MONASTIC MOMENTS

2003-07-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Summer
Next week a Japanese candidate is coming for a month of discernment. She looks like a good candidiate.

2003-07-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I posted. We are in retreat and home visit season. Some novices left, some others entered.

2002-11-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

RETREAT
I made my annual retreat in Pennsylvania and now am back to attending to both administrative and spiritual needs, refreshed.

2002-09-21T11:37:00.000-07:00

ANNALS
With our foundation day approaching we have been reviewing our history. One memorable day in the 1860's: the roof was off to raise the building one story and of course it rained!

2002-09-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

RESPONSIBILITIES
My new role in leadership prevents me from attending to this site. However, one thought: the true peace of Christ is everything. One need no longer speak of quality of life, or human needs, etc. Christ's peace IS quality of life.

2002-08-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

TRANSITIONS
I have found that leadership is very administrative. Lord, help me to focus on the spiritual.

2002-08-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

CHANGES
Been gone a long time. My dear dad passed away. I have assumed leadership of my community.

2002-07-03T06:06:00.000-07:00

SICKNESS
Both my novice director and my dad are seriously ill at the same time.

2002-06-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

DAD
He is not doing well and I may be leaving the monastery on short notice to see if I can be of any help.

2002-06-28T03:15:00.000-07:00

TRIP
I'm back from a weeklong gathering of our communities, refreshed and hopeful and impressed. The Lord gave me a little gift; I discovered the book by Basil Pennington about Mount Athos, called O Holy Mountain.

2002-06-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

Father's day
Our liturgy was offered for all fathers this morning.

2002-06-15T03:14:00.000-07:00

TRIP
Preparing for a trip to the midwest on Thursday, for a whole week, as we gather with the members of our other monasteries. Keep in prayer a monastery in Colorado, near the fire.

2002-06-12T02:45:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY
Last night a CD was made in our chapel by a lay group and its choir.

2002-06-07T16:11:00.000-07:00

NOVENA 9
The last night of the Sacred Heart novena- it sure was powerful.

2002-06-06T16:16:00.000-07:00

GOD' S WILL
How to discover the will of God in determining whether a problem person has a vocation- Lord, help!

2002-06-05T02:57:00.000-07:00

BLOGS
There seems to be a wealth of Catholic and Orthodox blogs out there. Seminarians are writing too.

2002-06-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

NOVENA 5
Once more, a reference to Sept 11. Today my cousin visited from out West.

2002-06-03T02:59:00.000-07:00

NOVENA 4
Again, a powerful reference to Sept. 11th. A fireman suggested the Eucharist in the midst of the dust and terror and set up a table with a sign above, saying The Body of Christ.

2002-06-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

NOVITIATE COURSE
Father arrived today to give spiritual direction and to begin a course on Scripture for the novices tomorrow.

2002-06-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

NOVENA 2
The priest spoke of bringing Jesus to others as he witnessed in the terrible tragedy of WTC and the outpouring of love.

2002-05-31T11:24:00.000-07:00

NOVENA
The priest gave great insight yesterday. He also spoke of the concluding ceremonies at the NY firehouses for the WTC recovery conclusion.

2002-05-29T06:21:00.000-07:00

SACRED HEART
The Sacred Heart feast is on June 7 and we will begin to prepare with a novena starting tomorrow. I discovered an on line retreat for the sacred Heart at www.sacredheartprayers.com

2002-05-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

WORKSHOPS
Seven community members are out at a monastic meeting so the rest of us are pitching in to do the work!

2002-05-27T06:43:00.000-07:00

MEMORIAL DAY
How do monastics spend memorial day? With an outdoor barbecue, special prayer service and talking all day!

2002-05-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

VOCATIONS
It is a challenge to deal with candidates who do not speak the language of the country. Formation is an in depth process and no depth is achievable without language and communication.