Mount Saviour Monastery

February 2023 News:
The 2nd was the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. That feast is the one other occasion, besides Easter, when we have a procession with candles from the crypt below to the Chapel above. The feast of Saint Blaise on the 3rd also involves candles when throats are blessed at Mass.
 

The winter temperature yo-yoed from minus 6 degrees on the 4th to a record 71 degrees on the 15th. Some plants are already breaking their dormancy as we enjoyed the extra early spring warmth.

Brother John of the Cross, A Vietnamese Cistercian monk we are sponsoring, was here on retreat with a fellow seminarian from the 17th ' 21st. Alfred University also had a dozen students here on retreat that weekend.

Our local guard geese made their annual return to one of our ponds on the 19th. They often mix with the sheep and send out an alarm call when they feel one is needed. The first red-winged blackbird also arrived the same day. Brother James Kelly always maintained it was not truly spring until they arrived on the scene.

Shrove Tuesday on the 21st was pretty low key for most of us this year. A few brothers chose to spend their day away from the monastery which is permitted the day before Lent begins.
 

Michael, our most recent candidate, ended his Observership on the 26th after living four weeks with us in the cloister. His petition to return and begin as a Postulant was approved so we expect him back with us as soon as he is able to tie up loose ends.

COMING EVENTS:

Sister Kathleen Hughes, RSCG, sacramental theologian, teacher, speaker and writer, will be the speaker for the Annual Damasus Winzen Memorial lecture on Sunday May 7, 2023.