of celebrating
Br.
Luke's birthday after finishing an other beautiful painting.
His three sisters: Mary, Joan and Margaret were present with their
sister-in-law, Margaret Pape, and two of her children. We
are grateful to Barbara Reiter who prepared a festive banquet with
her daughter, Laura and Claire Johnson. Maureen
Cadley and Marie Colucci graciously served at table. The
next day, we had a sort of "high tea" with three dozens of his friends
from the area. The picture shows Br. Luke with his sisters: Mary
Mahood, Joan Pape and Margaret Morgan.
Guests:
This month, we received several groups in the guest house: HartwickCollege,
NazarethCollege
and Cornell Catholic Community. Some
Sisters of
St. Joseph from Rochester made their traditional retreat and invited
us to share a meal with them at the guest house. On Feb.. 15th,
Fr.
Martin attended the annual meeting of the American Benedictine Abbots
and Priors at the Abbey of Tepeyac, Mexico.
Hip Replacement:
Br. James Cronen ended the month at the hospital for a second
hip replacement. He is used to this "ritual" since his other hip
was done three times. He is pleased with the outcome and should be
back home in a week.
Pilgrimage: The Road to Compostela
For many centuries, the great pilgrimage places for Christians were
Rome Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela, where reportedly lie the bones
of the son of a certain Zebedee, Saint James the apostle. The tradition
of making a pilgrimage goes back to the 9th century, and by the 1200's,
Compostela ranked with Rome and Jerusalem as pilgrimage center. Kings
issued general safe conduct to foreigners and the Road to Compostela was
given special protection. In the Jubilee Year 2000, Compostela is
a specially designated pilgrimage place and boasts its own Jubilee Door
in the magnificent Romanesque Cathedral.
Backed not by kinks, but
by the Tour Operator - Europe at Cost - a group of pilgrims will leave
the Benedictine Monastery of Mount Saviour by bus, to be joined by others
in New York to fly to Paris. We will spend two days in Paris, then
travel by deluxe motor coach to Chartres to view the splendid windows.
Then on to the Loire Valley, where we will visit the beautiful Chateau
of Chenonceau. Next stop will be the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Benoit
sur Loire. We will now begin the official "Road to Compostela" beginning
with the hilltop Cathedral of Vezeley - old and hauntingly beautiful.
We will travel one of the three traditional pilgrimage routes through central
France across the Pyrenees into Spain. We will make stops in LePuy
and Conques in France, and Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon in Spain before arriving
in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain.
This 14 day trip will leave
on September 9, 2000 and return on September 23, 2000 and will include
quality hotels with private baths, breakfast every day, and eight dinners.
The trip will be accompanied by one of the monks and experienced guides
will escort us through each of these historied sites. The cost of
this once in a lifetime trip is $2690.00 per person in double occupancy.
There are limited number of singles available at a supplement of $475.00.
If you give us a mailing address, we can send you a more detailed itinerary,
insurance packet, etc. to reserve by March 25th. Please, join us
on this pilgrimage.
Fr. Martin