On All Soul’s Day, Brother Bruno made the first of five trips this month to auction in New Jersey with sheep on board. Also, as is our custom on this day, the brothers and guests joined together in prayer in the monastic cemetery as we remembered our deceased brethren. We also finally received the first snow flurries of the upcoming winter season.
The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming! And so they did on the 15th. Father Theodore and seminarian Brother Luke arrived for a visit from Holy Trinity Monastery which is a Russian Orthodox monastery located in Jordanville, New York. Our Brother Luke accompanied them on a tour of Mount Saviour. As parting gifts we received some of the products they produce including incense and candles together with beautifully photographed books of their history.
On the 20th we received another welcome visitor. Sarah (Chali) Govantes, who lived with her husband Enrique on our property for close to 30 years visited from New Jersey. Both of them were employed by the monastery during their time here.
On the 23rd the rams and ewes were put together in the fields as we begin a new annual cycle for the sheep. Come mid-April there should be lots of little white bundles dotting the fields to show for the rams and ewes one month’s coupling.
On the 24th, Robert Maglione from the Bronx was received as a Postulant.
Please remember him in prayer as he continues his discernment with us.
We gave thanks for that blessing and for all the other blessings God has
bestowed on us the following day of Thanksgiving. The monks and guests
still maintained social distancing as we continue to do for all of our
gatherings. Just being together to celebrate our blessings was itself a
blessing.