Mount Saviour Monastery

March 2017
 
With the beginning of a new month came the beginning of a new liturgical season. Some of the changes made this year during Lent included using scheduled recreation time for more lectio, the “drawing” of a book of the Bible to be read by each monk, putting out at Mass each Sunday a basket for alms for the poor in our area, plus the usual “giving up” of all desserts including wine and ice cream which are available to the monks on Sundays outside the season, and refraining from talking during our after supper clean-up. Br. Savio was able to spend his one week spring break from the seminary with us which enabled many of us to receive long overdue haircuts. After considerable discussion the community decided to implement a no smoking policy on the grounds of the monastery as a way to provide a healthier and more hospitable environment for the monks and guests. On the 14th and 15th winter finally arrived with our biggest snowfall of the season; 12 inches accompanied by high winds that rapidly and radically changed our landscape. In the third week there occurred a rare instance of three major solemnities in one week: Sts. Joseph, Benedict and the Feast of the Annunciation concluded by our annual ecumenical outing to Grace Church in Elmira, altogether making for an unusually festive Lenten week. The last week of the month more than half of the brothers suddenly came down with a “stomach bug” which was not meant to be part of the self-emptying that we strive for during Lent. The lambing is still in progress with 62 ewes giving birth to 111 lambs so far (including 7 sets of triplets.  This "unplanned parenthood" is the work of one 6 month old ram.
 

COMING EVENTS:
Holy Week:
Thursday, April 13th: Mass of the Last Supper at 5:00 p.m.
Good Friday, April 14th: Celebration of the Lord's Passion at 3:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: April 16th: Pascal Vigils including Mass will begin at 4:30 A.M. followed by breakfast for eryone.           There is NO 9:00 a.m. Mass.
Easter Monday: Mass at 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, April 30: Friends of Mount Saviour lecturer, Imam Zaman Marwat, will give a talk in St. Joseph’s Lounge after Mass. All are welcome.

Sunday, May 7: 15th Annual Damasus Winzen Lecture given by Reverend Martin Shannon in St. Joseph’s Lounge after Mass. Details can be found on our website under Community: Features.