Labor Day on the 1st, as early as it can be celebrated, ushered in September. Being a Monday, we changed Mass time from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. to allow more folks to attend. The brothers labored as usual.
On the 11th, our neighbor, good friend, and oblate Andy Colucci died peacefully at age 93. As his obituary stated, he volunteered much of his time to the monastery, working in the garden, cooking meals, and helping with the sheep for close to 30 years after his retirement. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on October 4th. Please remember him and his family in prayer.
On the 13th, Father Michael Perry arrived to give Father Don an opportunity to enjoy some time away. Father Don returned on the 25th.
Twenty-three students and staff from Nazareth University near Rochester were with us for a glorious fall weekend at the end of the month. The university has a strong reputation for its singing, and the students’ voices in our chapel were a welcome addition to our liturgy.
Officially, our area is under a drought warning due to the lack of rainfall this summer. As of September 25, 99.94% of New York is experiencing abnormally dry or worse conditions. Our fall foliage change seems to be happening sooner than usual, and the leaves are dropping sooner as well.