Easter:
Guests are never lacking for this important solemnity. The whole
mystery of salvation is represented in this Easter card by our neighbor,
Helen
Siegl. The Holy Week is marked by the solemn mass of the last
supper in the evening. Good Friday makes us pray for different categories
of people after the singing of the Passion from St. John. Our Paschal
celebration began at 5:00 a.m. with the blessing of the new fire and the
paschal candle in the crypt. We processed upstairs for the 'Exultet'
and the readings that bring to mind the history of salvation. The
mass ends while the sun is rising for a "new day". We serve a brunch
in the monastic dining room for all the participants.
Lambing
Season:
On April 8th, our first lamb was born. Thanks to a mild winter
and excellent hay harvested by Br. Bruno, last summer, 135 healthy
ewes gave birth to 245 lambs. From sunrise to sunset, Br.
Pierre was on hand to provide necessary care: helping some ewes,
coaching some lambs and feeding the orphan lambs. This year, the
problem with coyotes did not accur; we had an unknown predator who who
cut the head of 4 lambs, leaving the rest of the body intact. Some
experts think that it is done by a coyote who is not hungry; others blame
an owl or a raccoon. It is the mystery of the year. The picture by
Br. Pierre appeared on the cover of THE SHEHERD (May issue1999).
The Sick:
On April 13th, Fr. Alexis Foyo, returned
after spending time with his sick relatives in Florida. Fr. Martin
had a day surgery for varicose and the following day, Br. William
was at the hospital for a double hernia. The following week, Fr.
Timothy Brennen had his gall bladder removed. At home, Br.
Sebastian developed an infection in the leg that required more visits
by nurses from the health department; Br. Stephen is his private
nurse. Since the face-lift of the Chapel is complete, we resumed
the regular schedule with the daily mass at 9:00
a.m. (except on Monday at 7:00 a.m.).
Guests:
Many guests volunteer their services during the year. Barbara
Reiter and Claire Johnson had a 'sewing day' when the monks
bring their clothes in need of repair. The month ended with a group
of men preparing to become deacons of the New York Archdiocese.
Dedication Day Letter 1999
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