The Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6th marked 50
years to the day when ground was broken for the first structure to be built
at the new monastery, namely the chapel. We welcomed some of our former
monks to celebrate this day since they also share the credit for Mount Saviour
being 50 years old. Bishop Matthew Clark was the main celebrant and
homilist. A picnic followed in the rose garden with a number of other
guests including Abbot Charles Wright of Prince of Peace Abbey, Oceanside
CA. and Abbot Joel Macul, Newton NJ.
Bishop Joseph Gerry, osb, former abbot of St. Anselm’s Abbey, Manchester
NH and presently bishop of Portland ME was with us for the annual Dedication
Day, August 19th. We had a delightful smorgasbord of music with Claire
Gonta-Smock and friends.
On the fifth of September, Fr. James Kelly
returned to the Army base in Germany where he had served a few years ago
to replace the chaplain who would be away for three weeks.
The events of the 11th had the base on a degree of security
far stricter than that during the Gulf War.
Happily he is now back at Mount Saviour.
Br. Bruno made three trips to an auction in New Jersey with the lambs,
rams and some ewes.At the moment
this is better for us than selling to individuals.
Coyotes are still a problem.
Br. William Uiting made his life profession
(solemn vows) on 13 September.A number
of friends and neighbors joined us for this most important occasion and
the festive meal that followed. Br.
William first learned about Mount Saviour while with Tom and Monica Cornell
at the Catholic Worker Farm in Marlboro N.Y.. So it was a special delight
to have them with us. Brother William had this to say about his present
situation: “ I praise and thank God for the grace of my monastic vocation
and now my life profession. I was
grateful for the warm hospitality of the community when a guest and the
experience continues even to this day.
My experience with the Catholic Worker and the time at Peter Maurin Farm
certainly helped prepare me for monastic life here.
The ecumenical spirit, the liturgy, and some contact with our guests has
also helped keep a balance in the life for which I am very grateful.
Making final profession during the 50th anniversary year is an added
blessing. A sense of peace and
joy has stayed with me and, of course, solemn profession strengthens it.
The generosity of the many friends in our extended community continues to
amaze and gladden me. The conviction
of God’s steadfast love in spite of so many faults and failings is something
I am only beginning to realize. I
ask your prayers that what God has begun in me, may reach a degree of completion
by the day the Lord comes.”
In October, we received a quite unexpected
gift not given to us directly, but we will benefit greatly from it.
Someone purchased the 800 acres bordering us on the north and gave it
to the Finger Lakes Land Trust.We
have been trying for years to trade some of our property for some of that
land which comes within some 50 yards of the monastery buildings.
There will be no hunting and no development under the new owners.
Finally, we want to thank all of you for your great generosity this Anniversary
Year and for your generosity in so many ways that sustained us and carried
us these 50 years!
So much has been said and written about
the events of September 11th that I don’t want to add more words.
I do urge heartfelt prayer for every human being on the planet.
We pray to the God who can change hearts and to the Spirit who holds
all persons and things together.
We pray for the peace Christ is and has, his own unique peace, which he
gives us. Then as St. Paul writes, we must not be overcome by evil whether
our own or that of anyone else.As
we acquire that ability, we can begin the long and arduous task of overcoming
evil with good.St. Benedict’s last
recorded words are that ‘under God’s protection, you can do it.’
He was addressing one person who wanted to enter the school of the Lord’s
service while St. Paul was writing to many people and so am I.
So the Christmas Message and the Good News from both of them and the
Risen Lord and all of us at Mount Saviour is: “Together we can make it,
I know we can!”
Fr.
Martin