Brother John returned from a five-day meeting of the English Province in Louisiana on the 4th. The coolest high temperature there was 82 degrees with heat indexes in the 90’s. It was like spring going into summer until landing back in Elmira where snow flurries were not finished with us yet.
Also on the 4th a dear friend of the monastery, Connie Zehr, who created the Memorial Wall in the crypt, died. Please remember her in prayer.
Brother Mark returned from the hospital after a knee replacement on the 7th. He is recuperating in our infirmary while receiving physical therapy.
All of the ewes were brought into the barnyard on the 14th. On the 15th, the usual first due date, the first lambs, a set of twins, was born. Brother Pierre has been going non-stop ever since. By the 27th the count reached 100. On the 30th the count was 120 lambs from 63 mothers with another 20 mothers yet to deliver. The barn area has been busy with the many visitors viewing the newborns.
We enjoyed pleasant weather for the Sacred Triduum with about 40 guests at each service. Easter Sunday brought more sunshine after our Vigil which was from 5:00 – 7:30 a.m.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday and was laid to rest on Easter Saturday. We pray for the repose of his soul and for the Holy Spirit to guide the upcoming election.
Students from Cornell and Ithaca College spent the day with us on the 26th.
Lawn mowing commenced on the 28th, a task that once we start in the spring we never seem to be able to keep up with. Happy spring and Easter!
