Mount Saviour Monastery
February 1999
Aging but Active:
The month begins with the 89th birthday of Br. Luke
after completing an other painting: A scene from the portery. We
share with you some greetings he received for the occasion.
"You are a role model to us all in how a person can live a beautiful
life. You have also shown us with your beautiful art that we can express
this beauty for everyone to see. Happy Birthday and may God Bless you with
many more. The Cernera Family (Tony, Ruth, Anthony, Philip, Thomas
and Anne Marie) all wish you another great year! "
St.
Scholastica and the Power of Prayer:
The main feast of the month for Benedictines is not St. Valentine.
On the 10th, we celebrate the feast of St. Benedict's sister, Scholastica,
who used to meet him once a year. Before her death, she wanted
to prolong the meeting and St. Benedict refused. She prayed and in
no time a downpour forced him to change his mind. Our prayers went for
Fr.
Alexis Foyo's mother and sister who needed his assistance in Florida.
He painted this "illumination" while living at Mount Saviour. A 1998
summer student, Valsin Dumontier, has cancer
of the esophagus and was visited by Fr. Martin who was in New Orleans for
the annual meeting of the Benedictine Abbots and Priors. Piero
Masia, who volunteers to help in the kitchen twice a week, broke an
ankle and spent times in the hospital for gall bladder problems. .
Our oblate, Etta Jerome, who taught Italian to Br. Ansgar, was moved
to the hospital for nursing care. Allen Burns, a member of
the founding team of Mount Saviour died at 86 years of age after a long
illness
Madeleva Roarke (1936-1999)
Madeleva Roarke, our devoted housekeeper at St. Gertrude's, had a long
surgery to fuse some vertebrae for her back pain. Her recovery was
progressing normally and plans were underway for her return from John Hopkins
Hospital. On Monday Feb. 22nd, we received the shocking news that
she died around 4 a.m. of a blood clot. When she left for the hospital,
she was very realistic and left an envelope entitled "Worst Scenario" containing
her last wishes. Obviously, she was prepared for whatever came.
Fr. Martin talked to her on the eve of her death and she was in her best
spirit. A funeral Mass was attended
by a large crowd of relatives and friends on Saturday, Feb. 27th
at the monastery.
Chronicle:
To satisfy those who want to have more pictures and fewer words in
the Chronicle, we mailed an issue for Lent, featuring
the pilgrimage to Greece and the Holy Land and the different stages of
the Chapel over the years. The "Internet edition" was reduced and
may take time to download.
Holy Week Schedule:
Holy Thursday: 5:00 p.m. Mass of the Lord's Supper
Good Friday: 3:00 p.m. Celebration of the Lord's
Passion
Easter Sunday: 5:00 a.m. Paschal Vigil & Mass