The month began with a crisp reminder that autumn was settling in, as our coldest temperature of the season dropped to 36 degrees. The seasonal shift was visible and audible, with the first wave of geese honking their farewells as they flew south.
On the third, a group of high school students from Elmira’s Catholic high school visited the grounds, joining us for daily Eucharist and a final stop in the gift shop.
We gathered for a memorial mass on the fourth to honor Andrew (Andy) Colucci, who passed away in September. This followed the memorial for his wife, Marie, held in June. Andy and Marie were long-time pillars of the Mount Saviour community, whose steadfast presence had profoundly touched both the monks and the many visitors who came to know them.
A truly unexpected guest dropped in for a visit to Saint Gertrude’s on the 5th. Imagine, if you will, opening the curtains and finding an emu about five foot seven standing in your driveway! Known for their speed, this emu was in no hurry as it foraged for breakfast. We found out later that it had escaped from a neighbor a few miles away and was eventually reunited with its caretaker.
For the next few days, summer returned briefly with near-record temperatures in the 80s. However, fall resumed quickly. The first frost appeared on car windows on the 9th, leading us to put away fans, close up windows, and turn on the furnaces the next day.
We celebrated the anniversary of our chapel’s dedication on the 11th. It was also on this date in 1950 that Rome approved our foundation.
On the 16th, we were honored to have Benedictine Sister Ann Hoffman from the Alliance for International Monasticism (AIM) join us. During recreation, she updated us on the organization’s global mission to foster cooperation and solidarity among monasteries. With its support for over 450 monasteries worldwide, including the Benedictines in Ukraine, AIM assists monastic communities in developing nations through their many challenges. Learn more about their important work here: https://www.aim-usa.org/donate.
The seminarians and staff of St. Mark’s, the diocesan seminary in Erie, PA, held a retreat here on the weekend of the 17th.
On the 21st, a group of about 25 pilgrims arrived by tour bus from Rochester to enjoy a picnic and afternoon on the grounds.
On the 28th, Brother Bruno delivered the initial load of sheep to an auction in Hackettstown, NJ, making the pre-dawn start necessary to complete the long trip in a single day.
A welcome soaking rain of over an inch and a half at the end of the month provided significant relief from the abnormally dry conditions that persisted over the past several months.
Schedule changes for November:
Saturday, November 1, All Saints’ Day. We will observe a Sunday schedule.
Thursday, November 27, Thanksgiving Day. We will observe a Sunday schedule.