Archived Chronicles of 2008

JANUARY 2008
	Tuesday 1 January.  New Year’s Day.  Our Trappistine sisters invited us to dinner with them; and a splendid meal it was, too, and a very happy occasion. Wednesday 2 – The Heaven’s opened and graced us with a lot of snow to mark the start of the year.  We woke up to the worst snowstorm we have had in a long time.  It took a long time before the roads were open. Friday 4 – A Curcillo group booked the guest-house for this weekend and the two following.  These are people from Prince Edward Island, accompanied by Fr. Blair Bernard.  We get more and more people from Prince Edward Island coming to our guest house. Sunday 6 – The Abbot presided the Mass on this Feast of the Epiphany.
Monday 7 – Dr. John Wortley, an expert in the Desert Fathers, arrived to give us a series of conferences, beginning this morning, until Friday, at the rate of 2 talks a day.  He hails originally from Yorkshire, like Dom Bede, and is a long-standing friend of Dom Marcel, Abbot of Our Lady of the Prairies.  Dr. Wortley has in fact been teaching for many years at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Tuesday 8 – Br. Henry is recovering well from him operation.  He should be coming back on February 4th. Wednesday 9 – Fr. Maurice’s Aunt Thérèse has been admitted to hospital.  She is expected to be their for some time.  Fr. Maurice went to see her. Thursday 10 – Elmer Aucoin is painting inside the monastery.  A large portion has already been completed. Friday 11 – The course on the Desert Fathers finished today.  Dr. Wortley is a very lively and interesting speaker.  Three or our Trappistine sisters from Assomption joined us for these talks. Sunday 13 – My family came to visit me.  There were nine of us altogether.  A wonderful afternoon! Monday 14 – Father Marcel of Oka has come to stay with us for a three week rest.  We are very happy to have him.  Straightaway this evening he spoke to us about his monastery where they are in the process of transferring to a new location. Tuesday 15 – This evening, as usual, we had our gospel-sharing.  Fr. Marcel took an active part. Wednesday 16 – The snow never stops falling.  This evening we had a discussion in chapter.  We talked about various things, but particularly about the Lenten reading. Thursday 17 – The engine of one of our tractors died some time ago.  The Trappistines lent us their tractor, because the one that failed was the only one small enough to drive into the barn for the feeding.  We lent them our biggest tractor and snow-blower in return. Friday 18 – This evening we continued Wednesday’s discussion on the Lenten reading.  Br. Leo was recognized with a cake for his 81st birthday.  He is in good health and always full of wit. Saturday 19 – We have a serious applicant: Marc Côté is young and strong.  He will move into the community on Wednesday for a six month monastic experience.  He is 47 years old. Sunday 20 – Since Father Maurice no longer wants to risk presiding the Mass, because of his problems with his balance, he lets the Abbot preside and preaches the homily himself. Monday 21 – Brother Henry is getting better and better at the Sisters of N-D du Sacrécoeur in Moncton.  He is also getting plenty of visitors. Wednesday 2 – Marc Coté moved into the community for a six month monastic experience.  Another applicant, Eric Towne, from Ohio, is also staying in the guest house for a couple of weeks.  He will not be entering for a while. Friday 25 – Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. Saturday 26 – Thérèse Guimond, Fr. Maurice’s aunt, celebrated her 86th birthday in hospital.  Fr. Maurice went to visit her and found her slightly improved since his previous visit a week before. Feast of our Holy Founders, Robert, Alberic, and Stephen Harding.  In addition to the splendid High Mass presided by the Abbot we celebrated our founders by rejoicing in the products of our monasteries from different parts of the world: chocolate from Mistassini, shortbread from Caldey and bourbon fudge from Gethsemani.  And, of course, we celebrated the Mass with hosts made by our sisters from Assomption, in Rogersville! Monday 28 – As each General Chapter comes round, every three years, the communities of the Order have to send in a report on their situation.  This report is drawn up during community dialogues.  We began working on it this evening.  The process seems to be going well. Tuesday 29 – Father Wesley Wade, Vicar General of Bathurst, is here on retreat.  There are also two ladies. Wednesday 30 – This evening we had the second discussion on the stat of the community. Thursday 31 – Four permanent deacons are here on retreat.  They are from Halifax.  P. Maurice had his family visiting, in particular his only sister from Vancouver.

FEBRUARY 2008

MARCH 2008
	Saturday 1 March – Our Korean Benedictines went to meet our trappistine sisters at Assomption.  Our pre-postulant, Marc Coté, from Prince Edward Island is settling in quite well.  He is fervent and cheerful. Sunday 2 – We had a celebratory dinner in honour of our charming Asian visitors, also to mark Br. Stephan’s triumph as Farmer of the Year, not forgetting that it was Laetare Sunday and we needed to respond to the invitation of the liturgy: Laetare Jerusalem et conventum facite.
Monday 3 – Rhéal and Irène DesRoches, our closest neighbours, and former workers, took the two Korean Benedictines to Halifax, whence they would take a flight to New York, to continue via Washington and Dallas to Albuquerque in New Mexico, the near to the monastery of Christ in the Desert, their destination. Fr. John Molina, chancellor of the diocese of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, came for a few days. Tuesday 4 – There are several young men in the guest house.  There is also Fr. Jack Dolan of Fredericton, professor at Saint Thomas University. Thursday 6 – Another priest was staying in the guest house: Fr. Ken Robertson of Halifax, with a permanent deacon. Saturday 8 – The news from Rome is that Fr. Graham is getting settled into his temporary abode and study corner. Sunday 9 – In Canada we put our clocks an hour ahead.  Some people call it “summer time”, but the weather just got worse with hours of freezing rain through the night and a heavy fall of snow on top of it.  People are talking about the never ending winter. Marc, our pre-postulant, is working in the cow barn, in fact, doing the milking.  He has already had occasion to welcome a calf into the world in give it the name of “Cheryl”! The Rogersville pastor, Fr. Savio Mazzarolle has had to take a long break on account of overwork.   Monday 10 – On account of my birthday, the Abbot allowed me to go and see my family.  They are all in the same area and not very far from here.  I also had the opportunity to visit Ozélie Daigle, the only surviving daughter of Brother Hubert and a cousin of my father’s.  She will be a hundred in June.  She is still very bright. Fr. Maurice went to Moncton for a scan.  No news. Thursday 13 – We are still getting snow nearly every day.  There is a lot lying. Friday 14 – Br. Henry is making a good recovery from the trouble with his hips.  He is walking really well now. A modification was made to the wall that contains the stained glass cross behind the altar in the chapel.  It is a kind of restoration to the original design and incorporates an icon of the crucifixion to complement the luminous cross and provide the chapel with a crucifix. This evening in chapter the Abbot shared several items of news.  Firstly Father Graham had been in touch and is well satisfied with his course so far.  Br. Stephan has had several messages of congratulation for his achievements on the farm.  Then the Abbot continued his commentary on the Rule. Saturday 15 – This evening, Brother Stephan gave us a singing class in preparation for the Palm Sunday liturgy tomorrow. Sunday 16 – Palm Sunday.  The Abbot presided the ceremony with his usual flare.  The whole lasted an hour and 22 minutes.  For the time being the Abbot has to preside at all the liturgical celebrations, since Fr. Maurice and myself are not really very well. Wednesday 19 – Several anniversaries of habit and profession to recall on what would normally be the feast of St. Joseph: Br. Stephan, Fr. Maurice and others. The retreatants began arriving for the Holy Days.  The guest house was going to be full again this year. Thursday 20 – Maundy Thursday.  We had the washing of the feet during the Mass of the Last Supper and processed the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose in the guest house chapel. Friday 21 – Good Friday.  The afternoon service of the Lord’s Passion went very smoothly.  Our pre-postulant, Marc Côté, is learning to milk the cows.  He has reached the point where he can do it on his own.  This is a great help in the barn. Saturday 22 – Holy Saturday.  At one point we were thinking that there would be few people in the guest house for the Sacred Triduum, because the snow just kept on falling.  Ultimately the guest house got full.  An old acquaintance, Fr. Donald Arsenault, was among the guests. Fr. Maurice learned of the death of his aunt Thérèse.  His brother Jacques and his sister-in-law came to see him. Sunday 23 – Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection.  The night vigil began in the evening with the liturgy of Paschal Light, then we had the major part at 5 am.  We had another solemn Mass at 10 am.  The Abbot presided all this with great ease. Tuesday 25 – A cousin of Br. Henry’s died, a Sister of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, at their Moncton Generalate.  She was 97 years old and leaves a sister aged 93 also a religious of the same Congregation. This morning, Br. Stephan was surprised to find half of the cows out in the open disporting themselves.  Br. Stephan, never to be defeated, got them all back again and was able to start milking at 3.30 as usual.  We actually have 70 cows in milk. Wednesday 26 – Fr. Wesley Wade is with us for a few days.  Fr. Clovis Chiasson, chaplain to the nuns, seized the opportunity to go home to his relatives and friends.  Fr. Wade presided our community Mass for three days while the Abbot went over to the sisters. Saturday 29 – Some of his followers had organized a retreat in our guest house led by Fr. Melvin Doucet of Prince Edward Island.  It is a charismatic movement type of thing, plus, he has the reputation of having visions.  These retreats take place here periodically.  Most of the participants are from the Rogersville area.  The community does not get itself involved. In the monastery chapel this morning, because the guest house chapel was in use by Fr. Doucette’s group, there was a Mass for Thérèse Gallant, Fr. Maurice’s aunt who died on March 22nd.  A large number of friends and relatives were present; they are all descended from Alexandre Bourque and there are a lot of them. Sunday 30 – The sun has been shining for the last few days.  This brightened us up a bit.  Divine Providence is generous with its gifts.

APRIL 2008
Monday 7 – The technician that was supposed to come and restore our collapsed internet connection never turned up.  The Abbot was on the phone to Xplornet three times in the course of the day and made no headway.  The connection has been down since last Wednesday.  Because of the lack internet connection, which he does not need for the purpose, Fr. Adrien was unable to do his chronicle for last week.  But the main event, in addition to the internet collapse, was that the Abbot spent most of the week in bed with flu.  Marc, the pre-postulant also had it on Friday and Saturday.  Because of Fr. Adrien’s difficulties with the chronicle this is a poor imitation by the Abbot.  Today Br. Stephen went to look at a recently constructed barn in the Miramichi area in order to get ideas on which way to go to replace the heifer barn whose roof collapsed under the snow.  This evening in chapter we finalized our house report for the General Chapter due to be held in Assisi in September.	Fr. Adrien takes up again: The abbot spoke in chapter about a call from another applicant from New York City.  That gives us three aspirants, in addition to Marc Côté who has been with us the last four months. Tuesday 8 – Our internet connection which had been off for a week was finally repaired.  It had taken Xplornet all of a week to get a technician out here, and the problem was only that the hi-speed satellite dish had moved under the pressure of ice and snow. Wednesday 9 – Last week’s Mistassini chronicle appeared on our notice-board, delayed by our internet outage.  Since the fax now comes through the computer, there was a backlog of faxes as well.  There has been an extraordinary amount of snow this winter.  Happily this is now melting.  The abbot had a lot to share with us in chapter, all backlog from the Internet being down. First of all the Abbot presented the Pope’s Wednesday Audience discourse on St. Benedict which he found impressive.  A letter from a young man from Ohio who is due to come for a monastic experience, underlined his determination.  The Abbot had also had an e-mail from Father Graham.  He is assiduously following his course and having some interesting sideline experiences. Friday 11 – Fr. Maurice went to Moncton to have an echocardiogram.  Myself I went to see an eye specialist. Sunday 13 – Currently we have few guests.  In fact, the lone one left today.	Monday 14 – We have heard that Fr. Graham’s brother, Fr. Jason Touchie has been appointed to a position in the Vatican, in the Congregation for the Education of the Clergy.  Congratulations! Thursday 17 – The Abbot went to Moncton with Br. Stephan for an interview in connection with his application for Canadian citizenship.  It won’t be long now. Friday 18 – We are having a difficult spring.  We thought that the problem of the guest-house chapel getting flooded at snowmelt was a thing of the past, but it’s with us again today!  This evening the Abbot gathered the community in council. Saturday 19 – Br. Stephan sold a number of heifers at excellent prices.  The market has taken off again because the U.S. borders have been opened. Sunday 20 – Lately there have been fewer people at our Sunday Mass, but this morning the chapel was nearly full.
Monday 21 – A work crew started waxing the floors in the guest house this morning.  The whole wing will be closed until Friday.  The Abbot went this morning, with Marc Côté as driver, to collect a hospital bed that somebody had given us.  A useful piece of equipment in the context of caring for any chronically sick brethren we might have in the future.  This evening, a meeting of the community in Council. Tuesday 22 – A new, faster and cheaper, internet connection was installed this morning.  It is a fixed wireless service that a lot of people in the neighbourhood are going over to because the are out of range for having hi-speed from the telephone companies. Thursday 24 – This afternoon I went to Moncton about my eyes.  I have to have tinted glasses.  It remains to be seen what effect that will have. Friday 25 – Rémi Martin and Roger Gallant are cutting wood with a view to replacing the heifer barn that the snow caused to collapse. Saturday 26 – We finished planting 100 tomato plants in the greenhouse. Sunday 27 – There were not many people at Mass this morning. Monday 28 – As you get older the more you go running to the doctors, at least that’s the way it is for me. Tuesday 29 – We learned that Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky had held and abbatial election and Fr. Elias had been elected the 10th Abbot.  He is currently the Abbot General’s secretary.

May 2008

Thursday 1 May – In our Province of New Brunswick serious flooding has struck the Saint John River valley.  Problems with flooding are not very common in our area.

Friday 2 May – Br. Henry returned to his hermitage.  The snowmelt had at last allowed him access.  In chapter on Wednesday and this evening, the Abbot presented us with Benedict XVI’s résumé of his visit to the United States as the Pope reflected on it in his Wednesday General Audience of April 30th.  The Abbot also drew our attention to two other messages from the Holy See, one to Buddhists for their celebration of Vesakh; the other a common declaration between Catholics and Muslims in the context of Interreligious Dialogue.

Sunday 10 – The Solemnity of the Ascension.  The Abbot presided the Mass, while Fr. Maurice gave an inspiring sermon.  In fact, both did their job very well.

JULY 2008
Monday 7 – In chapter the Abbot commented on the house reports of our American monasteries that had been presented at the meeting he attended in Colorado in early June.  He talked particularly about the interesting site and life-style of the monastery of Snowmass. Tuesday 8 – In the afternoon hay was being brought in.  Several of the monks gave a hand.Fr. Maurice came back from hospital on quite good form.  I had an appointment with the dentist in Saint Louis de Kent.  Teeth are very precious things!Wednesday 9 – Br. Gilles left for Montreal to visit with his family and arrange certain things arising from the recent death of his mother.Friday 11 – Feast of Saint Benedict.  He is the author of the rule which guides the life of Cistercians and Benedictines.Eight women and two men were on retreat here for a few days, they were all teachers from all over the Province of New Brunswick. Saturday 12 – We learned of the death of Father Germain Ladouceur, monk of Oka.  We knew him well because he came here to help us out from 1970 to 1973. He was actually Prior.  He came again on a number of occasions. Sunday 13 – Two Fathers Gingras, blood-brothers, African Missionaries, preached this weekend in each of the parishes that comprise the Pastoral Unit of Rogersville.  The stayed here.  They reported that the churches were filled for their mission.  Father Graham’s parents were here.	Tuesday 1 – This evening our canonical visitation was closed by Dom Gérard of Melleray, in the presence of our Father Immediate, Dom Jacques of Mistassini.  Today was also Canada Day.  Dom Bede went to Fredericton to take part in a Citizenship Ceremony and become a Canadian by swearing allegiance to H.M. Elizabeth II Queen of Canada in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Herménégilde Chiasson.  71 new citizens in all were enrolled.  Fr. Graham was Dom Bede’s driver. To celebrate all these happy events we had a special festal meal this evening.  Quite a day! Wednesday 2 – Dom Jacques and Dom Gerard left for our nuns’ monastery of Saint-Benoît Labre in the Province of Quebec. Thursday 3 – Br. Stephan is getting ready to bring in the bales of hay.  We do not need a lot of hay, since the basic cattle feed is corn and grass silage.	Friday 4 – Fr. Clovis came back after three weeks absence and we were happy to see him.  Doctor Blanchard, the doctor in Rogersville, sent Fr. Maurice to hospital in Miramichi.  He had an infection which was treated with antibiotics, but it has not been possible to diagnose the location of the infection. Saturday 5 – Since the weather is ideal, maintaining the lawns is no problem and they are beautiful and green.  The vegetable garden is a bit of a sorry sight!  Nonetheless we will vegetables and fruit. Sunday 6 – Our pre-postulant, Marc Côté, had a nice letter from our oblate, Sean Tobin.  Thanks to him for making somebody happy. The Abbot went to see Fr. Maurice.  We were thinking that it was pneumonia again, but it is not so.  Nobody seems to know quite what it is.  He has no pain and sleeps well! Monday 14 – The building of our new heifer barn has begun in earnest.  The concreting work has been assigned to a Collette firm.  They got onto the job this morning.  The digging for the footings had been completed last week. Tuesday 15 – For several weeks, now, we have been reading the book “Ils sont mort pour leur foi”, by Andrea Riccardi, about the persecution of Christians in the 20th century.  Terrible!  So many lives extinguished arbitrarily, so many martyrs across the century! Wednesday 16 – Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  Each feast of Our Lady sweetens our life! Saturday 19 – We had the monthly Mass for vocations. Sunday 20 – The feast of the Assumption is on its way.  Here in Rogersville this feast is marked by pilgrimages from the different parishes to the monument of the Assumption, as focal point of the Acadian devotion to Mary Assumed into Heaven as their particular patron.  This year, the novena of preparation for the feast will be preached by Fr. Jean-Guy Dallaire, the Vicar General of the diocese of Moncton.
Monday 21 – The work on the new barn is going ahead.  W.W. Arseneau of Rogersville, is transporting the gravel fill-in to put over the foundations around the walls and to build up the inside to the floor level.  We are expecting it to take 75 loads.  Patrick Gallant, the husband of our guest-house cleaning lady, is leveling it all out.  He has at lot of experience at this type of job. Tuesday 22 – Our garden has begun to look better.  Things are growing, even if there are gaps.  The greenhouse is producing a good crop of lovely tomatoes.Wednesday 23 – Our friend, John Bourque, has come back from the West, where he has been working for some time.  He has come to direct the building of the new barn.  It is his trade and he is an energetic man.Thursday 24 – We have had a lot of rain this week.  John has begun the building work.Friday 25 – Fr. Clovis and Father Joseph Salame left for Sainte-Anne du Bocage, to take part in the celebrations for the feast of Saint Ann tomorrow.  This shrine is increasing in popularity.Saturday 26 – Feast of Saints Joachim and Ann, or, in Quebec, Feast of Saint Ann.  I went to replace the chaplain for the Mass at the sisters’ monastery of Assomption.  We began picking the raspberries.Sunday 27 – Our young priest, Father Graham, presided the concelebrated Mass. Monday 28 – When Huguette Turcotte asked Father Nicholas, the Chinese Trappist monk who died recently in his 111th year of age, what was the secret of his long life, he replied: “I don’t smoke, I don’t get upset, I don’t drink, I don’t overeat, I try to be good, I pray, and I have never given up sports.” Wednesday 30 – At 4.30 pm, there was a meeting of the formation council.  It is made up of the members of the Abbot’s council and the novice master, Father Graham.  This is now planned as a monthly event. Dom Marcel Carbotte, who was making the canonical visitation at the nuns’ monastery of Assomption in Rogersville, spent the afternoon here.  At 7.20 pm he spoke to us in chapter.  His monastery, Our Lady of the Prairies, in Manitoba, seems to be taking a new lease of life with four or five in formation, of whom one is a retired bishop. Thursday 31 – It is interesting to follow the construction work on the new barn.  For the time being Jean Bourque has three good helpers. Fr. Clovis took the opportunity of Dom Marcel’s being at the nuns monastery to take time out with his family.  Father Joseph Salame went with him. The raspberries are ripe.  Br. Gilles is helping me to pick them.

AUGUST 2008 Friday 1 August – We watched a DVD of the building work on the new monastery of Val Notre Dame which the monks of Oka are having built so that they can transfer to it.  Thank you Dom Yvon, abbot of Oka!  It was very interesting. Saturday 2 – The Abbot went to meet Dom Marcel at Assomption, to discuss the visitation.  Apparently all is well with the nuns. Sunday 3 – At Vespers, the Abbot blessed a new icon of the Falling Asleep of the Mother of God.  This icon with be exposed beside the altar for the Feast of the Assumption, the patronal feast of our Order and of the Acadians, and for the novena that precedes the feast. This weekend the guest-house is nearly full! Monday 4 – Two priests are staying in the guest-house: Fr. George Smith from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and Fr. Jos Hattie of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  The latter is working with a programme to help married couples. In the early morning, Dom Bede, Mother Alfreda and Father Graham left for Saint-Benoît-Labre in the Beauce Region of Quebec.  They are going to take part in a meeting of the abbots and abbesses of Canada.  Fr. Graham went as regional delegate to the General Chapter, which will be taking place in Assisi in September.Tuesday 5 – It has been raining a lot for several days.  This has held up work in farm, garden, and construction.Wednesday 6 – In the Abbot’s absence, in place of the evening chapter, we are watching the epic film “Gandhi”, the apostle of non-violence; an instructive and inspirational film.Thursday 7 – For quite a long time we have been expecting Fr. Innocent, the former superior of our monastery of Illah in Nigeria.  The Abbot agreed to his coming for several years.  Up until now the bureaucracy connected with immigration procedures has held up his actually arriving here, but it seems that it won’t be long now.Friday 8 – Our travellers returned from the Regional Meeting of Abbots and Abbesses.  They seemed happy with the experience.Saturday 9 – The National Farmers Union held their annual meeting here.  In fact, it was the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island chapter that met here.  Unfortunately, at the same time an electrician turned up to make the connection for the new heifer barn.  To our great embarrassment this resulted in the water supply being off for most of the time the farmers were here.Sunday 10 – The Abbot took his turn presiding the concelebrated Mass, including the homily, giving Fr. Maurice the opportunity to rest. Monday 11 – Chris McKee from New York, interested in becoming a monk, arrived.  Fr. Joseph Salame went to pick him up at Moncton airport.  He will be here for ten days. In chapter, the Abbot and Father Graham gave an account of the Regional Meeting of Abbots and Abbesses. Tuesday 12 – We had our monthly day of prayer for the recently deceased of our Order.  The Mass, Lauds and Vespers are of the Office of the Dead. Wednesday 13 – The carpenters took a day off from the work on the new heifer barn, on account of heavy rain being expected.  It arrived. We have a regular monthly community discussion to talk about things concerning the life of the community and other things as the need arises.  We had one this evening from 7 pm to 7.40 pm. Friday 15 – Solemnity of the Assumption.  This is the patronal feast of the Acadians, of the Cistercians and, especially, of our sisters at the Our Lady of the Assumption Abbey in Rogersville.  They invited us to join them for an al fresco lunch.  Thank you Mother Alfreda and all the sisters.  The sun came to join us. Saturday 16 – Father John Gratten concelebrated with us.  He is a long-standing friend.  He has a special ministry among the Micmac, First Nation people, of Miramichi and elsewhere.  This has been almost his life-work. Sunday 17 – The guest-house has been very busy during the time of the novena preparing for the Feast of the Assumption.  It continued to be so right over the weekend. Monday 18 – Technology played tricks on us.  The Abbot had to cancel chapter because he could not get his text out of the computer. Tuesday 19 – Br. Stephan went to the monastery of Gethsemani in Kentucky, to take part in the solemn profession of Br. Albert Kane who comes originally from Newfoundland and who spent some months here last year because of problems with the US immigration authorities.  Fr. Joseph Salame took Br. Stephan to the Moncton airport. Wednesday 20 – It is blueberry time and they are plentiful.  Fr. Clovis et Fr. Joseph Salame and myself went to pick them a few kilometers from here in the heart of the forest. The building work on the new barn is making steady progress, despite adverse weather conditions. Thursday 21 – Fr. Joseph Salame went back to the airport to pick up Br. Stephan. Friday 22 – Br. Stephan was back.  In chapter, he spoke about Gethsemani.  It is a large community with extensive buildings.  Their guest-house can accommodate 100 guests.  Their recently elected Abbot, Dom Elias, is still young and dynamic. Saturday 23 – The farm team was busy bailing and carrying more hay.  There will be some for sale this year. Sunday 24 – Today we had our annual procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Lourdes Grotto.  We began with exposition in the chapel from 4 pm.  The procession was a t 5.30 pm.  It concluded with Benediction at the Grotto.  We prayed for you all. I was taken aback this morning to discover the damage the raccoons had done to our sweet corn.  These little beasts know the moment the corn is ripe.
Monday 25 – We received a long letter from Dom Bernard Lefebvre, our former Father Immediate and the last Abbot of Bonnecombe, the house from which Our Lady of Calvary was founded, which was suppressed in 1964.  His letter was a type of chronicle from Aiguebelle, very interesting. Fr. Graham’s parents spent the weekend here.  This evening the monthly meeting of the formation committee took place.Wednesday 27 – The Abbot spoke to us in chapter about the programme for the forthcoming General Chapter to be held in Assisi starting September 2nd.Thursday 28 – The continued his talks on the General Chapter.  The fields around the monastery are full of corn, standing very high and looking very healthy!  There is life at Our Lady of Calvary!  THANKS BE TO GOD!Friday 29 – The Abbot and Fr. Graham left for the General Chapter at Santa Maria dei Angeli, near Assisi.  Brother Stephan drove them to Moncton Airport.Saturday 30 – On Saturdays we have the offices of Sext and None celebrated together before dinner, so as to allow the brothers to arrange their afternoon as they like.  It is like a little holiday from the ordinary timetable.

SEPTEMBER 2008 General Chapter - Meeting of the Abbots and Abbesses of the Order - at Santa Maria degli Angeli near Assisi. Monday 1 – This evening we watched the video « Thomas Merton’s Journey ».  A very interesting documentary that Br. Stephan brought back with him a couple of weeks ago when he visited our monastery of Gethsemani in Kentucky where Thomas Merton was a monk. Tuesday 2 – Fr. Marcel Gagné of Oka arrived on the train from Montreal as planned.  We are happy to have him with us while two of our priests are away at the General Chapter.  We appreciate the generosity of Dom Yvon and the community of Oka.  Fr. Marcel through himself straight into the life at Our Lady of Calvary and took part in our gospel sharing this evening. Our pre-postulant, Marc Côté, is a bit disconcerted by the absence of the Abbot, and especially of his novice-master, Fr. Graham.  He cannot wait for their return from the General Chapter in Assisi. Wednesday 3 – Br. Stephan has opened yet another construction site.  One wall of the shed where the store of bedding for the cattle is kept is rotten and has to be replaced.  Happily we have plenty of suitable wood in our carpenter’s shop. This evening, in Chapter, Fr. Marcel spoke to us about the progress of their transfer project from Oka to Val Notre-Dame at St. Jean de Matha.  Things seem to be going along well. Thursday 4 – A beautiful sunny day.  The construction team working on the barn was able to get on with the job. Sean Tobin, a guest, was knocked over by another guest’s dog.  He already has enough health difficulties, so Fr. Joseph Salame drove him to the hospital at Miramichi to be checked out.  Nothing serious. Friday 5 – Fr. Clovis, helped by a guest, Tilmond Duguay,  has been cleaning up the hill that drops down to the lake in front of the monastery.  A welcome initiative because it gives us a better chance to enjoy the view of the lake.  Our John Deere lawn-mower is showing signs of wear.  We have had it since 1991. In chapter Fr. Joseph Salame recounted the story of his vocation.  He also talked about the Maronite Rite, and about his martyred country, Lebanon.  The Bible has 60 references to the cedars of Lebanon. Saturday 6 – A couple in their eighties are staying here for a retreat.  This morning at communion time, during the Mass, the husband felt to weak to walk up for communion.  At the end of the Mass he fainted outright.  He was brought round by the attentions of his wife and another couple of guests.  There is no end to the variety of experiences in a monastery! With the help of the internet and the odd email from the Abbot we are able to follow the developments at the General Chapter. Sunday 7 – In all the monasteries of our Order this day is being observed as a day of prayer in preparation for the election of the new Abbot General. Fr. Marcel presided our concelebrated Mass.  This he is going to do until he returns to Oka.
Monday 8 – We learned, between 7 and 7.30 this morning that Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, Abbot of Mount Melleray in Ireland, had been elected Abbot General of our Order.  There is a five hour time difference between us and Italy. We are picking the first apples of the year, lobos.  They are not that good! Father Zoel Saulnier, of the Bathurst diocese, spent several days on retreat here.  He is a priest old enough to be already retired but still working full time in the Pastoral Unit of Tracadie Sheila, as part of a team with several Redemptorists.  The Pastoral Unit is made up of five parishes.  He is also an author, working on his fourth book. Tuesday 9 – Another priest of interest turned up on retreat.  Father Serge Comeau is a young priest who has completed exceptional studies and obtained his doctorate in theology.  He writes a weekly column in “Acadie Nouvelle” the local French language newspaper.Friday 12 – I had an appointment with Dr. Riveros at the outpatients department of the hospital in Miramichi.   Brother Henry took the opportunity to join the trip. Fr. Joseph Salame drove us.  Br. Henry had to wait three hours in emergency to see a doctor who eventually confirmed that he had shingles.  Fortunately, it was discovered before it had got too strong a hold.Fr. Joseph Salame put on a video for us to watch about the Christian history of Lebanon.Saturday 13 – The Abbot has been keeping us abreast of activities at the General Chapter.  He is, in fact, writing the daily summary of events for the English webpage of the General Chapter.  There is not sign of life from Father Graham.Sunday 14 – Father Marcel of Oka presided and Father Maurice preached at the Mass on this Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Monday 15 – Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows or Our Lady of Calvary, our patronal feast. We had a solemn Mass presided over by Father Marcel, with an introduction by Father Maurice.  The dinner was not particularly festive because the cook had not realized it was a feast day.  But she made up for it at supper. Rhéal has been working on transferring the apple press to the old dairy.  At the same time he is directing the repair work on our drive, which got a hole in it because a big culvet underneath had collapsed. Br. Stephan went to see a lawyer in Moncton on behalf of Br. Albert of Gethsemani Abbey, in Kentucky.  Br. Albert is originally from Newfoundland and he is having difficulties with the United States immigration authorities. Tuesday 16 – W.W. Arsenault Ltd. of Rogersville came to replace the culvet pipe and make the drive good where it crosses.  A good job.  Eventually we will get the asphalt renewed. Wednesday 17 – The building work on our barn is going ahead slowly but surely.  There are a lot of installations and the work team is only a few.  We will see it complete one fine day! Thursday 18 – Father Patrick, an African, former student with Fr. Graham in Rome and friend of Fr. John Gratten of Miramichi is with us. Friday 19 – Father Joseph, our Lebanese guest, showed us a video and gave us the story of his vocation, he talked about the Maronite Rite and about his martyred country, Lebanon.  This was the second time, but it was very interesting this evening. Br Henry has his sister, Norma, and her husband, Walter Doucet, here for a visit.  This weekend the guest-house is nearly full.  There were ten people for both meals, which, for us, is a lot. Saturday 20 – We had our first frosts.  Fortunately, all our vegetables are harvested and stored inside. Sunday 21 – Father Marcel presided at the Mass for the last time and gave his final homily before his return to Oka this evening by train.  We were very happy to have him with us.  He fitted so well into our community and seemed happy to have been able to come at this time of year.  A big thank you to him and, especially, to Dom Yvon-Joseph, Abbot of Oka and Val-Notre-Dame, for having let him come for these several weeks. Monday 22 – John Bourque and his team began getting the zinc roof on the new barn.  It is orange coloured.  It looks pretty with the yellow cladding on the walls. Tuesday 23 – At long last, Father Innocent, from the monastery of Illah in Nigeria, arrived.  He is a young monk, 42 years old.  Father Patrick presided at our Mass, he has only been ordained a year.  Marc Côté was discovered to have a gall stone. Wednesday 24 – The farm team is cutting the corn silage.  The maize is good and the machines in good condition.  Br. Stephan had a phone-call from the Abbot and Father Graham.  They were in Rome.  The General Chapter concluded yesterday, with a lot of hard work behind it. Fr. Nicolas Thériault, here for a rest, presided at our Mass. Thursday 25 – We had a visit from a Haitian priest.  We made him a donation for his new church. Friday 26 – On their way to Moncton, Father John Gratton and Father Patrick stopped in for a coffee and to say “Hi”. Saturday 27 - The pastor of the Lebanese parish of Our Lady of Lebanon, in Halifax, Father Peter Assi, is here for a short retreat with nine of his catechists.  They were quiet and prayerful.  We were very edified.  Father Joseph, himself Lebanese, was full of admiration. Sunday 28 - Father Innocent presided the Mass in English.  His homily was very lively.  Hurricane Kyle was forecast to hit the Maritimes, especially Saint John.  We hope just to see the tail-end of it, as we usually do with these mighty hurricanes that wreak havoc elsewhere. Monday 29 Sept –Due to high winds the flight that Dom Bede and Father Graham should have taken from Toronto to Moncton was cancelled yesterday evening.  They will take another flight today.  Here we had no trouble from the hurricane Kyle.  No rain. Tuesday 30 Sept – Our travellers arrived at Moncton after midnight.  Joseph went to pick them up.  In the evening the Abbot talked about the General Chapter in a forty minute chapter.

OCTOBER 2008 Wednesday 1 Oct – Fr. Gratton and Fr. Patrick came to see Father Graham.  Fr. Patrick is an African from Zimbabwe.  Fr. Innocent talked in chapter about himself and his monastery.  In the refectory we began reading the reports on our monasteries throughout the world presented to the General Chapter. Thursday 2 – Feast of our Holy Guardian Angels.  It rained all day.  There was not much work done on the new barn. Friday 3 – This evening Fr. Graham spoke of his experience as delegate at the General Chapter.  He was asked to serve as secretary to the commission he was in. Saturday 4 – To mark several events we had a celebratory supper this evening with several visitors present.  We wanted to express how happy we are to have with us Father Innocent of the Monastery of Illah in Nigeria.  We noted the 50th birthday of Br. Stephan (Sunday 5th), Fr. Graham’s birthday on the 8th and Br. Henry’s a week or so back.  Above all we wanted to thank our friend John Bourque who has been directing the work on our new barn and giving his time free-of-charge.  He now had to return to his job in Alberta. Sunday 5 – First Sunday of the month.  We call it our monthly retreat Sunday.  It involves Vespers at 5pm instead of 5.15.  The rest of the time before supper at 6 pm is taken up with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Monday 6 – In chapter the Abbot spoke about the Synod of Bishops currently being held in Rome on the theme of “The Word of God in the life and mission of the Church” and of the continuous reading  of the Bible, organized in function of this at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, in Rome, which is home to a Cistercian community that Dom Bede knows well.  He commented in particular what the Pope had to say about these two events. We picked our apples.  Not a brilliant harvest.  The apples were small and blemished.  Several of the brethren took part. Tuesday 7 – Brother Stephan has his concerns with the building of the new barn, on top of his normally considerable work pressures.  We ought to have engaged a professional builder who would have seen the job through to its completion. Wednesday 8 – Community dialogue.  Anybody can bring anything up about the life of the community etc. Thursday 9 – Today and tomorrow we were busy pressing apple juice.  Several friends came along to help. Friday 10 – Fr. Graham’s parents arrived to celebrate his 43rd birthday which fell on October 8.  His parents also make their visit a retreat, participating at all our Offices during the day. Paul Leger of Gardner was on retreat here.  In the time of Dom Alphonse he entered with us as a postulant. The farm team finished the corn harvest for the grain silage.  That went well with just the right weather for it. Saturday 11 – A big moose went across the garden in front of the monastery mid-morning.  When he got to the gate he hesitated to jump over and took the pedestrians’ gate.  Three people saw it, one of whom was the Abbot. Marc Côté, who has a universal curiosity and has never seen a moose, subsequently took his car round the woods but saw nothing. Thanksgiving weekend brought us some extra retreatants.  This is always a joy. Sunday 12 – The Abbot presided our Mass.  Father Innocent went to supply for the chaplain at the Trappistines.
Monday 13 – The Abbot spoke in chapter about the discussions in the mixed commissions of the General Chapter, especially how the theme of the role of the Abbot came across in the commissions’ reports.  Interesting.  The theme of the next General Chapter will be formation. Tuesday 14 – Election Day in Canada.  I had to go and say Mass for the nuns, so I combined it with going to vote, accompanied by Br. Leo.  Br. Gilles went after dinner.  Fr. Maurice combined it with a visit to the doctor in the early afternoon.  The Abbot went in the afternoon on his bike and brought back medication for various members of the community from the pharmacy. Wednesday 15 – The Conservatives are still in power in Canada, and still a minority government.  We have a lady as Conservative member of parliament for our local area. Friday 17 – Following on the corn harvest, flocks of Canada geese are descending on us.  They honk and gobble and chat to each other happily down there on our lake. The Abbot spoke in chapter about the African Region, as presented at the General Chapter. There are lots of vocations in that Region, especially in Nigeria. This morning there was a thin coating of ice on the lake. Saturday 18 – We learned of the appointment, made public today in Rome, of Dom Yvon Moreau, the Abbot of Oka, as Bishop of Sainte Anne de la Pocatière in Quebec.  It is a very rare for a Trappist to become a bishop.  The diocese to which Dom Yvon has been appointed is, in fact, his home diocese.  We extend to him our hearty congratulations. Sunday 19 – 29th Sunday of Ordinary time and Mission Sunday.  Father Graham drove his Zimbabwean friend Fr.Patrick to the airport. Monday 20 – The Abbot took up again his commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict, which had been interrupted by the General Chapter. Father Jean-Bernard Malais, of the Diocese of Moncton, is here for several days retreat. Tuesday 21 – Our gospel-sharing this evening was lively and joyful. Wednesday 22 – We celebrated a Mass “For the Church” as suggested by Prions en Église, French-language missalette.  The Church certainly needs lots of prayers, especially in the dioceses around here where vocations are so scarce.  Today the funeral took place of Fr. Arthur Gallant, 85 years old.  He entered this monastery and stayed until the end of his simple vows.  He then became a secular priest and worked with great dedication right up to the time of his death. At the Wednesday chapter the Abbot tries to bring in a variety of material that might be of interest.  He spoke today of various people’s reactions to the appointment of Abbot Yvon Moreau as bishop.  As regards the election of a successor at Oka, it seems that they have plenty of candidates. Thursday 23 – One of the guests and I had a bit of an adventure.  We went on the little tractor to look for firewood and we got lost.  When I thought we were heading back to the monastery we hit a marshy swamp and came out on Shediac Ridge, the road to the south-west.  Happily a good neighbour came to show us the proper way back.  Our lands back onto the properties on Shediac Ridge. Friday 24 – The guest-house was taken over by a mixed group of adults, organized by Sr. Ide Nolan, r.s.c. of Moncton.  They will be staying until Sunday afternoon.  The call it: “Pilgrimage to the monastery, at home with the Trappists.” The Abbot spoke again of Oka where there was a great outpouring of emotion after the news was broken to them of the appointment of their abbot as bishop. Saturday 25 – At 80 years of age, Br. Leo does not go out very much.  He sticks to his job as porter.  After his nap, Laurie Pitre, a friend from Collette, took him to see the new barn and then the fields.  They had the delight of seeing two fine moose.  The Abbot was there as well. Sunday 26 – Most of the guests went home. Monday 27 – A fine October day, warm and sunny.  We got a team together of guests and two of the brethren to pick up leaves, especially from the ditch alongside the entrance drive.  There were a lot this year. Tuesday 28 – Feat of Saints Simon and Jude, apostles.  We had an extraordinarily rainy day. Wednesday 29 – The Formation Council held its monthly meeting at 16h30.  It consists of the Abbot’s Council with the Novice Master. Friday 31 – The last two weeks of October have been rather cold, constantly below zero, at least at night.

NOVEMBER 2008 Saturday 1 November – Solemnity of All Saints and the 106th anniversary of the foundation of our monastery.  It was also the 36th anniversary of Father Maurice’s receiving the habit.  We had a festive dinner! Sunday 2 – All Souls Day.  We had the Office of the 31st Sunday of the Year, but a solemn Requiem Mass.  The Abbot presided and Father Innocent gave the homily. Monday 3 – Robert Pichette, our friend and the author of book about the history of our monastery, is spending a few days with us.  He has started walking with a stick because of a problem with his balance. Tuesday 4 – The building-work on our new barn is going ahead slowly.  We are having difficulty keeping our workmen.  What is left to do is mainly the concreting of the floor and the fixing of the stanchions.  It is not all at one level.  This complicates things. Wednesday 5 – Community discussion on the norms for the guest-house.  This gave rise to an interesting exchange. The Abbot has designed a community Christmas card with little photos of each member of the community.  It’s quite pretty. Friday 7 – Fr. Innocent is trying his hand at pottery and doing quite well.  We are a long way from having anything to sell, but that’s the idea.  We have the basic equipment to make a start. Saturday 8 – The guest-house got full again, mainly with men.  A catechism class from Miramichi came to see what happens in a monastery.  The Abbot enlightened them. Sunday 9 – Feast of the Dedication of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral church of the diocese of Rome, and, in Pope Benedict’s words: “Mother and head of all the churches of the City and of the World.” Monday 10 – Most of our guests left.  The usual calm was restored as only a few stayed on. Thursday 13 – The abbot left after the Mass to be present as witness at the abbatial election at Oka.  He was driven by a friend who had business in Montréal.  The election was due to take place on the 14th and 15th. Friday 14 – We began to prune the apple trees.  There are lots of suckers to be removed. Saturday 15 – I went to the hospital in Miramichi to undergo a test for my hearing problem. The election took place at our monastery of Oka near Montreal.  At the beginning of dinner Br. Stephan announced that the Abbot had phoned to say that Dom André Barbeau had been elected as the new Abbot of Oka.  Dom André, a monk of Oka, had been secretary to the Abbot General, Dom Bernardo Olivera and then Superior and, subsequently, Abbot of the monastery of Aiguebelle in France.  He had been back at Oka for a couple of years.  We wish him every success in his new function.  Ad multos annos! Sunday 16 – Fr. Innocent, our African monk, was the presiding celebrant at our Mass.  He celebrated in French but preached in English.  It was very good! Monday 17 – Early this afternoon the Abbot got back from his trip to Quebec.  During the drive through the Renous-Plaster Rock road his driver, Joseph, had been able to photograph two moose. In chapter, the Abbot gave us news of the community at Oka.  There were 24 voters present for the abbatial election. Tuesday 18 – I had an appointment at the medical centre in Rogersville for blood tests I took the opportunity to get a flu vaccine.  Br. Leo hand an appointment with Dr. Blanchard a bit later in the morning.  But the Abbot had already been early in the morning for routine blood tests, on his bike. Wednesday 19 – The Abbot showed us photos that Joseph had taken during the trip. Friday 21 – Inside the new barn a bulldozer is preparing the ground for the concrete floor to be laid.  Br. Stephan hopes to be able to get the young stock in there by mid-December. Saturday 22 – Feast of Saint Cecilia, patroness of musicians.  We had a snowstorm that lasted all day.  This week, Fr. Clovis, with his usual zeal, washed the ceiling and painted walls in the chapel.  A good job. Sunday 23 – Feast of Christ the King.  As he does on solemnities, the Abbot presided the concelebrated Mass and preached. Here the storm has completely ceased, but it is still raging in the Acadian Peninsula.
Monday 24 – Father Serge Comeau turned up for a few days.  He is a young priest who continued his studies right up to the Doctorate.  He is pastor in the Néguac pastoral unit.  He also writes a weekly column in the Acadian daily newspaper, “L’Acadie Nouvelle”. Tuesday 25 – Another priest, a regular in our guest house, Father Wesley Wade, showed up to stay till Friday.  He is much in demand as a retreat-giver. Wednesday 26 – The cement floor in the new barn is making progress.  They poured a good area today. Friday 28 – Father Gratton of Burnt Church concelebrated with us this morning.  He is staying till tomorrow.  This afternoon a weekend retreat began under the direction of Father Melvin Doucet, a White Father, based on Prince Edward Island.  Those taking part were people from Rogersville and round about.  The theme was “Contemplative Prayer”.  The retreat finished Sunday afternoon. Sunday 30 – First Sunday of Advent.  The Abbot presided the concelebrated Mass and Father Maurice gave us a beautiful homily.

DECEMBER 2008 Monday 1 – Our only guest today was Jack Formby, a regular in our guest-house going back a long way.  He has been an associate oblate for the last four years.  He faithfully comes back time after time. Thursday 4 – Mrs Margaret MacDonald, professor of Bible studies at St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, came to give us a series of talks on Saint Paul.  She gave two hour-long talks today and one tomorrow.  Some of our sisters from Assomption joined us for this. Friday 5 – A mixed group arrived this afternoon for a weekend of reflection.  The theme was: The Holy Family.  The entire weekend was organized by Sr. Ida Nowlan, of the Sisters of Notre-Dame du Sacré Coeur in Moncton. Saturday 6 – The work on the new barn has gone well this week.  All the concrete has been poured and there are only the stanchions to finish. Sunday 7 – 2nd Sunday of Advent.  Father Innocent, our Nigerian, was chief celebrant at the Mass, which he celebrated mainly in French, with the homily in English. Monday 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Traditionally here it is our feast of thanksgiving, especially for our jubilarians.  We had a festive dinner with talking at the end, accompanied by a strong Lebanese coffee, which was very nice.Fr. Clovis went away for a few five days.  He went to Quebec for two days for a provincial meeting of his Eudist Congregation.  Then he came back to his family in Caraquet for a three days.  I replaced him for Mass at the sisters’ monastery of Assomption. Tuesday 9 – Sr. Bernice Daigle, a Sister of Notre-Dame, is here for a few days.  Her father, Émile spent several years in our community, and his mother, Marie, was the sister of our late Father Adélard Robichaud. Wednesday 10 – This evening, we had our monthly open community discussion.  We talked about several things.  One surprise bit of information, our chicken barn manager, Jacques Martin, is still having problems with the water supply for the chickens.  Some sort of continuous purification system will have to be installed.  The water is good for human consumption but not for the chickens. Thursday 11 – A wet day.  The temperature rises and falls, the snow comes and goes or turns to rain.  If this continues it will be a very rough winter indeed. Friday 12 – Fr. Clovis came back.  Somebody called the emergency services (phone 911) by mistake.  The police turned up to see if we were all accounted for. Sunday 14 – 3rd Sunday of Advent, Gaudete.  The Abbot and Fr. Graham went with Fr. Clovis to give the parish priest a hand with confessions at an Advent penitential service in Saint François de Sales, Rogersville. Tuesday 16 – Mgr. Harris, Bishop of Saint John, came to dine with the community.  Bishop Harris is a very nice and very interesting man.  He knows the Canadian monasteries well and once did a tour of shrines and monasteries in France.  He is perfectly bilingual. During dinner Dom Bede reminded us that today was the sixth anniversary of his election as Abbot.  He was elected for an indefinite term. Wednesday 17 – Recently we received, from the forest rangers, a big load of softwood.  We are using it to heat the big chicken barn: a genuine windfall.  This afternoon it snowed hard. This evening in chapter the Abbot gave an explanation of the symbolism of the icon of Annunciation which we have exposed in the chapel during this “Week of Annunciations.”  So we were enabled to enter into the spirit of Christmas.  The Abbot gave other chapters in the week on the Masses of the Greater Ferias and the significance of the Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke. Thursday 18 – We did not have many guests this week, no doubt on account of the rough weather. Friday 19 – We learned of the death of Dom Emmanuel Coutant, former Abbot of Bellefontaine, in the diocese of Angers in France.  Bellefontaine is the mother (or founding) house of Oka, in Quebec.  We knew Dom Emmanuel well, because he visited us several times.  He was elected Abbot at the age of 28. Saturday 20 – I went to a little family reunion to mark my sister Flora’s 84th birthday.  She lives at the nursing home, Mont Maria, in Saint Louis de Kent. Sunday 21 – 4th Sunday of Advent. Several of the brothers were able to witness the solstice sunrise.  What a marvellous link with the day’s Mass liturgy! Monday 22 – During the night there was a powerful blizzard that left a lot of snow behind.  It was forecast.  Rémi had to go and bring in Irène DesRoches to do the cooking for us.  Father Clovis was unable to get to the nuns for Mass. Tuesday 23 – This evening, Br. Stephan gave us a singing class, to get us ready for the Christmas liturgy.  We do not have many singing classes, because Br. Stephan is so busy. Wednesday 24 – Christmas Eve.  Our sister from Assomption came over for supper with us and to share our Christmas Night Mass.  We had a very enjoyable evening. Thursday 25 – After completing the full Christmas liturgy, with two solemn Masses, this evening we had a festal supper, with talking and traditional Acadian meat pies.  Father Graham’s parents are spending Christmas here. Friday 26 – Several of the brethren went with the Abbot and the Abbess of Assomption, in two cars, to take part in the ordination of Dom Yvon Moreau as Bishop of Sainte-Anne de la Pocatière, in the Province of Quebec. Saturday 27 – We hope that our travellers will not have too much trouble with the weather.  It has been very severe this month of December. Sunday 28 – Feast of the Holy Family.  With so many of our family away we had a simple Mass without any singing.
Monday 29 – On the way back from Ste Anne de la Pocatière, afer the Episcopal ordination of Mgr. Moreau, one of our vehicles skidded into the ditch and had to be pulled out.  It was at the start of the road from Plaster Rock to Renous.  Road conditions were very bad at the time.  Nobody was hurt and the car was not damaged, thanks be to God. Tuesday 30 – This evening we invited all our employees, with their wives or husbands, to join us for a Christmas dinner. It was an excellent meal and a wonderful atmosphere. Wednesday 31 – In chapter the Abbot showed us photographs of the ordination of Mgr Moreau and those who had taken part shared their impressions.