Our first rain-free day in 18 days occurred on the 11th. It has been a challenge to mow the rapidly growing grass when the grass and ground were dry enough and not get stuck in the mud with machinery. With all the green growth we’re looking a bit like the Emerald Isle. Our last lamb was also born on the 11th bringing the total to 131 newborns, down from 175 last year when there were more multiple births.
Father Michael Perry arrived on the 12th and stayed until the 25th which enabled our Chaplain Father Don to take some time away. Father Michael commissioned an icon of the Ascension from an artist in the Ukraine which made its initial appearance in the chapel on the solemnity on the 30th.
Brothers Savio and John of the Cross arrived on the 16th, two days after Brother Savio’s graduation from the seminary. On the 18th our former postulant Greg Bourne arrived to spend his two-week vacation from work with us. He continues helping with needs of his family at this time. Also here as guests for several days were 18 Deacon Candidates for the Archdiocese of New York.
The annual sheep shearing took place over the Memorial Day weekend as usual and all went well with the help of many volunteers. What did not go as usual was the delivery of the pizza for the noon meal. We asked that it be delivered at 11:30 am but were still waiting at 12:15 when we called them. They were expecting us to have a midnight snack and delivery at 11:30 pm! After an hour’s wait, we ate and had our fill and finished shearing around 6:00 pm.
COMING EVENTS:
August 11th: Dedication Day. Mass 10:00 a.m. Mass is immediately followed
by brunch in the monastic refectory to which everyone is invited. At 12
Noon there will be a free performance by Grammy Award Winning Artist Rhonda
Larson in our chapel. For more information about Rhonda, please visit her
website http://www.rhondalarson.com
OCTOBER 6th: A talk by Sr. Mary Donald Corcoran in Saint Joseph’s lounge after Mass.
October 17-20: Oblate Retreat Weekend