Monday 1^st – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

Mary is Mother of God because she is the Mother of Jesus, God and Man.  Being the Mother of Jesus she is also the mother of each of us.  At the time of the second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI solemnly proclaimed Mary Mother of the Church.  This took place in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome and I just happened to be there!  A wonderful memory!

It is also the first day of the new year.  This passed off here with a great calm and simplicity.  After Lauds we met in chapter for the traditional exchange of New Year wishes.  The Mass was at 8 o’clock, as on ordinary days.  The Abbot went to celebrate Mass with the sisters at Assomption at 10.15, after presiding our Mass here.

We wish a happy and holy New Year to all our friends.

Tuesday 2^nd – A Father Nicholas came by appointment to see the Abbot.  This Father Nicholas is a priest of the Autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church in North America.  He is a Canadian.  He is living at the little village of Beersville, which is half way between here and Moncton, on a little dirt road.  His bishop bought the property with a view to establishing a monastic settlement there with a monastery of monks, one of nuns, a house for married couples who wish to dedicate themselves to the Lord and a retreat centre.  Will the vocations materialize?

Wednesday 4^th – In chapter the Abbot explained the icon of the Nativity.  This icon is rich in details and it is interesting to see how each detail has been inspired by passages from the Bible.

Friday 5^th – Quite a serious problem occurred in the two chicken barns where we have 42,000 roasting birds.  Some sort of malfunction at the mill from which we buy our feed had resulted in too much salt in the feed which caused the chicks to drink too much water and gave them diarrhea.  The manager had to call in extra workers to change the litter.  The feed suppliers came and changed it.  The problem was overcome with a certain amount of loss.

In chapter, the Abbot commented on the liturgy of the Epiphany.

Saturday 6^th – A lot of rain this morning.  This is not normal for the month of January.  All the snow has disappeared, or very nearly.

Sunday 7^th – Feast of the Epiphany.  The Abbot presided the Mass, as is the rule here for Solemnities, but he left the homily to Fr. Graham whose week it is preside at the Mass..  Father preached in the two languages, a custom that seems to be establishing itself here.

Monday 8 – Dom Bede’s 64^th birthday.

This morning the forecasters announced a mighty snowstorm, turning to rain in the late afternoon.  All the schools were closed.  Here it was not so terrible.

Tuesday 9 – The season of festivities is over.  In the liturgy we are back to the so-called Ordinary Time.

Wednesday 10 – In chapter, the Abbot showed us the big and beautiful icon of the Nativity, 17” x 25”.  It was ordered at the end of November, with the hope that it would arrive for Christmas, but only arrived the day after the Epiphany, from Oregon.  The idea is that it will replace the crib in the chapel and be placed beside the altar, as we had the icon of the Resurrection during Paschal Time.  It is very nice.

Thursday 11 – Brother Henry was back for dinner.  He is very much better.  Deo Gratias.

Friday 12 – Father Graham went to Moncton.  His primary reason was to return a new type of intravenous system that Brother Henry had been using and, since it is very expensive, the extra-mural team at Moncton Hospital wanted it returned as quickly as possible.  Brother Henry still has to be on antibiotics until January 22^nd.  The extra-mural nurses from Miramichi have taken over Br. Henry’s care.

Our friend, Reno Poirier is with us for a few days.  He likes coming here from time to time.

We prayed for the sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame on the occasion of the feast-day of their foundress, Saint Margaret Bourgeois.  They have been very engaged in Atlantic Canada.

Saturday 13 – Feast of Saint Aelred of Rievaulx, and English Abbot, like ours.

Sunday 14 – The family of one of Br. Leo’s deceased brothers came to congratulate him in advance.  A very joyful and lively family.  Brother Leo will be 80 on Thursday.

Monday 15 – Feast of Saints Maurus and Placid, disciples of Saint Benedict.  Saint Gregory, in his Dialogues, tells how one day the little Placid fell into the river and carried away by the current.  Saint Benedict saw this in a vision and sent Maurus to go and fish him out.  Full of the spirit of obedience, Maurus ran out onto the river and dragged Placid to the bank by the hair, and only then did he realize he had walked on the water.  When I was a little oblate of 14 years of age, I also dragged another oblate out of the river, but I did not walk on the water, rather in the water!

In chapter the Abbot concluded his commented reading of Sister Aquinata’s article: L’accès au Christ, but first he announced good news: his leg, wounded during the haymaking at the beginning of August is finally healed.

Half of the chickens for frying went to the abattoir.

Tuesday 16 – Tuesday we always have a gospel sharing.  This is a tradition which goes back to the time of Dom Alphonse, our first Abbot.

Wednesday 17 – Since Wednesday chapter is flexible and informal, the Abbot focused it on Br. Leo who was to be eighty tomorrow.  The Abbot indicated the Heads of State and the Pope at the time of Brother Leo’s birth, like Saint Luke did for Jesus.  Br. Leo was born at Barre in the State of Vermont.  He told us about the adventures of his long life.  It was a very enjoyable evening.

Thursday 18 – For Br. Leo’s birthday we had some magnificent doughnuts given by our employees and the cook made a splendid cake.  Is it God’s gift – since yesterday morning it has been a bit on the cold side, minus 20 Celsius?

Friday 19 – Brother Leo began his eighty-first year well.  This morning he had an appointment with a specialist.  He has started producing cholesterol.  It snowed all day, especially in the afternoon.  At least a foot fell.

Saturday 20 – Rémi Martin spent all afternoon blowing snow.

The sisters’ chaplain is away for a few days.  Father Maurice stood in for him at the Mass at Assomption.

Sunday 21 – This morning it was Father Graham’s turn to go and say Mass for our sisters

Monday 22 – The “Thomas” loader at the barn broke down, yet again.  Br. Stephen spend all day fixing it.  It is the most indispensable piece of equipment for feeding the cattle and for cleaning out.

Br. Henry had his last dose of antibiotics.  He also saw the orthopedic specialist, Dr. Lanoue at Miramichi hospital, who hopes to operate on the other hip in March or April.

Tuesday 23 – A breakdown in the chicken barn this time, the small tractor they use for cleaning out.  Martin Cormier went to borrow one from a chicken producer in Saint Paul de Kent.

This evening Fr. Graham went to the Moncton airport to pick up Michael Galante from California, but currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He found out about us through our website and has come to have a closer look as an observer.  He is a young man in his forties.

Wednesday 24 – We finished reading the Constitutions of the Order in the refectory and resumed the reading of the Rule, in an integral version, instead of the edited one we had, and a different French translation.

In chapter the Abbot told us that we would have to choose a delegate for the next Regional Meeting.  We will do so next Wednesday.  The Abbot began talking about the agenda of the Regional Meeting which is at Saint Benoît du Lac in April.

Thursday 25 – Our chicken-barn manager, Martin Cormier, has sold his house in Acadieville, a sign that he is probably soon going to quit and go back to Moncton.  Elmer Aucoin is also retiring.

Friday 26 – Solemnity of our Three Founders, Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephen Harding.  The Abbot presided at the Mass and preached.  At the Offertory, Father Graham played a nice piece on the recorder with Br. Stephan at the organ.  After communion it was Br. Roger’s turn to play an impressive voluntary on the organ.  He is a postulant of many talents.

Saturday 27 – We have had a rather cold week.  The heavy blanket of snow from last week has not gone away.  We had around minus 20 Celsius all the week and it is still down there.

Sunday 28 – The week of prayer for Christian Unity has not been forgotten.  The people saying the prayers in the liturgy had us praying for unity at every possible opportunity.

Monday 29 – In chapter, the Abbot distributed the different areas of the house for cleaning.  Almost everybody got their bit.  He underlined that this is a way of serving with the Lord who came to serve.

Wednesday 31 – At our Trappist-Cistercian monastery of Our Lady of Joy, Lantao, in Hong Kong (China), they have celebrated Father Nicholas Keo Chi Qian’s 110^th birthday.  He is the oldest priest in the world.

In chapter, the community chose Fr. Graham as delegate for the next Regional Meeting of the Canadian Abbots and Abbesses.

February 2007

Thursday 1 February – Fr. Maurice had an appointment in Moncton for a series of tests on his heart.  The result was very satisfactory.

Br. Henry had to go back to the hospital in Miramichi.  He had fever and other symptoms of a return of the infection in the prosthesis in his right hip.  He had been recovering very well from both the operation and the previous round of infection.

Friday 2 – Dr. Lanoue, the orthopedic surgeon who operated on Br. Henry at Miramichi decided to transfer him to the Moncton City Hospital, where they have more people specializing in the treatment of infections and where they are better equipped for the operation that Br. Henry will need for the removal of the prosthesis and, after a long period on antibiotics, up to 3 months, the insertion of a new one.

In chapter the Abbot outlined an exercise that might replace the Lenten Reading.  Instead of each one having his own book and all reading in the same place at the same time, there would be a reader to read aloud to the community.  This would be a sort of revival of the old Reading Before Compline.  The proposal would be to start at 7 pm and have the reading until Compline.  What gave the Abbot the idea was the suitability of the Abbot General’s recent letter for the time of Lent and that we already have a full programme of reading for the refectory.  The community will discuss the Abbot’s proposal on Monday and may, of course, turn it down.

Saturday 3 – Father Graham went to pick up from Moncton Airport one of his fellow students from the Beda College, Patrick, a deacon from Zimbabwe.

Monday 5 – Br. Henry had his operation this evening.  Let’s hope that all goes well this time.

Tuesday 6 – The afternoon the Abbot went to Moncton to visit Br. Henry.  He found him on quite good form, in good spirits for somebody had just had a big operation.

Wednesday 7 – Monthly day of prayer for the departed.

Michael Galante left this morning.  He had spent two full weeks here and he left us with a hope that we might see him again in more permanent fashion, at least for an observership.  He looks like he would make a good monk.

Friday 9 – It was very cold.  Since the 19^th of January the norm has been minus 20, at least at night.  On the other hand we have hardly had any snow, not more than 18 inches.

Saturday 10 – The Abbot and Br. Stephan went to see Br. Henry again.  They found him in pretty good condition.  The specialist is optimistic about his complete recovery.

Sunday 11 – It was the Abbot’s turn as principal celebrant at the Mass.  In his homily he talked about joy.

This week there was several guests, who stayed most of the week.  It is impressive to see them assisting at so many of our Offices.

Monday 12 – An aspirant called Hauke Hempel came for a few days.  He could not stay longer on a account of his work.  He comes from Sackville, New Brunswick.

Tuesday 13 – Fr. Graham took Patrick, the African deacon, to the airport.  He took the opportunity to visit Br. Henry, whom he found to be doing well and was to be transferred to the Residence of the Sisters of Notre Dame du Sacré Cœur tomorrow.  The sisters are very good to him.

Wednesday 14 – After None there was a meeting of the Business Council.

In chapter the Abbot finished talking about the Abbot General’s reflections on the election of his successor at the General Chapter of 2008.  He is going to follow up with a presentation of Dom Armand’s paper on the structures of the Order and their interaction.

Thursday 15 – There was a heavy snowstorm during the night.  The Abbot and I both had appointments in Miramichi.

Friday 16 – We are a couple of days into the reading of the history of Spencer, 1825 – 1958, Through Faith and Fire by Fr. Gabriel Bertonière of Spencer.  It is in English, but since the community of Spencer, now in Massachusetts, took root in Nova Scotia, when it first came from France, we feel that the story concerns us closely.

Saturday 17 – This afternoon the Abbot went to see Br. Henry, with me as his driver.  Br. Henry seems to be recovering, but he does have some anxieties about his condition.

Sunday 18 – Fr. Maurice was happy to see his two brothers and a sister-in-law who came to see him.

Tuesday 20 – The public address systems in our chapel and refectory were not working properly.  A technician from Moncton came and tried to do repairs.  He did well in the refectory but had to take the amplifier from the chapel to the firm’s workshop.

Wednesday 21 – Ash Wednesday.  In chapter the Abbot did a presentation of the main lines of Dom Armand Veilleux’ work on the structures of the Order and their interrelationship.  It is a rather extensive treatment.

Thursday 22 – We get a big variety of people coming to the guest house.  Currently we have a couple with two young children.

Friday 23 – This afternoon Brother Gilles went to take a few things to Brother Henry.  He has a rather large room and wants to set up a prayer corner.  Brother Gilles also took with him all that was needed to cut Brother Henry’s hair and beard.  He shaved off his beard completely and no longer recognized himself.

Saturday 24 – A group of local men met here under the leadership of Father Savio, the pastor of our parish.  The were reflecting together about the Christian life.  Father Maurice was involved as facilitator.  The whole event went off very well.

Dimanche 25 – First Sunday of Lent.  We had a morning chapter to solemnly inaugurate our Lenten observance.  At the Mass the preacher had us reflect on temptation in Jesus and on our own temptations and how to fight against them.

Monday 26 – We began our Lenten reading according to a special new formula.  One man reads out loud while the others listen.  It is an experiment for this year.  We have it before Compline, like we used to.  The first thing read was the Pope’s message for Lent.  Next the Abbot General’s letter on acedia was read.  Then we shall see.

Tuesday 27 – A vespers, there was a catechetical group from the French-speaking school at Carrefour Beau Soleil in Miramichi.  The school is part of an activities centre for French-speaking people.  Besides the school they have Sunday Mass and all sorts of activities.  The city of Miramichi is largely English-speaking.  There are similar French cultural centers in Saint John and Fredericton.  After supper the Abbot met with these young people.

Wednesday 28 – Br. Gilles had the car checked out with a view to Br. Stephan’s trip to see his family.  It’s not just down the street.

MARCH 2007

Friday 2 March – There was a workshop in the guest house led by Fr. Melvin Doucet, W.F., organized by a group of people from the Acadian Peninsula.  This priest has a ministry on Prince Edward Island, he professes to receive messages from Our Lady and has a growing following.  He is also a charismatic with a healing ministry.

Saturday 3 – Br. Stephan left for his visit to his family.  He is going first to the Drummondville area of Quebec where his brother John (our former Brother Jean-Baptiste) lives, then he will head for Pennsylvania, where most of the rest of his family is located in the Philadelphia area.

Sunday 4 – Second Sunday of Lent.  The gospel narrates the episode of the Transfiguration and the Abbot gave a long homily on it.  Here the natural surroundings were transfigured by fresh white snow in a generous quantity.

Monday 5 – The Abbot went to visit Br. Henry in Moncton; Roger Proulx, our postulant, went with him as driver.  Br. Henry is doing quite well in the circumstances, considering that he has not yet been fitted with a definitive prosthesis.  He expects to be back at the monastery for Holy Week.

The snow falling off the roof put the wood-burning boiler out of action for heating the chicken-barn.  It can be repaired.

Tuesday 6 – Two visiting priest joined us for the concelebrated Mass: Fr. William Rice of Edmundston and Fr. J. Mallen from Halifax.  An Anglican priest turned up this afternoon as well.  There are two representatives of the laity also staying in the guest house.

Wednesday 7 – Fr. Savio, the priest in charge of the local pastoral unit, formerly three parishes, was with us for Vespers.  He likes to come as often as he can.  Fr. Clovis Chiasson, the chaplain to our Trappistine sisters gives Fr. Savio a helping hand from time to time.

Thursday 8 – Father Graham’s parents came for a joyful visit.  They spend a weekend here from time to time and benefit from the time of retreat.  They are as good as monks in their attendance at all the offices.

Friday 9 – I have started tidying up the common tool room.  I am going to take out an old water tank that is no longer used and takes up a lot of space.

Saturday 10 – Br. Stephan came back from his visit to his family, happy with how things had gone, but still glad to be back in his monastery.  He had driven 4000 km without a hitch.

Sunday 11 – The guest-house had a very busy weekend.

Monday 12 – Departure of the Abbot at 4 o’clock this morning for our monastery of Gethsemani in Kentucky, U.S.A.  He is going as representative of the Canadian Region to the Regional Meeting of the Abbots and Abbesses of the American Region.  He will be back on the 24^th of this month.

Tuesday 13 – Since the tank in the tool-room was too heavy to get out in one piece, Br. Stephan came and cut it up into four pieces, with an eye to what he might be able to use it for later on.  He and Rémi managed to get the pieces out, but they were still very heavy.

Wednesday – 14 – The chickens were shipped out from barns 1 and 2.  These poor chickens, they have such a short life, 6 or 7 weeks during which they only eat, drink and sleep.  They don’t get much activity.

Thursday 15 – We have a surplus of frozen tomatoes.  So I have taken to turning them into juice which we can keep well enough in the refrigerator.

Friday 16 – Early this morning Br. Stephan went to the outpatient clinic at Miramichi for an ultrasound scan on his right leg.  During his travels to see his folks he developed phlebitis.  It is not too bad, but needs keeping an eye on. He keeps on working.

Sunday 18 – This afternoon I went to pick up Brother Henry.  He does not feel too bad and was really happy to get back to the monastery, even though he was well looked after by the sisters of Notre Dame du Sacré Coeur.  We are always relieved to have him in choir.  He is one of our most reliable voices.

Monday 19 – Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus.  In the Abbot’s absence the Mass was a bit less solemn.

A couple from Tracadie-Sheila (Pont-Landry), Melvin and Glenda Doiron, have made us a present of a television set for use in the guest-house for playing tapes with a spiritual message.  The guest house already had a TV, but it long since ceased to work.  We do not have access to the television network in monastery.

Tuesday 20 – An e-mail arrived from the Abbot.  He seems charmed with the meeting of American Abbots and Abbesses.  The element he finds most stimulating is the interaction between the participants.  The number of participants is, in fact, around thirty, including the delegates and invitees.

Thursday 22 – The temperature has gone up a bit.  I began to prune the apple trees.

Friday 23 – This afternoon Br. Stephan went to the airport to pick up the Abbot.  But failed to find him, because the Abbot was still in Montreal, having volunteered to give up his seat in an overbooked aircraft.  He phone the monastery, but Br. Stephan had already left for Moncton airport.  The Abbot spent the night in the Hilton Hotel, courtesy of Air Canada.

Saturday 24 – Fr. Graham went to the airport.  This time the Abbot was there as planned.

In chapter the Abbot spoke about the meeting.  He had found it interesting and enriching.  The exchanges had a positive ring to them.

Sunday 25 – The concelebrated Mass was presided by Fr. Maurice.  There were a good number of people from outside in attendance, some of them quite new.

Monday 26 – Beautiful feast of the Lord’s Annunciation.  The Abbot was available for the solemn concelebrated Mass.

Tuesday 27 – I had an appointment with my doctor in Moncton this afternoon.  I went with Fr. Clovis, the Eudist chaplain to the nuns, who lives here.  I was rewarded with an additional tablet!

Wednesday 28 – Our Lenten reading is a bit of a trial.  We are reading Father Boris Bobrinskoy’s book on the Holy Spirit, Communion du Saint-Esprit.  It is very deep and widely researched, but heavy for before Compline.

Friday 30 – After Lauds, two trucks turned up full of day-old chicks.  They came from Victoriaville in the Province of Quebec.

Saturday 31 – Towards the end of the morning, a group of candidates for confirmation arrived at the guest-house.  They were from Miramichi, about 10 of them.  Fr. Graham exchanged with them.  He found them well instructed.  They took part in Sext and None (which are combined on Saturdays) and stayed for dinner.  A nice group of people.

After the hymn at Vespers, the Abbot blessed a new icon of the Crucifiixion of Our Lord.  This will be set up beside the altar until Maundy Thursday, instead of the crucifix.  It may become a permanent fixture.  Br. Stephan made an impressive metal stand that it hangs from.

At 7.20 pm we had a singing class in preparation for tomorrow’s Palm Sunday liturgy.

April 2007

Sunday 1 April – Palm Sunday.  We did not have Tierce but at 9 o’clock began the blessing of palms at the back of the chapel.  The procession was a bit short, but goes by the name of Solemn Entrance.

The entire guest-house is booked out for the days of the Sacred Triduum.

Monday 2 – Yesterday evening, the Abbot announced that Br. Roger had begun his retreat in preparation for receiving the novice’s habit.  This signifies the start of the official period of formation of two years, leading up to a candidate’s pronouncing his vows.

Tuesday 3 – We have finished pruning the apple trees in our little orchard, thanks to the efficient help of Fr. Clovis.

Wednesday 4 – Br. Henry again caused a stir by passing out at the beginning of Lauds.  He had just sung the hymn.  Happily he did not fall off his raised seat, but remained in a sitting position.  It took quite a bit of time for him to come back to himself and the ambulance to come and take him to the hospital.  So we simply rounded off what would have been Lauds with the Our Father and the concluding prayer.  Br. Henry came back from hospital that afternoon.  The hospital could find nothing wrong.

Maundy Thursday 5 – After Lauds, Br. Roger received the habit.  We have not had many receptions of the habit these last few years.  So it is a great joy for the whole community.

I started getting the greenhouse ready for the tomatoes and other vegetables.

The Maundy Thursday Mass began at 16.45.  The washing of the feet took place after homily preached by Father Graham.  The altar of repose was in the guests’ chapel.

Good Friday 6 – Among the people on retreat here there is a catechumen.  He is only at the beginning, but very engaged.  Father Donald Arsenault is also staying with us.  We know him well because he lived for quite some time in one of the hermitages we had on the property.

Holy Saturday 7 – As we have done for the last few years, we had the Paschal Vigil on Sunday morning at 4 am, but we had the Liturgy of Paschal Light on Saturday evening at 7.30 pm.

Easter Sunday 8 – All of our guests were present for the Paschal Vigil at 4 am.  There were also about ten people from the neighbourhood.

There are only a few of us, but we have our talents.  At the day Mass at which the Abbot presided with his customary calm and Fr. Marice gave a very nice homily, Br. Stephen and Fr. Graham played a beautiful piece of music together on organ and recorder.

Happy Easter.  Let us remain in Christ’s joy!

Monday 9 – In chapter, the Abbot talked about the program for the forthcoming meeting of the Canadian Abbots and Abbesses which will take place at the Benedictine monastery of Saint Benoît-du-Lac, April 24-26.  Father Graham will also be there as our community delegate.

Tuesday 10 – Fr. Wesley Wade joined us for three days.  He is preparing a retreat for a French-speaking group at the Madonna House retreat centre in Saint John.

Wednesday 11 – Br. Stephan got yet another new machine, a big corn cultivator.  He hopes that this will enable him to avoid using weed-killers which are expensive and not good for the environment.

Thursday 12 – Father Keith Kennific of Kanara, Prince Edward Island is with us for a few days.

Friday 13 – There were six of us priests concelebrating this morning: something that does not happen often.

A major snowstorm was announced for this morning and duly arrived.  In fact it snowed for about 36 hours and left a good layer.  Fr. Maurice had an appointment in Moncton and had a friend drive him, but was sorry afterwards that he went because conditions were worse in Moncton.

The guest-house is full this evening.  A retreat for men has been organized guided by Fr. Kenneth LeBlanc, originally from Rogersville, who is a Legionary of Christ.

In chapter, the Abbot took up again his commentary on the Rule: the ninth degree of humility, on silence or the moderate use of speech.

Saturday 14 – Father Graham’s family is mourning the loss of his uncle, Bud.  The funeral is due to take place on Monday.

Sunday 15 – Sunday of the Divine Mercy!

About 13.45 a large group of catechism class children arrived with parents and instructors.  They were from Dieppe.  The Abbot spoke to them and they were present for None.

Monday – 16 – Father Graham went to the funeral of his uncle, Bud.  Since there are not many Catholics on his father’s side of the family the funeral was at the Baptist church.

In chapter we looked a bit more at the programme for the Regional Meeting.  On Wednesday we will discuss the precise point of the Abbot as spiritual father of his community and of his monks.

Tuesday – 17 – Br. Stephan had an appointment in Moncton to do with his varicose veins.

Wednesday – 18 – Early this morning Fr. Graham drove Br. Henry to see his doctor in Moncton for an assessment of the situation concerning his hip.  The outcome was that he should be all right for the operation to insert a new prosthesis next week.

In the meantime Br. Gilles took the car to Miramichi to have it checked out as a preparation for the trip to Saint Benoît-du-Lac next week.  There will be four people going: Ils seront quatre pour ce voyage :Mother Danièle, Mother Alfreda, Dom Bede and Father Graham.

Thursday - 19 – I have been heating the greenhouse since Wednesday last week.  So today I was able to put in my tomato plants.

Dom Bede is trying his hand at pottery.  He watched it being done for 40 years at Mount Saint Bernard, but never actually did it.  It is coming on.

At 7 pm, we saw the rest of the splendid DVD on Gethsemani Abbey.  It is really well done.

Friday – 20 – In the late evening a young man called Richard Donevan arrived for a week’s retreat.  He had come by bike from Moncton.  It took him six hours.

Saturday – 21 – Mother Danièle came to Vespers and supper with us.  We were happy to hear her news of the Generalate and of the Order in general.

Sunday – 22 – After the concelbrated Mass the Abbot and his three companions set off for Saint Benoît – du – Lac.  Father. Graham is going to drive all the way (540 miles).

Monday 23 – Father Robert Bouchard, originally from Gorhan, Maine, turned up for a week’s retreat.  He is a prison chaplain.  He also knows Br. Roger.

Tuesday 24 – The weather is excellent this week.  The snow has nearly all disappeared from our yards and fields, without causing floods everywhere.

Wednesday 25 – Br. Henry had his awaited operation at the Moncton City Hospital.  This is the fourth operation on the left hip.  The news so far is good.

Our friend Reno is with us and applying manure to the roots of our apple trees.  He is a farmer.

Thursday 26 – Br. Stephan has taken on a new seasonal worker on the farm, for the summer.  He is a Doiron from Collette.  Reno and I finished the manure job on the apple trees.

Friday 27 – The Abbot and Fr. Graham were back from Quebec for Compline.  Except that the Abbot went straight to bed with a raging flu-like cold.

Saturday 28 – There are two couples in the guest-house and several individual guests.  In addition there have been others in the course of the week, including two of Br. Leo’s sisters and a friend of his.

Unusually, for Saturday, we had chapter, given by the Abbot and Father Graham.  Among other things the Abbot gave us the list of decisions taken by the Regional Meeting.  He also announced that Fr. Graham had been chosen as regional delegate to the next General Chapter.  Father Graham, for his part, gave his impressions of the journey, of Saint Benoît-du-Lac, the Benedictine monastery where the meeting took place, and of the meeting itself.

Sunday 29 – We shared the great joy of our Brother Gilles.  He had found online a CD he had been looking for for 53 years.  Erna Sack was a great singer with unparalleled vocal abilities.  We were able to listen to this chef d’oeuvre at the midday meal and it was highly appreciated by all.

Monday 30 - We have an interesting set of guests: a sister of the Congregation of our Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; two priests from Moncton; two priests from Halifax; a priest from Charlottetown; a layman.

May 2007

Wednesday 2 – The Abbot went to visit Br. Henry at the Residence Notre Dame du Sacré Coeur in Moncton.  He was happy to see how well Br. Henry was doing, even if he was in bed with a mild migraine when the Abbot first arrived.  Fr. Graham combined driving the Abbot with picking up an aspirant from Toronto, Alexander Milasin, who was coming for a few days.  The novice-master is in touch with 9 aspirants.

In chapter the Abbot spoke about the situation in our Canadian monasteries based on the sharing between the superiors at the recent Regional Meeting.

Thursday 3 – We began to watch a video about events in the time of Hitler in Germany.  It is supposed to be historical.

Friday 4 – In chapter the Abbot continued giving us news of the other monasteries.  This evening a group of 7 retreatants arrived, organized by Sr. Ida Nowlan of Moncton.

Saturday 5 – Fr. Graham took Alexander Milasin back to the airport and went to see Br. Henry again.

Sunday 6 – 5^th Sunday of Easter.  This evening our annual retreat began, preached by Fr. Edmour Babineau of the diocese of Moncton, and a former Brother of Christian Instruction.

ANNUAL RETREAT May 7 - 13 2007

We had a very peaceful and pleasant retreat.  The preacher, Fr. Edmour Babineau, was already well-known to us.  He likes to teach with visual aids.  He brought with him a huge icon of the Credo (the “I believe in God”) and referred to the elements of this throughout his retreat.  He also made use of a slideshow.  These are the means he uses when instructing the parents in his parish.  The last conference should have been on Saturday morning, May 12, but Fr. Babineau was needed in his parish and had to cancel the conference.  Nonetheless we stayed in retreat until after Mass on Saturday.  Overall, it was an excellent retreat.

THE FARM

The week saw a lot of activity on the farm.  The weather was ideal for preparing the land for planting maize.  We had rather a lot of manure to spread.

In addition, 40,000 chickens were sent off to become meat and the cleaning team moved in straight away to prepare for the next flock.  That meant a lot more manure to be carried out to the fields.  All this activity did not affect the retreat, but it did involve Br. Stephan.

To increase the butterfat content in the milk, Br. Stephan bought 6 Jersey cows.

An e-mail from Dom Jacques, Abbot of Mistassini, announced the death of their Fr. Jean-Baptiste, at 98 years of age.  We pray for him along with our brothers of Mistassini.

We also learned, by means of a fax from Dom Yvon, the Abbot of Oka, that the sale of their monastery had been concluded and, henceforth, they can devote all their energies to the building of their new monastery.  We share their joy.

Tuesday 15 – Fr. Maurice had an appointment early this morning in Moncton.  He was missing from the Mass.  Rhéal Desroches, who is always happy to serve as driver, took him.  Fr. Maurice took the opportunity to visit Br. Henry and found him on good form.

Wednesday 16 – The police again.  The Mounties were at our door several times today.  They were looking for information on a guy who had been here Tuesday of last week, May 8, and who had got into trouble.  We do not always know who the people are that art turning up at our door.

Thursday 17 – The farm work is making good progress.  They have sown about 85 acres of maize etc.  One of the jersey cows is sick.

Meantime I have been rolling the lawns.

Friday 18 – I realized that today was the 55^th anniversary of my religious profession.  Deo Gratias.

In chapter, the Abbot continued his commentary on the 12^th degree of humility in the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Saturday 19 – Fr. Clovis went yesterday to help his Eudist confreres direct a retreat in Nova Scotia.  Fr. Graham stood in for him for the Mass for our sisters.

Sunday 20 – The Abbot went to celebrate Mass for the sisters.

This week the weather has been rather miserable: cold, windy, cloudy and rainy.  It is raining again today.  People consider the season is really behind.

Monday 21 – Several priests turned up for a retreat: two from Nova Scotia, one from Prince Edward Island, one from Portland, Maine, U.S.A.  We had some impressive concelebrations.

In Chapter the Abbot in his commentary on the Rule managed to complete chapter 7 on humility, which he has been commenting on for 13 months!

Wednesday 23 – I had an appointment in Moncton.  A Heaven-sent opportunity to visit Br. Henry.  He was on good form.  I had a long talk with him.

Friday 25 - Liturgical memoria of Saint Bede the Venerable.  Our Abbot’s patronal feast.  He had a whole collection of emails and faxes from various parts of the Order.  In his commentary on the Rule he started talking about the Divine Office, chapter 7 on humility in the text of the Rule being followed directly by chapter 8 on the Divine Office at Night.

The hot weather has arrived.  I began cutting the lawns.  Unfortunately the lawn mower broke down.  A problem for Rhéal DesRoches to sort out.

Saturday 26 – The Abbot went to see Br. Henry, with Br. Gilles as driver.  Br. Henry will be coming back to the monastery in the middle of next week.

Sunday 27 – The great feast of Pentecost.  The Abbot presided the Mass, as he does on solemnities, with all the pomp and circumstance: mitre,. crozier, etc.

Tuesday 29 – Two priests from Montreal did a stopover and concelebrated with us.

Wednesday -30 – Br. Henry returned to the monastery.  He seems on good form.  He came right back to his place in choir and his duties as cantor.  We are happy to have him back among us.

Thursday 31 – Martin Cormier finished his job today as manager of the chicken operation.  He has been replaced by Jacques Martin, who comes back on the job.

JUNE 2007

Monday 4 – Saint Boniface.  An English Saint, great apostle of Germany.

Tuesday 5 – This morning I had an appointment with my dentist.  Happily he did not have to take any of my teeth out.  I already have enough missing as it is.

Wednesday 6 – In chapter, the Abbot commented on the “Lineamenta” for the next Synod of Bishops on the Word of God, a topic that concerns monks a lot, as well as the rest of Christianity, of course.

Thursday 7 – This evening we watched a beautiful little film about the community of N-D de Bonne Espérance, at Échourgnac, in France.

Friday 8 – We had our monthly day of prayer for the deceased of our Order.  We have Lauds, Vespers and Mass for the dead.

We have begun to plant out our vegetables in the garden.  Las night there was a threat of frost.

This morning Fr. Maurice went to say Mass for our sisters.  Fr. Clovis’ sister is very sick with a terminal cancer, so he goes often to spend time with her.

Saturday 9 – Br. Stephan began cutting the grass silage.  Everything seems to be working amazingly well.

Sunday 10 – Feast of the Blessed Sacrament.  The reading of the Pope’s document following the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist has certainly prepared us well for this feast.

Friday 1 – Fr. Maurice celebrated his 62^nd birthday.  How the years pass!

Saturday 2 – The fine weather has come back.  Work in the garden has begun in earnest.

Sunday 3 – Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.  The Abbot was principal celebrant at the Mass again.  There were a lot of people at Mass, including six ladies and two men staying here on retreat.

Monday 11 – Br. Henry had a long session our local doctor, Basil Blanchard, as a prelude to his next appointment with the surgeon who operated on him.

At Mount Saint Bernard, the monastery from which our Abbot came, they held an abbatial election today.  Dom Joseph, at the end of his first six-year term, was re-elected.

Wednesday 13 – Rhéal drove Brother Henry to Moncton to see his surgeon.  The doctor declared that everything was going real well and even agreed to Br. Henry going back to his hermitage.  But his other hip is in such a condition that it cannot get worse.  The operation that is scheduled for the Fall.  Our novice, Br. Roger, left.

Friday 15 – The Abbot and Br. Gilles went to St. John for the installation of the new Bishop, Robert Harris, who was previously auxiliary to the Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie.  His predecessor, Bishop Faber MacDonald, retired when nearing the canonical age, but with health problems.

Saturday 16 – We had hot, dry weather.  This is ideal for holiday-makers but farmers and gardeners are looking for a bit more water.

Sunday 17 – This afternoon the Abbot left for the Central Commission meeting which is taking place in the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña, near Burgos in Spain.  He will be back on July 3^rd.

Our Father Immediate, Dom Jacques Pineault, Abbot of Mistassini, announces his next friendly visit.  He will be very welcome.

Monday 18 – We had some very welcome rain during the night.  The Abbot sent his first e-mail.  His flight from Montreal to London was delayed, so he missed his correspondence and a whole group of abbots and abbesses had to wait patiently for him in Madrid.

Tuesday 19 – Br. Stephan has his sister Agnes, a medical doctor, here for a visit with her husband.  They are staying till tomorrow.

Wednesday 20 – We had another interesting e-mail from the Abbot.

A minister who calls herself simply a Christian called in here.  Her ministry is Scripture.  She came to find out what happens in a monastery.  Father Maurice replied to her questions.

The school leavers from Rogersville also came as they do every year.  It was Father Maurice who showed them round.

Thursday 21 – This morning we had a surprise visit from Bishop Robert Harris, installed last week as Bishop of Saint John, New Brunswick.  Father Graham showed him around the monastery and he was able to meet all the monks except one.

Friday 22 – Monthly Mass for vocations.  Father Graham went to say Mass for our sisters.  In the Abbot’s absence, Fr. Graham is giving us some talks in our evening chapter meeting, on Cassian.

Saturday 23 – We lost our only novice, but all is not lost for him.  He has already arranged to go and spend a six-month trial period with the Benedictines in New York State.

Sunday 24 – Solemnity of Saint John the Baptist.  Patronal Feast of the Province of Quebec.  We wish our cousins a happy feast!

Monday 25 – I had an appointment with a chiropractor in Miramichi.  I have some knots that impede my progress at work.  It’s very annoying.

Tuesday 26 – This morning it was Fr. Maurice’s turn to have an appointment in Miramichi.  For him it is a problem with his feet.

Friday 29 – Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.  The Abbot presided the Mass at Mount Saint Bernard, his original monastery in England.  I went to say Mass for our sisters across the street, N-D de l’Assomption.

We have had a lot of rain this last couple of weeks.  Difficult to get onto things in the garden.

Saturday 30 – Our P.A. system in the chapel has been giving a bit of trouble this last couple of days.  Fortunately the chapel is not very big and we can do without the P.A. system.

JULY 2007

Sunday 1 July – There are a number of people in the guest-house and quite a lot of people at the Mass.

Tuesday 3 – This morning, our Father Immediate, that is, the Abbot of our Mother House, Mistassini, Dom Jacques Pineault arrived for in informal visit.

Rhéal Desroches went to meet the Abbot at Moncton airport.  Father Maurice also went to Moncton for an appointment with his cardiologist.  He stayed overnight in order to complete a monitoring test of 24 hours.  Fr. Maurice has lots of health problems.  Nonetheless he still gives himself very generously to his work on the accounts.  The Abbot’s plane was due to arrive in the late evening.

In chapter Dom Jacques gave us news of Mistassini.

Wednesday 4 – We had a festive dinner with talking in honour of Dom Jacques and to celebrate the Abbot’s return.

In chapter the Abbot showed us the photos he had taken during his time in Spain.  He continued on Thursday and Friday and finished with those he had taken at Mount Saint Bernard in England.

Friday 6 – Dom Jacques said Mass for the sisters at Assomption, and met the community afterwards.

Sunday 8 – Dom Jacques was principal celebrant at the Mass and gave a splendid homily.

At dinner, Mother Alfreda, the Abbess from Assomption, joined us at table to help us give Dom Jacques a good send off.  Dom Jacques assured us that he had come in a friendly way to see how things were in his daughter house, but we think he was also looking for a rest.

Monday 9 – Everything about liturgy interests our Abbot, Dom Bede, we get the benefit.  This evening, in chapter, he did a presentation of the Motu Proprio that Pope Benedict XVI published on 7^th July on the missal published by Jean XXIII (revision of that of Pius V) and that of Paul VI.  With all the time that has elapsed since Vatican II one would have thought that this question would have died a natural death.  But the Pope pointed out in his accompanying letter to the Bishops of the world that just the opposite was the case and that he wanted to bring reconciliation and unity to the Church in this matter.

Tuesday 10 – We seem to be getting a lot of small animals making their home in our yard.  A female raccoon raised her two babies in our old honey-processing building.  They have gone now.  A mother groundhog raised two young alongside of our greenhouse.  We were able to enjoy their play quite happily.  We see a lot of little squirrels running around as well.

Wednesday 11 – Our garden looks like giving us good results this year, especially the tomatoes in the greenhouse.  Another crop that promises a good harvest is the corn for the cows.  This must be due to the new machine for weed control which obviates the necessity for pesticides.

Thursday 12 – Fr. Clovis is having the week with his sister who is very close to death.

Friday 13 – The guest house filled up for the weekend, partly with family members and with other friends.

Saturday 14 – The abundant rain of the last few days has refreshed the lawns and made everything fresh green.

Sunday 15 – It was my turn to say Mass at Assomption, our nuns across the street.  The Abbot went in the afternoon to talk to them about his journey to Spain and the Central Commission meeting.

Monday 16 – In chapter, the Abbot finished off his presentation of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum on the two Missals.  The he presented the work done by the Central Commissions on the treatment of the House Reports at the General Chapter.  This included how the reports should be prepared and emphasized the role of the Regional Conferences.

Br. Henry had his nephew with his lovely family visiting.

Wednesday 18 – The Abbot continued his explanation of the work of the Central Commissions on the house reports.

Friday 20 – The broiler chickens came in this morning, 42000 of them.  These day-old chicks come from a hatchery in Quebec.  Our chicken-barn manager, Jacques Martin, was very happy with the results of the last flock.

It rained a lot today.  It was raining when we got up and still raining this afternoon.

Saturday 21 – There was a lot of activity this weekend in the guest-house.  A group of Third Order Franciscans arrived from Antigonish.  Arthur Doucette came with his wife and family to celebrate to celebrate his 60^th Wedding Anniversary, at the Grotto and in the guest-house chapel.  Arthur was our carpenter for a number of years.  There were also a number of retreatants, among them a Jesuit, chaplain to the University in Halifax, who is spending a week with us.  With the Franciscan group, there was Father Comptois of the Friars Minor and a deacon from Ottawa.

Sunday 22 – Father Clovis was back this morning to say Mass for the sisters.  He cannot understand how his sister is holding out so long.

Thanks to the Mistassini chronicle, we can follow closely the health problems of Br. Louis Landry.  He is about 88 years old and a former monk of this community.

Monday 23 – Dialogue about community dialogues.  In our Order a lot of discussion in community is encouraged to help the community function well.  We will be coming back to this on Wednesday.

Tuesday 24 – We finished reading in the refectory the big fat book on the history of Spencer Abbey, which is the successor of Petit Clairvaux, at Monastery in Nova Scotia.  We just heard, by way of coincidence, that the Maronites, who for some years have been occupying the house at Monastery, are leaving and returning to Massachusetts.

For a change of climate, we have started reading the controversial book by Robert Pichette: Le pays appelé l’Acadie, (“The Land named Acadia.”).  This is about the history, fortunes and misfortunes, of the Acadian people of our local region.  Mr. Pichette is the author of the history of our monastery, written in celebration of our centenary in 2002: Il est heureux que nous soyons ici : Les Cisterciens en Acadie : 1902-2002, (“It is well that we are here : The Cistercians in Acadia : 1902-2002).

Wednesday 25 – We discussed how to programme our community discussions.  We reached a consensus on the time, length and frequency of these dialogues, the subjects will be provided as they arise.

A religious of Saint Vincent de Paul, a brother, was spending a few days here.  He is based in Trois Rivières.

Thursday 26 – A lady arrived for several days retreat.  She is a chaplain at the military base in Gagetown near Fredericton, for where a large contingent of troups recently left for Afghanistan.

Friday 27 – We started bringing in the bales of hay.

Saturday 28 – The Abbot had two Filipino priests visiting.  He had met them before.

Several rooms in the guest-house were being occupied by people taking part in school meetings in Rogersville.

December 29 – The holidays and the fine weather have not lessened the number of people showing up in our guest-house.  It is quite amazing.

Monday 30 – Two men are working at the necessary environmental maintenance of our woods.  Br. Henry began to fear for the area surrounding his hermitage, the men were getting too close.  Br. Stephan sorted this out.

Tuesday 31 – A guest, with the family name of Bouchard, arrived on a motorbike.  He is from the State of Maine.  It seems that there are a lot of Bouchards down that way, as there are in the Lac-Saint-Jean area.

AUGUST 2007

Wednesday 1 – This morning at 3 am, Annette Chiasson, Fr. Clovis’ sister, passed away.

Br. Stephan has been nominated for the New Brunswick Farmer of the Year award.  What has drawn the attention of those who make this award is mechanical week control without recourse to chemical sprays.  The award will not be made until February, and there is not guarantee that we will win it.  Meantime, the organizers want to have a field day here.

The Abbot announced a three-day festival: Farmers’ Field Day 18 August, Blessed Sacrament Procession to the Grotto 19 August, Barbecue on the evening of Saint Bernard’s day, 20 August.

We have with us, as a guest, Fr. Jean-Marie Dumont, a Eudist from Charlesbourg, but originally from Campbellton.

Thursday 2 – Our greenhouse has produced an awesome quantity of tomatoes.  To conclude the hottest day of the year, we had a thunderstorm with hurricane-like winds that uprooted trees.

Saturday 4 – We bought ourselves a machine for picking up cut grass and, later, dead leaves.  It is not perfect but it more or less does the job.

Sunday 5 – Father Clovis returned to his post as chaplain.

Monday 13 – Hay.  The community dialogue scheduled for this evening had to be postponed.

Tuesday 14 – Sr. Lucie Hébert stopped off here fro a short visit.  She had made her retreat here during the summer.  She is a native of Rogersville and has a sister with the Daughters of Jesus.

Br. Henry was pleased to have his Brother Roger and his wife here fro a visit.  Roger is the brother that got over a very serious cancer.  They come from Newton, Massachusetts.

The priest preaching the novena in Rogersville is very appreciative of the prayers of contemplatives.

Wednesday 15 – Feast of the Assumption.  Patronal Feast of the Acadians and of the Cistercians.  We are discovering lots about the Acadians from the book by Robert Pichette which is still being read in the refectory.

We readily accepted the invitation of Mother Alfreda and here sisters of the monastery of the Assumption in Rogersville to help them celebrate their patronal feast – with the office of Sext and a tasty barbecue.

Friday 17 – A lawyer and his wife are on retreat here.

Saturday 18 – Today the Miramichi Soil and Crop Improvement Association, a group of local farmers, held a field day here.  Any monks who wanted to were free to take part.  The group toured the barn, fishway, fields, wetlands and, finally, the monastery.

Saturday 19 – This afternoon, we had an early first Vespers of Saint Bernard, followed by an hour’s adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a procession to the Grotto, where we had Benediction.  There was a feeling of solidarity with the run-up to the International Eucharistic Congress due to take place in Quebec next year.

Monday 6 – Fr. Leo Richard stopped off here.  He is a Eudist.  He is 84 years old and has been 7 years a priest.

Tuesday 7 – Today was the start of the novena in preparation for the feast of Our Lady’s Assumption, the patronal feast of the Acadians, which focuses on the national monument in Rogersville.  The novena is being preached by Fr. Bernard Gauthier, C.SS.R.  We hear that he is a really excellent preacher.  Normally he exercises his ministry with the Micmacs, the first nation people, in the diocese of Moncton.

Wednesday 8 – Fr. Maurice spent a few hours at the hospital in Miramichi for some sophisticated tests on his urinary tract.  Nothing ominous was discovered.

Thursday 9 – This evening we watched the beautiful video, The Great Silence.  As monks we can get a lot out of this film.

Friday 10 – The Abbot continued his commentary on the Rule, on the Divine Office and the psalms as Christian prayer.

Saturday 11 – The guest-house is full again this weekend.  People say that holidaymakers have a tendency to migrate towards the monasteries as cheaper places to stay.

Sunday 12 – There were a lot of new people at the Mass.  A Nigerian monk has asked to come here for a certain period of time.  He is a former superior.

Monday 20 – Solemnity of our Holy Father Saint Bernard, the most illustrious of Cistercian monks.  To mark this feast we had a solemn Mass with a sermon by the Abbot and, in the evening, an open-air barbecue, together with our guests.

Wednesday 22 – Brother Gilles left early this morning for Montreal.  He went to see his ninety year old mother and his few other family members.  On the way to the airport with Fr. Graham he was delayed by a young moose that was walking down the middle of the road and did not want to give way.  Ultimately, they got past.

Thursday 23 – This week the pastor of Saint Mary’s in Miramichi was staying with us, another Father Chiasson.

Friday 24 – Brother Stephan had his sister, Annie, and her husband visiting, and Fr. Graham’s parents were also here for the weekend.  So it has been a week dedicated to the relationships with our families!

Sunday 26 – Father Adrien presided over the concelebrated community Mass!

Monday 27 – An e-mail from Dom Yvon, abbot of Oka, informed us of the name the community has chosen for its new monastery to be constructed at St Jean-de-Matha near Joliette: Val Notre-Dame.  We rejoice with our brothers over this happy inspiration.

Wednesday 29 – Bishop Valery Vienneau of Bathurst stopped by for a short visit.

Thursday 30 – This week the Mistassini chronicle was rightly concerned about the situation with the blueberries.  For several years now Mistassini has been marketing its awesome “Chocolate-coated Blueberries”.  To meet the market potential they need a vast quantity of blueberries.  The same chronicle also discusses the forestry crisis.  The two problems affect our province as well  The wood trade is critical, especially in the Miramichi area, where the paper mills have been closed.  On the other hand, the blueberry production is on the increase and 60% of it comes from the Acadian Peninsula, the north east of the province.

Friday 31 – Fr. Maurice had his two brothers with their wives, his sister from Vancouver, and a nephew and niece here for a pleasant family reunion.  The heads the catechetics departments in the different pastoral units of the diocese of Moncton were here for the day for a meeting presided over by the Archbishop, André Richard.

SEPTEMBER 2007

Sunday 2 – It was Fr. Maurice’s turn to preside the community Mass, but, because of his walking difficulties and problems with his balance, the abbot took it, leaving Fr. Maurice to preach the sermon.  Bishop Robert Harris, the new bishop of St. John, who had just finished a weekend in Miramichi, was with us for Vespers.

Monday 3 – We have been having a few complications with our computers and had to call in a technician.

At Mother Alfreda’s request, Dom André Letarte, the retired Abbot of Rougemont, came to spend a few day with the sisters at Assomption.  The sisters wanted to draw on his experience with regard to re-organizing their buildings.

Wednesday 5 – This evening we had an open discussion, that is, a community dialogue with no fixed topic.  In fact, we talked about silence and the use of the scriptorium.  Both topics will be the subject of further discussions.  Another part of the discussion focussed on the value of community dialogue in itself.

Thursday 6 – Dom André Letarte was with us for vespers and supper.  We had an enjoyable evening of sharing with him.  He is a man with a lot of experience.

Saturday 8 – Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and feast of Saint Adrian.  Fr. Nicolas Thériault, of the diocese of Bathurst, spent the week with us.  He is a hospital chaplain.

Sunday 9 – Fr. Graham presided at the concelebrated Mass and preached in both languages.

Monday 10 – Our garden has been very productive, despite its being overrun with weeds.

Tuesday 11 – Our two workmen, Rémi Martin and Roger Gallant, have opened up a new worksite in the woods.  Br. Stephan needs some beams for a small extension to the barn.  There is a nice copse on our land at Young Ridge.  The work will only take a few days.

Wednesday 11 – The Abbot talked in chapter about the Pope’s visit to Austria, and, in particular about his visit to the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreutz.  The Abbot presented part of the Pope’s address to the community there, dealing with the values of the monastic life.  Heiligenkreutz has seen 870 years of uninterrupted monastic life.

Extracts from what the Pope said are to be found on our 'From the Pope' page. To be taken there, click here.

Thursday 13 – We finished watching the impressive film on the Grande Chartreuse, “Le Grand Silence”.

Friday 14 – We are still getting a lot of guests, keeping our restricted number of rooms occupied.  Feast of the Holy Cross and one year since the ordination of Father Graham, as the Abbot reminded us in chapter.

Saturday 15 – Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows or Our Lady of Calvary, our patronal feast.  We had a solemn high Mass presided by the Abbot, who preached a wonderful homily that we found encouraging.  Then, our sisters from Assomption had been invited for Vespers and supper.  Unfortunately two of them could not make it, but we had a very pleasant evening with Mother Alfreda and the five others who did come.

Sunday 16 – For the last three days I have had to go and celebrate Mass for our sisters.  Fr. Clovis has to go away a lot.  Then, Fr. Maurice has health problems which make presiding Mass a bit difficult.

Monday 17 – Two priests are staying with us: one from Prince Edward Island and the other from Nova Scotia.

The wild animals are getting a bit of a nuisance on the farm, especially around the corn.  Rémi Martin is keeping the racoons in check, the bears also have to be scared away, and now the mice are coming into the monastery.

Tuesday 18 – Fr. Graham left for Wales.  He has gone to take part in a workshop for the contemplative novice masters and mistresses of the British Isles, on spiritual accompaniment.  It will be conducted by Dom Bernard Bonowitz, titular prior of our monastery of Novo Mundo in Brasil.  We cannot be accused of totally neglecting on-going formation.

Wednesday 19 – Two monks from Gethsemani Abbey, Kentucky, turned up.  The spoke in chapter to tell us who they were and what they were doing here.  They are Br. Simeon and Br. Albert.  Simeon does a lot of the driving for the community at Gethsemani and so was only the driver for Br. Albert.  The reason that Br. Albert is wandering around these parts is that he is a Canadian, originally from Newfoundland.  He came up to the border at Niagara to renew his immigration status in the US, and was refused.  So he has come to stay with us until such time as his file is ready for presentation.  Br. Albert is in simple vows.

But Brother’s difficulties didn’t stop there.  As soon as he got here his left knee began to swell.  Since things were not getting any better I took him, Sunday morning after Mass, to the emergency room at the Miramichi hospital.  The doctor diagnose was fluid on the knee and inflammation and gave him some strong anti-inflammatory drugs.  Even by Sunday evening he was a lot better.

Saturday 21 – Fr. Mark Smith, of the English province of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, professor of philosophy at Saint Thomas University in Fredericton, was here for the weekend with five young men, students at the University.

Monday 24 – In chapter, before continuing his commentary on the Rule, the abbot asked our prayers for the canonical visitation he has been asked to make at our monastery of Tre Fontane in Rome.  He is also scheduled to give the community some conferences on liturgy.  Dom Bede speaks Italian and knows this community in Rome.  He will be leaving in a few days.  The Abbot also read us a long letter from Dom Marcel, Abbot of our monastery of the Prairies, north of Winnipeg, in Manitoba.

Tuesday 25 – This evening, as every Tuesday, we had our gospel sharing.  Brother Albert took an active part.

Wednesday 26 – I harvested the remainder of our vegetables and ran the brush cutter over the whole garden to get rid of the big weeds.

We learned of the death of Father Clément Guy Melanson, of the Moncton diocesan clergy.  He was for a time pastor in Rogersville.  He also worked on the marriage tribunal.

There was a hurricane-like thunderstorm this afternoon.  A lot of wind and lashings of rain.  It was really impressive.

Thursday 27 – We learned, via an e-mail from our Father Immediate, of the death this morning of our dear brother Louis Landry.  Brother Louis was a member of this community for several years before he requested to transfer to Mistassini.  He leaves two sisters, both religious: Sr. Emmanuel of the Trappistines of Rogersville, and Sr. Ida the Redemptoristines in Quebec.

Saturday 29 – Father Graham returned from his workshop for formators in Wales and a little tourist stopover in London.

Sunday 30 – From Oka, we learned of the death of Br. Adrien Corriveau.  That makes a week with quite a few deaths.  We are praying for them all.

OCTOBER 2007

Monday 1 – Fr. Graham has been back with us since Saturday evening, 29 September. This evening he spoke to us about his journey to England and especially London. An interesting talk.

Wednesday 3 – The Abbot left for Tre Fontane. Br. Stephan took him to the airport at Moncton.  Fr. Maurice and I had yet another appointment together with an orthopedic specialist.  We began to make the apple juice, Fr. Clovis took charge of the operation.

Thursday 4 – Dr. Paul Doucet, a regular visitor to our guest house for many years now, is currently staying with us.

Friday 5 – In chapter, Fr. Graham gave us another talk about his visit to London. He is very interesting. He found London more interesting than he had been given to understand.  Brother Stephan was celebrating his 49^th birthday. He is Prior and director of our dairy farm, as well as organist, cantor and choirmaster; he also runs the machine repair-shop.

Saturday 6 – Br. Albert, our visiting monk from Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky, left this morning to look up his relatives in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He will return Sunday evening.  Il learned of the death of my brother-in-law, Delphis Babineau, at the age of 82. He had been suffering from cancer of the lungs.  According to Dr. Doucet there has been an increase in the number of cancer cases in Moncton in the 35 – 45 age bracket. This would be due to the effects of the use of pesticides in the area in the past beginning to show.

Sunday 7 – With both the Abbot and Br. Albert being absent we feel our smallness in numbers in choir. But we get on with it!

 Tuesday 9 – I went to my brother-in-law Delphis’ funeral in Richibouctou.  This little village has a lot of narrow lanes and it is easy to get lost.  I had a friend with me.  We arrived in time, thanks be to God.

Wednesday 10 – We celebrated our monthly Mass for vocations.

Father Josh Daly, a priest of the diocese of Saint John, but who is a missionary in the far north of the country, is staying here while visiting his family and friends in Miramichi.

The Abbot sends us e-mails from time to time from Rome.  His work at Tre Fontane is going well.

Thursday 11 – The Canada geese visited our lake but they were somewhat jumpy.  The hunters had an eye on them.

Friday 12 – Br. Albert is getting better all the while, his knees are nearly normal.

Saturday 13 – Part of the corn is still standing.  I cannot understand whey they don’t just get on and cut it.

Sunday 14 – What is there to say?  Thanks be to God for all his good gifts and to our readers and friends.

Monday 15 – Fr. Clovis went off to a meeting of his Eudist community.  He had to be replaced for the Mass at our sisters of Assomption.  With the Abbot being away that meant two monks less at our community Mass.

At last the farm people got to continue the maize harvest.

In the evening Fr. Graham gave a conference in chapter.

Tuesday 16 – Dr. Hendrick J. Buttes, a psychiatrist from Gatineau, Quebec, is staying with us.  He flew himself to Miramichi in his own small plane.

Wednesday 17 – This evening Fr. Graham gave a second conference.  The subject is the hymns of the nativity of Ephrem of Nisbe.  Born around 306 AD, he is the great poet among the fathers of the Church.  He is also through his writings the principal representative of the not-yet-Hellenised Christianity of ancient Syria.

Thursday 18 – Dom Bede came back in the small hours of the morning.

Friday 19 – The Abbot spoke in chapter about Tre Fontane, particularly about the buildings that had been very well restored.

Saturday 20 – The Abbot went on his bike in the rain to say Mass for our sisters, due to another absence of Fr. Clovis.

Sunday 21 – In his homily the Abbot spoke of the importance of prayer, as the texts called upon him to do.

Monday 22 – Father Peter Osborne, of the Diocese of Saint John, New Brunswick, is staying with us.  He lives and works in the city of Saint John itself.

A nephew of our late Br. Gerard turned up with his huge well drilling equipment.  He had come to drill a new well for the chicken barns.  He did it at a safe distance from the barns to avoid contamination, which has been a long-standing problem with the two wells that, up to now, have served the chicken barns.  The new one is 210 feet deep, so it should be safe enough.

This afternoon et was exceptionally hot, over 20 degrees Celsius.

Tuesday 23 – We learned of the death of Sr. Albertine Allain, at 91 years of age, sister of our late Father Georges.

The well digging was completed.

Wednesday 24 – We learned of the death of Fr. Alphonse Sormony, MA, of the White Fathers.  He was the last White Father in Moncton.  He was born in Shediac and his father was a doctor.  His grandfather, Albert, was an immigrant from Jersey, who had a key role in Acadian history.

This evening, in chapter, we had a discussion about the balance of the languages in the Divine Office.  We decided to adopt the principle that the reader at the Office will read, and lead the intercessions, in his mother tongue, English or French.  The applicants to join the community are nearly all English speakers, we have a monk of Gethsemani currently staying with us, we are expecting a Nigerian, so the moment seemed indicated to take a tiny step away from a monolithic French Office.

Friday 26 – We are reading a new book in the refectory, in English: Travels with Herodotus.  The author, Ryszard Kapuscinski, was a renowned Polish journalist.  A practitioner came to trim the cows’ hoofs: 60 cows, 240 hoofs. They were all done in one day.  The man was equipped with all that was needed to immobilise and turn the cows on their side.

Sunday 28 – Due to his problems of balance, Fr. Maurice was unable to preside at the concelebrated Mass, but he gave the homily nonetheless.

Monday 29 – We are having difficulties with one of our telephone lines and with our fax line.  A technician will be coming to look at them.

Tuesday 30 – The Abbot had an e-mail from Father Innocent, of the new monastery of Illah in Nigeria, who is wanting to come and spend some time with us.  He has completed the procedures for obtaining a visa and it looks as though this will be granted, but it is expected to take some time.  We are looking forward to his coming with joy and anticipation.

Wednesday 31 – Father Graham gave us a third conference on Ephrem of Nisbe.  Giving these conferences does not seem to be any trouble to Fr. Graham.

NOVEMBER 2007

Thursday 1 November – Feast of All Saints and anniversary of the founding of Our Lady of Calvary 105 years ago.

Friday 2 – A group of six students arrived in the evening for the weekend.  They are students at the University of St. Thomas in Fredericton.

Saturday 3 – After about six weeks here, Br. Albert still has not received his visa for re-entering the United States.  We don’t like to see him disappointed but we are enjoying his stay here among us.  He is very pleasant and good humoured.

Sunday 4 – This week, Br. Albert is reader both at the Office and in the refectory.  A rest for the others.

Tuesday 6 – On the farm, they are spreading muck, liquid cow manure to be exact.  And there is a vast quantity of it.

Wednesday 7 – In the guest house there are two Anglican priests.  They are friends and frequent visitors to the Abbey.  Both belong to a group of Anglicans asking for full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

An e-mail from Father Innocent of Illah in Nigeria told us that Immigration Canada in Lagos had refused him a visa.  But we still hope to see him here.

This evening we had a continuation of our discussion on silence.

Thursday 8 – Each Thursday evening we watch a video.  This evening it was a concert by Yanni and a large musical ensemble.  Wonderful music.

Saturday 10 – There are more comings and goings in the guest house.  Fr. Graham’s parents were here for the day.

Sunday 11 – Remembrance Day, despite it’s being Sunday.  All the business will be open tomorrow.  It snowed and the Abbot was obliged to take his bikeride on his winter circuit, the quiet country road of West Collette, instead of in the woods.

Monday 12 – Robert Pichette, the author books like the history of our monastery and the history of Acadie we had read recently in the refectory, has been here for several days.

Tuesday 13 – Several of us went to the clinic to get the anti-influenza injection.

Wednesday 14 – The Abbot, Br. Albert and I went for treatment by, Kumar Luke of Miramichi, a massage therapist and acupuncturist.

Friday 16 – At the beginning of the chapter, the Abbot distributed a résumé of our discussions on silence, entitled “The Fruits of our Dialogues”.  Its various points will help improve our practice of this important monastic discipline.

Saturday 17 – The weather became a lot milder this week.  The little bit of snow that we had has all disappeared and it was nice weather to walk out in.

Sunday 18 – This afternoon Fr. Maurice gave the Sacrament of the Sick to two ladies.  Fr. Maurice and Br. Henry also had the pleasure of a visit from their cousins.

Monday 19 – The Abbot left with Mother Alfreda, the Abbess of Assomption, with Rhéal Desroches as their driver, to go to a meeting of Canadian abbots and abbesses at the Cistercian monastery of Rougemont in Quebec.

This evening Fr. Graham gave a conference on St. Ephrem.

Wednesday 21- Fr. Graham gave us another conference.

Thursday 22 – At last, Br. Albert has got his permit to re-enter the United States, after two months of trying.

We were expecting the Abbot and his fellow-travelers (now including Mother Marie of St. Benoît-Labre) back today, but because of a day-long snowstorm they had to break their journey for the night at Grand Falls.

Friday 23 – Our travelers got back safe and sound.  This evening the Abbot gave us news of our monasteries.

Saturday 24 – This evening again, the Abbot gave us news of the monasteries.

Sunday 25 – Feast of Christ the King.  The Abbot presided the Mass and Fr. Maurice preached the homily.

Monday 26 – The Abbot spoke some more about our Canadian monasteries.

Tuesday 27 – Gospel-sharing as usual on a Tuesday.

Wednesday 28 – The Abbot showed us the websites of our Canadian monasteries, those that have them, including Rougemont of the Cistercian Order and Saint Benoît-du-Lac of the Benedictines.

Thursday 29 - We watched a video about Alaska.  A documentary with monastic undertones since the sub-title was: solitude and silence.  The first part focussed on one man who had spent a good part of his life in solitude in a remote and wild area.  There are great shots of the wild animals too.

Friday 30 – Mother Marie, Abbess of Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil is having a break at Assomption.  She came by invitation to our Vespers and stayed for supper.  This gave us the opportunity to have a good exchange with her.

A large group turned up to hear Fr. Melvin Doucet speak and to take part in the Mass he celebrated.  His workshop continued through Sunday.

DECEMBER 2007

Sunday 2 – Our Sunday Mass was presided over by Fr. Graham.

Monday 3 – I had an appointment in Moncton.  A neighbour, Raymond Martin, drove me.  Moncton is a fast growing city and my nerves are not that strong.

We had a fraternal festive supper to say goodbye to Brother Albert of Gethsemani Abbey, Kentucky.

Tuesday 4 – A big snowstorm had been forecast and we got it.  It began during the night and the lights went out before Lauds, which we postponed to later on in the morning.  There were lots of power outages in the area, especially in the south east of the Province.  Despite the storm, Br. Stephan had to drive Br. Albert to Bangor, in the US State of Maine.  From there he was to catch a flight to Louisville.  We enjoyed Br. Albert’s stay here.  He was always cheerful and had a great sense of humour.

Wednesday 5 – Mid-afternoon, Br. Stephan was back safe and sound, but the journey to Bangor had been difficult with white-outs and bad road conditions, very slow going.

This evening we had our monthly community dialogue.  We talked about the use of private rooms for reading compared with the use of the scriptorium.  People seemed happy with the balance we currently have where most people make some daily use of the scriptorium but otherwise read in their rooms.  A possible change of decor in the chapel was discussed without any real consensus.

Thursday 6 – We had a video as usual.

Friday 7 – In chapter, the Abbot took up his commentary on the rule again.  We are still on the chapters on the Divine Office.

Saturday 8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  A feast that is always a big celebration here.  We had a wonderful celebration of the Eucharist and a festive dinner.

Sunday 9 – 2^nd Sunday of Advent.  Apart from that, nothing special, though there was a good group of guests making their retreat under the guidance of Sr. Ida Nolan.

Tuesday 11 – The abbot held a meeting of the business council.  It was about buying two new heating boilers for the #3 chicken barn.  The current ones have served their time.  The council also studied the possibility of renewing our internal telephone system, since less and less of the current one functions, including the fax.

Wednesday 12 – The last snowstorm dumped a nice blanket of snow that seems determined to spend the winter with us.  The winter has come very early this year.  The abbot gave a talk on the seasonal liturgy about the church of Santa Maria Maggiore which is the stational church for Christmas and where the relics of the manger are venerated.   It was built in celebration of the true doctrine of the Incarnation, that Jesus was God from all eternity and that therefore Mary was the Mother of God.  It was the propagation of this dogma at the Council of Ephesus that gave the impetus to the celebration of the feast of Christmas.

Thursday 13 – A priest, Fr. Timothy P. V. Nelligan of Green Wood, Nova Scotia, is with us.  He is a military chaplain and a very nice priest.

Friday 14 – A doctor, Douglas Maynes, is also here.  He came asking to be enrolled as an external oblate.  We don’t have a lot of these, but they have increased a little this summer.  These are people seeking to share in our Cistercian spirituality.

Sunday 16 – More snow.  Five years since the abbot’s election.

Monday 17 – The problem with our internal telephone system and our fax has not yet been sorted out.  We are going to have to install a new system.

Tuesday 18 – I had an appointment with the dentist.  I took to opportunity to go and see the new church at Sainte Anne de Kent.  The church burned down a year ago.  The faithful had wanted to have it rebuilt.

Wednesday 19 – We learned that Father Nicolas Kao, of our monastery of Lantao in Hong Kong, China, had died on 11 December.  He was 110 years and 11 months old.  He had been the oldest priest in the world.

Saturday 22 – Dom Bernardo Olivera, our Abbot General, had brain surgery this morning in Rome.  This was because he seemed to have developed another aneurism.  The exploratory operation showed that the situation was less serious than it had seemed at first.  The surgery had, nonetheless, allowed the doctors to assess the prognosis with greater accuracy. The risk of a ruptured aneurism is very slight.

Monday 24 – We received lots of Christmas cards and the Abbot replied to over 200 by email!  Our sisters form Assumption came to have supper and celebrate the Night Mass with us.  The Abbot presided and Father Maurice preached.

Tuesday 25 Christmas Day – The Abbot presided the Mass, as of right, with mitre and crozier.

Thursday 27 - Br. Henry was driven to the Moncton Hospital by John bourque to have his left hip replaced.

Friday 28 – We had a pleasant evening of conviviality with our employees and neighbours and an excellent meal catered by the personnel of the Restaurant Chez Doris in Rogersville.

Saturday 29 – The Abbot went to see Br. Henry in hospital and found him on excellent form and recovering smoothly from his operation.  We hope that the progress will continue without any complications.

Sunday 30 – With Br. Henry missing and the sisters’ chaplain away our concelebration is a bit on the thin side.  The Abbot went to say Mass for the sisters, I presided here to free Fr. Graham for the schola.  But Fr. Graham preached his sermon.

Monday 31 – Fr. Graham went to Fridericton to renew his passport.  This is in connection with his upcoming trip to Rome and Assisi for the Monastic Formators’ Programme.  This programme begun in 2002, is organised in conjunction with Sant’Anselmo, the Benedictine Academy in Rome and is aimed at monks and nuns of the Benedictine tradition who are involved in monastic formation.  So we will have another three months without Fr. Graham, but the Abbot thinks that the good of the community requires Fr. Graham’s participation in this course.  So it is for the greater glory of God.