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Chronicles 2004

April 2004

 

Monday.5th – Good news about Father Maurice: In Halifax they found that the eye was healing itself and that he would not need an operation.  Deo Gratias.

In chapter the abbot continued his talks about the Paschal Meal, quoting bits of Hebrew as though it was his mother tongue.  He certainly got a lot from his liturgical studies in Paris.

Brother Gaëtan has got back to making our habits.

 

Tuesday 6th – The abbot went to Fredericton again, to get his permanent residence documents.  Brother Gilles did the driving and Father Jean-Claude went with them.

 

Wednesday 7th – Our website went online between 2 and 3 pm.  The abbot is very happy with it, except for the fact that it has not yet been picked up by the search engines.

At 7 pm, singing class.

 

Maundy Thursday – 8th – The guest house was full for the sacred triduum.  There were a few new faces.

About 8.30pm the fire-alarm system started up.  A guest had asked for an electric fire and put it on without realizing that his jacket was right on top of it.  We were let in for a powerful smell and the guy lost his leather jacket!

 

Good Friday – 9th – My personal impression is that the guests are more silent and more devout this year.

 

Holy Saturday – 10th – This afternoon Father Maurice returned to the fold.  Bit by bit he seems to be getting over his health problems.

 

Easter Day – 11th – The ceremonies of Holy Week and Easter went off smoothly all presided over by the abbot.

A festive dinner with talking and the company of Father Jean-Claude and our friends John and Michael.

 

Monday.12th – This evening Father Jean-Claude spoke in chapter.  He told us all about the community of Kokoubou and its difficulties and hardships.

 

Tuesday 13th – Early this morning Father Jean-Claude Maingot said Mass in the guest-house chapel, assisted by Brother Gaetan who was to drive him to the airport.  We were very happy to have had him with us for Holy Week.  He took care of the liturgy at Assomption, but lodged here.  We were all the more happy with his help since it covered the period Father Maurice spent in hospital.  Father Maurice is getting over his illnesses well.

 

Wednesday 14th – The warmer temperature caused the snow in the forest to melt and the river was in full flow, a pity that the energy cannot be harnessed!

We began to get the greenhouse ready for growing vegetables.  We don’t grow them outside any more.

 

Thursday 15th – Father Jocelyin Vaillancourt was staying in the guest house, a very committed young priest from the diocese of Baie Comeau.  He is in charge of four parishes.  He had his friend Marcel Nault with him.  He also was a very outgoing person.

 

Saturday 17th – During Mass this morning the Abbot received Dr. Jack Formby, a visitor of long-standing to the monastery, into the full communion of the Catholic Church.  He had been an Anglican, as is also his wife.  Father David Fulton, who had prepared Jack for this step, assisted as his sponsor.  The Abbot also went on his bike to say Mass at Assomption at 11 o’clock.

 

 

Sunday 18th – The abbot received a group of catechists from Dieppe with their families after None, spoke to them about our life in the chapel and showed them something of the monastery and farm.

 

Monday.12th – This evening Father Jean-Claude spoke in chapter.  He told us all about the community of Kokoubou and its difficulties and hardships.

 

Tuesday 13th – Early this morning Father Jean-Claude Maingot said Mass in the guest-house chapel, assisted by Brother Gaetan who was to drive him to the airport.  We were very happy to have had him with us for Holy Week.  He took care of the liturgy at Assomption, but lodged here.  We were all the more happy with his help since it covered the period Father Maurice spent in hospital.  Father Maurice is getting over his illnesses well.

 

Wednesday 14th – The warmer temperature caused the snow in the forest to melt and the river was in full flow, a pity that the energy cannot be harnessed!

We began to get the greenhouse ready for growing vegetables.  We don’t grow them outside any more.

 

Thursday 15th – Father Jocelyin Vaillancourt was staying in the guest house, a very committed young priest from the diocese of Baie Comeau.  He is in charge of four parishes.  He had his friend Marcel Nault with him.  He also was a very outgoing person.

 

Saturday 17th – During Mass this morning the Abbot received Dr. Jack Formby, a visitor of long-standing to the monastery, into the full communion of the Catholic Church.  He had been an Anglican, as is also his wife.  Father David Fulton, who had prepared Jack for this step, assisted as his sponsor.  The Abbot also went on his bike to say Mass at Assomption at 11 o’clock.

 

Sunday 18th – The abbot received a group of catechists from Dieppe with their families after None, spoke to them about our life in the chapel and showed them something of the monastery and farm.

Monday 26th – Brother Henry was not at the Office this morning.  He has health problems that do not stop him completely, but from time to time he needs to stay in his hermitage, then, the next day, there he as large as life at his place in choir and energetically leading the singing.  His determination overcomes great difficulties.

In chapter, the abbot was still on the topic of the Paschal Meal, speaking about the origins of the second Eucharistic Prayer as related to the prayer of thanksgiving after the Jewish meal.

 

Tuesday 27th –I went to Moncton, looking for replacement parts for our spraying machine we use for the apple trees.  We try to use as little pesticide as possible and the weakest.  Unfortunately I did not find what I wanted in Moncton.

 

Wednesday 28th – After None, the abbot went to Assomption to have a meeting with the sisters about the whole situation regarding a chaplain.  Since Archbishop Chiasson’s death a number of enquiries have been made to try and find a chaplain, but without result.

 

Thursday 29th – At 11 o’clock the two councils had a joint meeting.  This does not alter much since it is largely the same members of the community on both councils.

 

Friday 30th – We are on the point of undertaking two major projects: the replacement of the 1,216 foot long roof of the number 1 chicken barn.  Secondly, we are going to put in 19 new windows on the second floor where the monks have their rooms.  More windows will be done as money becomes available.

 

May 2005 

 

Saturday 1st May – Yesterday the heat took us by surprise.  We nearly lost the plants in the greenhouse.

A catechetics group from Miramichi came to see us.  The abbot gave them a talk and showed them round.

 

Sunday 2nd – Four Salesian sisters were here for a day of recollection.  They come fairly regularly.

 

Monday 3rd – The Abbot took up again commenting on the Rule of Saint Benedit, or, more particularly on the Prologue.  He had stopped in November so as to be able to talk on the liturgy of the seasons.

 

Tuesday 4th –I went to Richibouctou to see an optometrist.  Fortunately my eyes have not changed.  I too the opportunity to have a get together with several of my brothers and sisters who are retired and nearly all live in that area.

 

Wednesday 5th – Brother Gilles and I went for an appointment in Campbellton.  Brother Gaetan took the opportunity to get to know another corner of New Brunswick before returning to Gethsemani.

 

Thursday 6th – Just off his front yard, Rémi Martin, who works on our farm, was knocked down by a cyclist (not the abbot) and broke a rib.  Not very convenient at the height of the working season.

 

Friday 7th – A fax from our Archbishop announced some clergy appointments.  The pastor of Rogersville, Father Denis Belliveau is going away for pastoral studies in Belgium for a year.  Father Savio Mazerolle is coming back to Rogersville.  These are both relatively young priests.

 

Saturday 8th – We have completed the planting of the vegetables in the greenhouse.  We added some marigolds to keep away the aphids.  It is apparently very effective.  Michael Batten looks after heating the greenhouse and is very helpful in a lot of other ways.

 

Monday 10th – Despite his broken rib, Rémi Martin, has continued coming to work.  Rémi is our main farm worker.  The accident was caused by a 73 year old man on a bike, who got off unscathed.

 

Tuesday 11th – In chapter Father Clovis Chiasson, a Eudist working in a pastoral unity in Baie Sainte Marie in Nova Scotia, told us about his ministry in two parishes.

 

Wednesday 12th – Our two-language website is now complete.  Instead of the ordinary chapter the abbot gave us a demonstration of the website.  Already a number of people have given us feedback.

 

Thursday 13th – We had a celebration dinner with talking to say goodbye to Brother Gaëtan Blanchette, upon his return to his own monastery of Gethsemani in Kentucky.  He has done a lot of hard work and served us well in many ways during his stay with us.  We are going to miss him.

 

Friday 14th – We finished reading in the refectory the fine book: “À L’Image de Saint Benoît” by Sr. Agnèse Schoch and the Benedictine Sisters of Venière.  It is a series of short biographies of well-known monks and nuns who, down the centuries, have followed the Rule of Saint Benedict.  Very informative!  Now we are reading the biography of Dom Prosper Guéranger, founder of Solesmnes: “Moine au Coeur de l’Église” by Dom Guy Oury.

 

Saturday 15th – John Bourque is setting up a pen for his two big dogs.  Too many of our visitors did not like them running up to them, though they are harmless and overwhelmingly friendly.

 

Sunday 16th – Yesterday we had a roasting hot day with the temperature at 32ºC or 90ºF.  Today it is just cold again, even if we are expecting the sun to come out.  There is a frost warning for tonight.  You just got to be adaptable to live in the Maritimes.

 

Tuesday 18th – In addition to the apple orchard, we are planting some other types of fruit trees, alongside the asparagus and the raspberries.  We have already been eating asparagus for a week.

Tuesday evenings we keep faithful to our gospel-sharings.  Dom Bede is very keen on them and takes an active part.

 

Wednesday 19th – Brother Stephen is out of luck.  The man who helps him with the milking has hurt his foot and left Brother with all the work in the cow-barn (apart from the cleaning that the abbot does, of course) as well as the maintenance of the machines.

 

Thursday 20th – As he was leaving the Assomption after saying Mass there, Father Adrien Bordage backed into the car that belonged to Sister Stella Bourdage!  I was upset.  Not too much damage was done, however, and the sister’s car was empty.

We have begun to cut the lawns.  There is a lot of it but we got good lawnmowers.

 

Ascension Sunday 23rd – We were 4 priests at Mass.  Our friend Father Ubald Thériault arrived in time for our Mass at 8 o’clock.

 

Monday – 31 – We join with our Sisters of Notre Dame du Bon-Conseil in praying for the return to health of their Sister Thérèse.

 

June 2005

Tuesday – 1 June – Bishop Faber MacDonald, of Saint John, NB., is spending a few days with us for a rest.  Bishop MacDonald is 73 and has been 25 years a bishop.

 

Wednesday – 2 – The abbot shared with us the statistics he had found on the usage of our website, since it was launched on 7th April.  There have been 1,263 visitors of whom 148 in June!  Unfortunately, they are not all aspirants.  The abbot also presented the new page on the grotto and devotion to the Blessed Mother that he was about to publish on the site.

 

Thursday – 3 – One of our three chicken barns was emptied.  Next week will see the turn of the two others.  Martin, the manager of our chicken operation, leaned at a regional of the producers that ours is the best cleaned of the chicken barns in the area.

 

Friday – 4 – Several people were absent from the Office at Sext.  But the three of us that were there rose to the occasion like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

 

Saturday – 5 – This weekend there are more comings and goings in the guest house.

At 7 pm we had a meeting of the business council, still about the project for renewing the windows.

 

Trinity Sunday – 5 – We had a visit from a priest from Tanzania in East Africa, Father Yuda Thade Lyarin.  A gentleman from Miramichi had payed for his studies and now for a journey to Canada.

 

Monday – 7 – This afternoon, Brother Gilles went to get two nuclei of bees at Coverdale, 12 kilometers from Moncton.  They got here just in time for the pollenization  of the apple trees, or it might even be already too late!

 

Wednesday – 9 – Tomorrow is the centenary of our sisters at Assomption.  We are all invited and have all accepted the invitation. In chapter we look at practical arrangements about transport and Michael Batten to look after the reception while we are out.  Brother Gilles will taxi us.  The abbot also gave a presentation of what the nuns had put on our website with regard to their centenary.

 

Thursday 10 – The day that recalled the taking possession of the property, with its farm buildings, by the Cistercian sisters at Rogersville, and the first Mass celebrated there.  Solemn Mass at 10 am celebrated by our Archbishop André Richard, C.S.C., concelebrating with Dom Bede, Father Denis Belliveau, parish priest of Rogersville, Father Maurice and Father Adrien.  Four Daughters of Jesus took part in the festivities; they came to Acadie the same year as the Trappistines.

After the Mass, Mother Rita, invited everybody to the chapter room where there were exhibited on the table various souvenirs of the history of the monastery.  People were very interested in them.  Then Mother Rita invited Archbishop Richard to speak to us.  He spoke of the pastoral activities and organization of the diocese, especially the considerable number of lay-persons involved.  In reply to a question he spoke about the situation of his congregation, the Fathers of the Holy Cross, in the world and particularly in Moncton where they are fast getting reduced in numbers.  After a word from the parish priest and from Sister Marie Fougère F.J. we sat down to dinner in the community’s refectory, to tables artistically laid and a meal superbly cooked and presented by Arnel and Doris Martin, with their team from the restaurant-motel Chez Doris, across the street from the nuns.  It was a great celebration and a welcome opportunity to exchange with our charming hosts.  Thank you, Sisters!

 

Friday 11 – The farm team started making grass silage and storing it in the pit.  As usual Brother Stephen specialized in rolling it down with the big John Deere tractor.

mi showed the abbot where the beavers had made a big dam deep in the forest, with a large lodge in an extensive lake.  This interested the abbot a lot, since beavers do not exist in Britain.  The abbot went back a couple of days later with Brother Gilles and they discovered that the beaver-works were much more extensive than had first appeared.  There are at least five dams creating lakes along the stream in descending levels like locks on a canal.  The flooded area looks to be about 4 – 5 acres.  A complete beaver-world, very difficult of access, besides, to human beings, even monks.  We shall have to be careful to see that it remains undisturbed.

 

Saturday 12 – First spraying of the apple-trees.

 

Sunday 13 – Corpus Christi.  With Brother Gaëtan’s return to Gethsemani we lost our professional hairdresser.  This has become apparent: Father Maurice is going about looking like a skinhead!

Thanks to Denis Léger for his appreciation and encouragement to the chronicler.  Bye bye!

 

Monday – 14 – Reginald Gaudet’s company, C & R Home Builders, has begun the work on repairing the roof of our three-storey chicken barn.  Reginald is Sister Alfreda of Assomption’s brother.

The abbot went to Kumar Luke at Miramichi for an alternative therapy on his shoulder.  It’s getting better but not completely right yet.

 

Wednesday – 16 – The school-leaving group from Ecole Secondaire Assomption Rogersville came for a visit round the monastery and farm.  They filled the chapel for None.  The abbot showed them round and spoke about our life to them.

Fine weather is expected.

Brother Clement of Aiguebelle, last surviving monk of Bonnecombe, apart from Dom Bernard Lefèbvre, wrote us an interesting letter sharing with us about his golden jubilee of profession.

The abbot also read to us an e-mail in appreciation of our website from someone who is to join the community of Prairies in August.  It seems that our brothers in Manitoba are having a surge of recruitment.  We share their joy.

 

Friday – 18 – Brother Stephen went to pick up his mother, brother Conrad, and sister Annie at the Moncton airport.  They live in Pennsylvania.

 

Saturday – 19 – Michael Batten has also gotten visitors; his sister and two nieces from the States.  The abbot went with P. Maurice to the prize-giving for the school leavers at Ecole Secondaire Assomption.

 

Sunday – 20 – Thanks a lot to our long-time friend, Guy Savoie, for his e-mail praising our website and for his encouragement.  Bye bye.

 

Monday 21 – The work on the chicken-barn roof made progress all week.  The soft yellow stone colour was chosen to match the painted parapet of the monastery.

 

Tuesday 22 – Father Maurice took Brother Urbain to Moncton to have the battery checked in his pacemaker.  Everything is marvelous.  Brother’s Urbain’s health is still relatively good.  They took the opportunity to visit Brother Urbain’s sister and the sister of our late Brother Gerard.  The latter is 96 while the former is only 88 years old.

 

Wednesday 23 – Brother Graham arrived for his summer break after completing his first year of studies for the priesthood at the Beda College in Rome.  He’s on good form and happy with his study program.  In chapter the student told us a bit about the Beda College and Tre Fontane where he lives.

 

Thursday 24 – Feast of Saint John the Baptist.  We did not forget our brothers and sisters of Quebec.

Celebration dinner with talking to keep the feast and to focus our joy at the return of Brother Graham.  For work, he will take over the library and bookshop again.  As well he will take over some of the solo singing in the choir.

 

Friday 25 – Brother Stephen took his mother, sister and brother back to the airport very early in the morning.

The abbot had an appointment for physiotherapy in the hospital at Miramichi and visited Sr. Emmanuel of the Trappistines across the street, still recovering from her fall and broken femur.  He found her just about to be transferred to the Georges Dumont hospital in Moncton where she will be able to follow a course of rehabilitation directed by her own doctor.

 

Saturday 26 – This afternoon Brother Urbain went to visit the village he was born and brought up in, Saint-Ignace de Kent, about 25 kilometers away.

 

Sunday 27 – After a long period of cold and cloudy weather we had a nice sunny day.

 

Monday 28 – Election Day in Canada.  It was odd that some of the brethren were supposed to vote at Rogersville others at Collette.

 

Wednesday 30 – The abbot proposed another way of studying the Rule, instead of a simple commentary by the abbot.  He got the idea from the way they do it, or did it, at Caldey.  Everyone is given the opportunity to say what he thinks about the passage of the Rule in question.  The abbot will add his prepared commentary.  The community thought it worth trying and we will see how it works out.

 

 

July 

Thursday 1 – I was celebrating 45 years of priesthood.  I was ordained 1 July 1959 at Assomption where my sister was a nun.  I was happy to be celebrating Mass there this morning, because it was my turn.  With the abbot’s blessing I went to celebrate with one of my sisters.

Father Clovis Chiasson, a Eudist Father, arrived.  He has come for two weeks to fulfil the duties of chaplain to the sisters.  He is staying with us.  He may come back later for a longer period if all goes well.

The workforce repairing the roof of the chicken barn decided to work all night when it was cooler.  Several of the brethren had their sleep disturbed by the sound of hammering.  It does not take much sun to make underneath the roof where the men are working insufferably hot.  This job seems to be going faster than expected.

Friday 2 – As though Father Maurice didn’t have enough health problems, a patch of shingles broke out on his forehead.

 

Saturday 3 – Our apple-tree sprayer wasn’t working properly.  Brother Stephen, who can turn his hand creatively to any situation, completely renovated it, fitting a totally different spray system.  We tried it this afternoon and it works splendidly.

 

Sunday 4 – The new parish priest at Rogersville, Father Savio Mazerolle, came to visit us.  He wanted to pay his respects to the abbot, who couldn’t be found, because he was out on his bike in the woods.  Father Mazerolle is the coordinator of the pastoral unity of Rogersville, Collette and Acadieville.

Monday 5 – Brother Graham went to Fredericton for an appointment with a specialist.  He has a problem with his gums.  The specialist’s name is Dr. Coffen!

Tuesday 6 – Rhéal has started a big job on the big room of the guesthouse.  The aim is to make this room more of a pleasant place for the guests and retreatants to read in.  The main lounge is too close to the reception where there is often a lot of noise, making it a difficult place to do any reading in.

 

Thursday 8 – More than half of the community was out today for various reasons, including the abbot who spent part of the day at Assomption.  Fortunately, there were no big journeys and everybody was able to be in for the offices.

 

Friday 9 – Dom Bede began his first Regular Visitation at Assomption, with Mother Agnes, the Abbess of Wrentham MA, as co-visitor.

Tuesday 6 – Rhéal has started a big job on the big room of the guesthouse.  The aim is to make this room more of a pleasant place for the guests and retreatants to read in.  The main lounge is too close to the reception where there is often a lot of noise, making it a difficult place to do any reading in.

 

Thursday 8 – More than half of the community was out today for various reasons, including the abbot who spent part of the day at Assomption.  Fortunately, there were no big journeys and everybody was able to be in for the offices.

 

Friday 9 – Dom Bede began his first Regular Visitation at Assomption, with Mother Agnes, the Abbess of Wrentham MA, as co-visitor.

Saturday 10 – Things are growing very well in the greenhouse.  We have a species of green beans that are nearly a meter long.  They are delicious and plentiful.  We shal be able to start picking them next week.

Sunday 11 – Solennity of Saint Benedict.  In the absence of the abbot, Father Maurice celebrated our Mass.  There was in the guesthouse an African protestant minister with his wife.

Monday 12 – The abbot, having closed the Visitation at the sisters was back for dinner.

Tuesday 13 – Mother Agnes and Mother Rita came to dinner with us.  It was very enjoyable to be able to exchange with them.

Wednesday 14 – Brother Graham went to Fredericton again to have some skin-grafts to his gums.  Everything went off well.

The abbot gave a presentation of the decisions of the Central Commissions of the Order, which prepare the General Chapter.  Our Father Immediate, Dom Jacques of Mistassini,  President of the Region, had kindly sent them to us.

Thursday 15 - Brother Stephen has found somebody willing to buy our scrap metal.  There is plenty of it.  It has been building up over the years.

Friday 16 – I received my notification to go into hospital, after a six-month wait.  I go on the 23rd to the Georges Dumont hospital in Moncton.  Today I had to go to the hospital in Miramichi for pre-operation tests.  Nothing serious.  No trace of cancer.

The abbot continued presenting Dom Jacques report on the Central Commissions.

Saturday 17 – We are again saying Mass for our sisters, while we wait for the return of the new chaplain, the Eudist, Father Clovis Chiasson.

Sunday 18 – This afternoon we had the first electrical storm of the summer.  In our neck of the woods they are rarely violent.

Monday 19 – The abbot told us about an invitation he has had from Dom Casimir Bernas, Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, Utah to go and preach their annual retreat.  He thought that it wasn’t quite right to always say no to these requests.  Previous requests having come from Africa, this was easier.  It will be at the beginning of December.

The abbot got signed off by the surgeon who operated on his shoulder, Dr. David Lanoue and from his physiotherapist.  They both said they did not want to see him again.  The abbot looks on this as a triumph.  But he will still be carrying on with his alternative massage therapist, Kumar Luke.

Tuesday 20 – There are two sisters on retreat here.  They belong to the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary of the Assumption, founded in Cambellton.  They have a branch in the Philippines which is getting plenty of new vocations.

Wednesday 21 – Br. Graham went to the airport to pick up an aspirant from Virginia – for once a young guy – Alan Truslow, who has experience teaching French.  With the website we can cast our net wide.

We heard about the sudden death, at the age of 67, of Father Ubald Thériault, a long-standing faithful friend.  Officially he was retired, but he still continued to help out a lot.

Friday 23 – The big haymaking day.  There was a whole gang of willing helpers: the abbot, Br. Graham, Michael Batten, and the aspirant, Alan.

Monday 26 July – We used to say that one day the Africans would come to spread the gospel among us.  Well, it’s happening.  Mgr. Faber MacDonald, Bishop of Saint John New Brunswick has been able to get three priests from different African dioceses.  One of them came to see us today.  He was from Ghana. In Moncton, our diocese, we had two African priests several years ago, but it did not work out.

 

Tuesday 27 – At the invitation of the mayor of Caraquet, the abbot went to a reception in honor of Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Primate of Canada, Archbishop of Quebec.  He was in the Province for the feast of Saint Ann at the sanctuary of Sainte Anne du Bocage and in connection with the Acadian 4th centenary.  Br. Gilles was with the abbot.

P. Maurice represented the community at the funeral of Father Ubald Thériault, a long-standing friend of the community.

Wednesday 28 – In honor of the centenary of our sisters at Assumption we are presenting them with a beautiful chasuble.

We heard of the death of one the abbot’s aunts.

Thursday 29 – The guest house is a lot busier these days; the last two weeks all the rooms have been taken.

 

August

Sunday 1 August – This first Sunday of August we had our annual Mass at the Grotto at 2 pm.  The abbot presided and gave thought-provoking reflections both at the beginning and during the homily. The singing and music were taken care of by Phil Leblanc and his group of women singers.  The celebration went well, but the crowd wasn’t very big.

After the Mass the annual general meeting of the “Friends of the Trappists” was held.

Monday 2 – The abbot announced that an aspirant, Alan, would begin his month’s monastic experience starting Wednesday, without returning home to Virginia first.  Distance and other practical considerations had made this the more reasonable procedure.

Tuesday 3 – Father Clovis Chiasson, the soon-to-be chaplain at Assomption, made an overnight stop here with his sister as he traveled from one place to another on holiday.

Wednesday 4 – Father Louis Dugay, a priest who came originally from Bathurst, but has lived in Belgium for a lot of years, was staying with us for a few days.  He is a priest who exercises his ministry through song.  The abbot invited him to give us a little concert, a proposal he accepted with enthusiasm and alacrity.  He first introduced us to his guitar, which is about thirty years old, or more.  A very pleasant half hour.

Thursday 5 – After None, the abbot went to look at our forest with Alfred Gallant, who takes care of it for us.  The abbot is interested in seeing what work is done and how the future management of the trees is being planned.

At 19.20, a Mr. Sean Tobin who was here on retreat, gave a talk on how the support system works in Moncton for the homeless and penniless.  The population of this flourishing and ever-growing city is about 100,000.  Last year Mr. Tobin’s organization distributed 100,000 meals.  There are three permanent soup kitchens in churches and one mobile soup-run.  There is also a night-shelter.  The workers are volunteers, the food is given and also provided by the central Food Bank, which has its New Brunswick distribution center in Moncton.  An interesting conference.

Friday 6 – In the refectory we are reading a history of the first years of our sisters of Notre Dame de l’Assomption, “De Lyon en Acadie … From Lyons to Acadie.  Story of an Exodus.  The Diary of an Exile.  First Years of the Trapistines in Rogersville, 1904-1910.”  It is very interesting.

Our study of the Rule by way of active participation is not a success so far.  It is rare that one of us ventures to say anything.  So the abbot gets on with it.

Saturday 7 – Saturday and Sunday the cook prepares the supper in the morning along with the dinner.  In the evening somebody, normally Michael at the moment, puts the supper out for monks and guests.  This evening he mixed up guests’ and monks’ dishes and the monks enjoyed a delicious chicken dish, “fricot de poulet”, a delicacy in Acadie, while the guests wondered at the flat simplicity of their potatoes and dumplings.  One or two of the brethren thought it was fish, but it really was chicken!!!

Sunday 8 – In the context of the Novena preparatory to the Assumption, the parish priest of Rogersville invited the abbot and another priest to help give the sacrament of the sick during a community celebration at the parish church.  There were several hundred received the sacrament.

Monday 9 – Our farmers started harvesting the alfalfa for silage.  It is treated as it is cut with a product that helps preserve it.  Alan manned the rake; a true monk of the good old days.

 

Tuesday 10 – Br. Henry was trying out another specialist.  He has not given up hope of finding a cure.

There was a guest in a wheelchair making a retreat.  He drove himself here from Montreal.  Our stairlift in the guest house came in handy.

Wednesday 11 – An in-depth cleaning was performed on the chapel by a group of women.  We had Sext and None in chapter.

During the novena for the Assumption there are a lot more visitors.

In chapter we discussed several liturgical points.  The discussion will be continued next week.

Thursday 12 – After supper the schola went to the sisters to practice with them the music for the feast of the Assumption.

Friday 13 – Father Maurice has at last finished working on the new choir-books for Vigils.  A friend of the community has offered to print them up on his laser printer, in colour.

The schola went back to the Trappistines for another singing practice this morning.

Saturday 14 – At Vespers time Dom Yvon, the abbot of Oka, and Dom Marcel, abbot of Prairies, arrived.  They were here to take part in the celebrations for the centenary of the trappistines and hold a mini-regional meeting.  The other abbots, of Rougemont and Saint Benoît du Lac, and Mother Marie, abbess of Bon Conseil, arrived a bit later with Dom Jacques and went straight to our sisters.

 

Sunday 15 – Celebration of the Trappistines’ centenary.  At 10.30 there was Mass, presided by Dom Bede, the Father Immediate, at which Dom Jacques Pineault preached.  At midday we had an excellent dinner, prepared by the caterers from the restaurant Chez Doris. At the end of the dinner Sr. Kathleen invited different people to speak.  She also thanked Chez Doris and the ladies who had waited on the tables.

Monday 16 – The abbots and abbesses who came to our Trappistine sisters to celebrate their centenary, spent the day meeting together and then came to us for vespers and a celebration supper.

 

Tuesday 17 – Early this morning our distinguished visitors left.

Wednesday 18 – Br. Stephen enjoyed a visit from his younger sister, with her husband.  They stayed three days.

Another discussion on the liturgy.  No great changes, a few simplifications.

Thursday 19 – The guesthouse is busy this weekend.  Some students are among the guests.

Br. Urbain cannot work, but happily he can still get about, even outside and on a tricycle.  He often has visits, too, from good friends in the neighbourhood.

Friday 20 – It’s amazing that the abbot is onto his fourth chapter talk on the sarabaites.  What Saint Benedict condemns in them indicates by contrast the virtues he hopes will flourish in his cenobites.

 

Sunday 22 – We had an interesting homily this morning. The celebrant spoke of the gratuitous character of salvation.  This is always refreshing.

This week’s chronicle is being written by someone else.  Father Adrien has been admitted to hospital for a small operation.  He left me his notes and I have done my best to add to them for the final days of the week.  Brother Maurice.

Monday 23 – There seem to be people growing or preparing to grow marijuana on our land.  The RCMP was invited to look around.  This is quite a problem in the area.  Then, there are the bears trampling down our fields of corn.  With the permission of rangers our workmen are going to keep them at bay.

 

Tuesday 24 – Father Adrien put the first of this year’s apples out in the refectory.  They are an early type and, as he put it, “They are ugly but nice.”  It does not look as though there are going to be many apples this year.

Wednesday 25 – Father Maurice, having business in Moncton, went round by Shediac to see an old aunt in a home for the elderly.  He said Mass there because the lack of priests means that these old people only have it once a month.

In chapter the abbot read the last visitation card as a first step in preparing for our next regular visitation in September.  There was a short discussion afterwards and we expect to continue next week.

Thursday 26 – Although it is still nice and warm, it is noticeable that the trees are already beginning to change colour and a bit of brown and rust is appearing here and there.  The first sign of fall.  It is cooler at night.  There is a bit of a break on the farm until the corn is ready – that is to say what the bears and the racoons have been considerate enough to leave standing.  Brother Stephen has been hard put to it with his workmen to bring in a huge heap of silage, which had to be pressed down by running back and forth over it with the big tractor and then covered with a big sheet of plastic, kept in place by lots of old tyres.  It all had to be finished and closed up as fast as possible to that the rot and mould did not get a chance to get started.  They were able to get in a second cut, including some alfalfa.  This is not possible every year.  This has left the whole field next to the monastery looking like a nice big green well-cut lawn.

Father Adrien, like it was no trouble, picked a huge quantity of raspberries from the garden.  Our very competent cooks were quick to make jam of them, to brighten up our autumn breakfasts.  Oh, the dura et aspera of the monastic life!

Friday 27 – Father Adrien was finally admitted to Georges Dumont hospital in Moncton for the operation he has been keen to get done for months.  Michael Batten drove him in.  The operation was scheduled for today.

Saturday 28 – The abbot and Alan, our aspirant, went to seen Father Adrien in the hospital in Moncton.  The operation had gone off well, no complications and with a local anaesthetic.  He could possibly come out Monday.  He will be with you, therefore, for the next chronicle.  Have a good week!

Monday 30 – Since Father Adrien is not yet back from hospital, here I am again with the chronicle.  Like Dom Fidèle in olden times I see the world from my attic, looking down on my tiny world from my accountants office…

Cleophas and Madeleine, a retired couple who are friends of the community, have been working since the beginning of the summer on our flower-beds and borders.  Brother Henry had done a great job of work with all his expertise as a landscaper, and our surroundings had greatly benefited.  His withdrawal into the hermitage and his ailments have forced him to give up these activities, so that trees and bushes were threatened with extinction.  But now everything seems to have taken on a new zest for life.

Tuesday 31 – Last weeks chronicle talked about the bears doing damage to our corn crops.  Brother Urbain leaped to the defence of those cuddly little beasts by pointing out to me that the havoc was being wrought by racoons.  In fact, our farmhands trapped a number.  Nonetheless, Brother Stephen tells me that both sets of animals are at work, each one working after its own easily identifiable fashion and leave its on stamp.

 

September

 Wednesday 1 – Alan, our aspirant, finished his month’s observership.  He flew back to his native Virginia, but promising himself that he would come back even before the end of the month.  He celebrated his 28th birthday while with us.  He has done a lot of studies with master’s degrees in theology, civic administration and French.  If God directs him our way, he will be a good brother in community.  The abbot also announced that Gaston, another aspirant, but older, a retired dentist, has confirmed his intension of coming to start an observership on the 17 September.  With these newcomers in the offing the abbot saw fit to hold a bit of a discussion about how we keep silence, particularly at the dish-washing.  Without wanting to return to any old-fashioned rigidity, we agreed that we wanted to make this rare common work a moment of sharing silence with each other.

The abbot also told us the RCMP (Mounties) had found marijuana plants in two places in our woods.  The police are going to continue their researches.  Other landowners are hosts without being aware of it to pot-growers.

An inspector from agriculture and fisheries asked us to get our fish-channel, at the dam, repaired.  It has deteriorated to the point where the salmon are not able to get up it.  Rhéal has undertaken to do it.

Thursday 2 – Father Adrien came back at last.  He seems to be getting over his operation well.  He did not seem to want prolong his sick leave, since he was back in choir for the first office following his return.

After supper, we finished watching a film on King David.  Recently we have watched several films about characters in the Bible.  But none of them assuaged our thirst for getting to know God and his friends.  Somebody has lent us Mel Gibson’s famous film on the Passion.  With all the horrors that strike all over the world I do not see any need to watch that… But everyone is free.

Saturday 4 – More horrors.  Rino Morin-Rossignol, a journalist with Acadie Nouvelle, our local French-language daily, writes of his complete repugnance at the massacre of the children and innocent adults in the school in Russia and at terrorism in general.  He ended his article by asking: “Well, where is God.”  I could not resist the temptation to send him an e-mail with the reply-question: “Well, then, where is man?”

Sunday 5 – The abbot presided at the Mass this morning.  The gospel led us necessarily to look at our personal history in the light of Jesus’ declaration that his disciple would prefer nothing and nobody to him, not even his own life.  We have to remember that we only develop into disciples a bit at a time, and what is brought about by our own efforts is very little indeed.

What a load of verbiage!  Take heart, Father Adrien will be back next week.

Br. Maurice.

Tuesday 7 – Brother Gilles went home to Montreal to visit his mother who is not in good health.  He also has his brother, André, there whom he likes to see from time to time.

Wednesday 8 – Brother Graham went to Moncton.  He will soon be returning to Rome for his second year of studies for the priesthood.  He is still waiting for his re-entry visa for Italy.

Brother Urbain celebrated 70 years as a novice.

The abbot told us about the situation of Holy Trinity Abbey Utah where the community is reluctant to go ahead with a project for building a new monastery because it has serious doubts about its own future.  Dom Bede is going to preach their annual retreat in December.

Thursday 9 – The little list of enquirers about our way of life by men who might want to join us continues to grow bigger.  We pray for them all.

Friday 10 – Our Father Immediate sent us a long letter to prepare us for our upcoming Regular Visitation.  Plenty of food for thought.

Saturday 11 – Father Adrien is recovering well from his operation and says he feels better than he has for years.  A number of his little ailments have cleared up.

Sunday 12 – A big disturbance in choir at the end of Lauds. Brother Gilles, who only got back yesterday from his journey to Montreal, fainted and fell to the ground.  An ambulance was called and he was taken to the Miramichi hospital where they are going to keep him until Tuesday and carry out tests to verify the condition of his heart.

Monday 13 – I had an appointment with an orthopedist in Miramichi.  I took the opportunity to go and see Brother Gilles in the hospital.  At this time the doctor thought that his heart was sound.  Nonetheless we continue our prayers for him.

Tuesday 14 – At the gospel sharing we were without our usual facilitator, Brother Gilles.  The abbot stood in for him.

Wednesday 15 – Patronal Feast of Our Lady of Calvary.  The abbot had invited our sister from Assomption to come and celebrate with us.  They were all here for the solemn Mass at 10 o’clock, the for combined Sext and None and finally for our festive dinner at midday.  Taking part also in our festivities were Father Clovis Chiasson, the sisters’ chaplain, John Bourque, a friend who comes often to help us, and Michael Batten who has been with us for a year as a long-term guest.  The lively conversation all round the tables showed that everybody was happy.

Robert Richard, a former novice and one of Brother Urbain’s nephews died today of cancer at the age of 62.  He was a sharp businessman.

 

Thursday 16 – Brother Gilles is still in hospital.  They are talking about transferring him to Saint John to the heart-center of the province.  There they will assess whether he needs to have a pacemaker fitted.

 

Friday 17 – Gaston Babin, joined us today for a month’s observership.   He threw himself into it right from the start.  Originally from Bonaventure, where he now lives since his retirement as a dental surgeon at Rimouski.

The farm team began cutting corn silage.  This will upset the bears and the raccoons.

There was also a stir in the cow barn.  The man was there to trim the cows’ hoofs, complete with revolving chute that turns them on their sides, raising them to operating level.

Saturday 18 – There was a large group from Miramichi in the guest house.  They were people who work in the parish pastoral ministry in the area.  They were here for a short retreat.

Sunday 19 – The abbot and John Bourque went to see Brother Gilles in hospital.  No change since Thursday.  They are still waiting for the summons to Saint John.

Monday 20 – Dom Jacques arrived in time for supper.  At chapter time, this very evening, he gave us news of our mother house.

Tuesday 21 – Dom Jacques opened the Regular Visitation with the Mass of the Holy Spirit.  About 9 o’clock he began to see the monks individually.

Wednesday 22 – After a long break we at last have a postulant.  Alan Truslow from Virginia, and his parents drove him all the way here in their pick-up truck.

This evening Dom Jacques presented the points raised in the interviews with the members of the community.

Thursday 23 – At 4.30 pm we had a meeting in chapter and Dom Jacques read and commented on the record of the Visitation.  Supper was a festive meal to mark the return of Brother Graham to Rome, the arrival of Alan and to say goodbye to Dom Jacques.

Friday 24 – The guest house was full.

Brother Graham left to return to Rome.  He is going to visit his brother in Nova Scotia first, then he will fly from Halifax, via Montreal and London to Rome.

Saturday 25 – Early in the morning Dom Jacques left.

The guest house is still packed, with a group of very interesting people – among them a retired doctor who specialized in forensic psychiatry and came originally from the Philippines.

Sunday 26 – The Daughters of Jesus in Rogersville invited us to an open house.  The abbot, Father Maurice and Father Adrien went.  The Daughters of Jesus, like our Trappistine sisters are currently celebrating the centenary of their arrival in Rogersville.

Monday 27 – Today and tomorrow we have to stand in for the chaplain to the sisters.

This morning we began to sort the Lobo apples.  They are not exactly beautiful.  We will make juice out of the better ones.

Tuesday 28 – There was a Quaker couple on retreat here.  They came from Ohio and had been on holiday in Nova Scotia and decided to look around for a Cistercian monastery in the area.  They found us on the internet.  They have several times spent time with our community in Holy Cross, Berryville VA.

Wednesday 29 – The abbot spoke to us about liturgy.

Thursday 30 – The doctor gave Fr. Gilles 24 hours parole from hospital.  We were happy to him again, and he us, after two weeks in the hospital.  He took the opportunity to catch up on his bees.  He still does not know when he will be transferred to Saint John.

 

October

Friday 1 October – The abbot is kept busy replying to requests for information concerning the Cistercian way of life from people who think they might have a vocation!

Saturday 2 – There are more people coming to the guest house than has been the case for a long time.  We hope they are gaining spiritual benefit from it.

Monday 4 – We began apple-juice production.  There will be more than expected.  We’ll have enough for the whole year.  The production team consists of Michael Batten, Gaston Babin, Fr. Clovis Chiasson and myself.

Tuesday 5 – Brother Gilles was transferred to Saint John.  There he had to wait his turn to have tests.

Wednesday 6 – In chapter the Abbot asked how many would be interested to watch Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of Christ”.  There was a lack of enthusiasm.  Two had already seen it, one of them liked it, the other didn’t.  The Abbot took the same line as the French Episcopate that he had a problem with the sufferings of Christ separated from the kerygma and contemplating only the human side of Jesus’ sufferings prescinding from the fact that he was God.

The Abbot also read us an interesting e-mail from Brother Graham about the celebrations in honour of the beatification of Joseph-Marie Cassant.

The Abbot also announced the possibility of our participating in a series of sessions to be given at Assomption by Josée Maltais and Léone Goulet who work in the diocese.  The course is an original biblical catechesis called Messaje.  The local organizer is Sr. Kathleen.

Thursday 7 – With Alan as a postulant and Gaston as an observer we needed a novice master.  The abbot is fulfilling the role.

Rhéal replaced the main electric switchboard.  He started at 8.30 finished at 5 pm but had the power back on by 2 pm.  The standby generator kept power available to the cow-barn and chicken-barns.

Friday 8 – Today was the anniversary of the tragic death of Archbishop Donat Chiasson in a motor accident half a mile from here at the junction of the route 126 with the East Collette road.  At the time Archbishop Chiasson was chaplain to the sisters at Assomption.  The sisters invited the Abbot to go and celebrate Mass with them.

Saturday 9 – Another weekend with a full guest house.  Better like that!

Sunday 10 – The Abbot said Mass for the sisters, because the chaplain was away for the weekend.

More news of Brother Gilles: At Saint John they discovered that his heart and arteries are in good condition, only the heart muscle is a little weak.  He was returned to the Miramichi hospital on Friday.  Now they are talking about possibly sending him to Halifax or Montreal!  That’s life, I guess.  The Abbot is in touch with Brother Gilles by phone often and goes to see him every few days.  Brother Gilles is experiencing perfectly good health, all his problems are due to the slowness of the healthcare system in this province.  When he told the Abbot that he was being well looked after and, though his patience was stretched, was perfectly happy, the Abbot told him to be careful not to transfer his vow of stability to the Miramichi hospital!

Monday 11 – It was Brother Stephen’s turn to be sick.  This morning he had to get Alan to replace him milking.  He seems to have had a virus which was going round locally.  But he does get bad headaches from time to time and is not very careful about looking after himself.

Tuesday 12 – Father Maurice went to pick up Brother Gilles.  He has been discharged from hospital to await his summons to Halifax.  The cardiologists there are supposed to be very competent.  But it could be a long time before he is sent for.

Wednesday 13 – Br. Stephen was back on the morning milking.

Chapter for the professed.  We discussed the length of the postulancy.  The Ratio Institutionis requires each community to fix a minimum duration.  Since Vatican II we have been requiring six months of postulancy.  The decision was to make the minimum three months and to consider that the normal postulancy would be three to six months.

Friday 15 – For a while now the Canada Geese have been settling on our lake.  It is interesting to see them and to hear their chatter.

Saturday 16 – Brother Graham sent us a letter filling in the details of the Beatification of Father Joseph Cassant.  He also sent the booklet produced by the Vatican for the occasion giving the details of the ceremony and the biographies of all five of the beati.

Sunday 17 – Gaston Babin completed his observership.  He was happy with the outcome.  Nonetheless he was leaving us on the morrow to go and reflect on his experience and make a decision.  We also are happy with the way he lived this month with us.

Monday - 18 – We have a bilingual community, or, at any rate, some members from each language.  At least, that’s what I thought but there is a doubt in my mind since a notice appeared above the sacristy sink that reads:

-         BIEN  REFERMER  LE ROBINET

-         PLEASE TURN OFF WATER TIGHT

-         WELL, SQEEZEZ OUERRE LA TAP BEN TIGHT’ POUR PAS QU’A DRIPPE !

This is because, if this faucet is left dripping it can be heard in the chapel.

Tuesday – 19 – The Abbot and I went to have an anti-flu vaccine.  Our doctor is very keen on this, especially for the old guys.

Thursday – 21 – Today we began our annual retreat.  The preacher is Father Wesley Wade, Vicar General of the diocese of Bathurst.

Sunday – 24 – This retreat Sunday was dedicated to the Eucharist.  Father Wade’s two conferences were on that theme and from supper to Compline we had a full hour of Eucharistic Adoration.  Pray for us.

Monday 25 – Our retreat continued.  The general theme was: “The Call to Holiness.”

Thursday 28 – End of the retreat.  Father Wesley Wade was principal celebrant at the Mass.  We were very happy with the retreat he gave us.  Of course, we have known him for a long time.

The Salesian Sisters from Lagacéville came by.  They are the only Salesians in New Brunswick.  They had one of their General Councillors with them, a Congolese sister and her secretary who is from the Canary Islands.  They had been carrying out the Regular Visitation at the convent.

Friday 29 – A mixed group of 12 people arrived to stay till Sunday morning.  They were a transcendental meditation group.  About 11 am, a group of 5th grade youngsters arrived about twenty of them and half a dozen adults.  The Abbot talked to them in the chapel about the life and let them see the cloister, chapter and guest house.  They then went outside and interviewed the cows.

In the evening chapter we discussed the future of the Friends of the Trappists Association Inc.  Their current committee was of the opinion that the Association had fulfilled its task, which was to help prepare the celebration of our centenary in 2002 and to improve the Grotto.  According to the constitutions of the Association, it was for the community of Our Lady of Calvary to take the decision with regard to its termination.  Abbot and community agreed to dissolve the Association.

The abbot spoke about the community of eight Benedictine nuns that has just begun its five year term in the monastery of Our Lady Mother of the Church in the Vatican gardens, started with Poor Clares in 1994 at the express wish of the Pope John Paul II, who wished to have a community of contemplative prayer and the sacrifice of praise at the heart of the Church continually supporting the mission of the Supreme Pastor.  The group preceding the Benedictines were Carmelites.  Will the Cistercians be next?

 

 

November

Monday 1- All Saints and the 102nd anniversary of our community’s foundation.  Festive dinner in the company of our parish pastor, Fr. Savio Mazerolle, and Fr. Clovis Chiasson, John Bourque and Michael Batten.  The main aim of the celebration was to say goodbye to Michael who was soon to leave us after being in our guest house on a prolonged retreat for just over a year.

Tuesday 2 – Alan made cheese from our own milk.  It was great.

Brother Graham had the opportunity to visit our nuns at Valserena, Italy, for a solemn profession.

Wednesday 3 – This evening another applicant arrived on the train from Halifax, 21 years of age.  Alan went to pick him up.

Friday 5 – Today, at Assomption, there was the first of a series of conferences, a new catechetical approach to scripture and the mystery of salvation.  Five of us monks will be joining the sisters for them most Fridays until mid-December.  They are given by Josée Maltais and Léone Goulet in two two-hour sessions.  The programme is entitled “Messaje – Messe – Alliance – Jésus – Eglise.

Saturday 6 – This afternoon Bishop Valery Vienneau of Bathurst arrived for a few days retreat.  He will speak to us in chapter on Monday.

Sunday 7 – Father Maurice had a group of his relatives and friends come to help him celebrate his 25th anniversary of priestly ordination.  He said Mass with them in the guest house chapel at 11 am and they all had a very festive lunch together afterwards, joined by the abbot and Bishop Valery.

Monday 8 – Bishop Valery Vienneau, of Bathurst, has been spending several days here.  This evening he spoke in chapter about the development and adaptation of his diocese to the changing situation of the Church.  The lack of priests is a challenge, their replacement be dedicated lay people fulfilling many aspects of what has previously been seen as the priestly ministry, the permanent diaconate are necessary adaptations, but which require all concerned to change certain attitudes.  He also told us about his car accident when he ran into a moose in the dead of night several months ago.  He was lucky not to be killed, he realized immediately.  His car was badly damaged.  A following car driver called an ambulance, which took him to hospital.  There, to treat his leg injury, they cut his pants off him.  Then expected him to get home somehow, with no car, no pants, and a cope and chasuble over his arm!

Wednesday 10 – We held a General Meeting of our commercial dimension “Les Pères Trappistes de Rogersville Incorporated” in order to bring the list of officials up to date.

The abbot opened a discussion on the participation of our guests in our community prayer, provoked by the fact that a recent group of people involved in transcendental meditation that filled the guest house, never set foot in the chapel, not even one of them in three days.  The abbot and the brothers seem to be agreed that guests should be expected to be present at one of our times of prayer morning and evening.  There will be the possibility of further discussion on this topic next Monday.

Thursday 11 – We celebrated Fr. Maurice’s 25th anniversary of priestly ordination.  He was principal celebrant at the Mass and gave an excellent homily.  We had celebration supper.

Friday 12 – Once again we went to the sisters for the Mess’AJE course.  We had no evening chapter.

Saturday 13 – Rémi Martin, who works here, is having serious problems with his eyes.  He will need cornea transplants.  Meanwhile he continues working.  He and Elmer Aucoin finished the corn harvest yesterday and spent today muckspreading.

Sunday 14 – So far we have had very little snow and the cold has not been excessive.  But the winter has definitely returned.

Monday 15 – We learned of the death of Fr. Placide, monk of the community of Oka.  We join them in praying for their brother.  This is their 5th death in the last nine months.

Wednesday 17 – A heavy snow and rain storm struck several provinces of Atlantic Canada.  Climatic changes in the Maritimes became a topic of conversation.  Nevertheless the weather remained sweet here.

The abbot in chapter talked about several articles that had appeared in recent periodicals encouraging Christians to a fuller understanding of their roots by studying the Jewish tradition.  He also gave us a resumé of the retreat he is going to preach shortly in Utah.  He asked the support of our prayers.

Thursday 18 – We watched another video on the public life of Christ.  The film is very faithful to Saint Matthew’s gospel and to Jesus’ teaching.  Nonetheless, the actor who played Jesus did not seem to me to be dressed in a way respectful of Christ.

Saturday 20 – A group of catechism class kids from three parishes in the region came here about 11 o’clock.  Father Maurice received them and spoke to them.  It was above all a question of explaining to them what contemplative monks are.

Sunday 21 – Christ the King.  The abbot presided the solemn Mass, Fr. Maurice gave the homily.

Monday 22 – A young mother is her on retreat with her little three month old daughter.  The little girl is a quiet as a grown up.  The Dad stayed at home to look after the other eight children (!)

Tuesday 23 – Brother Urbain celebrated in a very low key way his 65th anniversary of solemn profession.  He has been our unchallenged senior resident for a number of years already.  He is the last to have known all the superiors the community has had, including the very first Dom Antoine Piana, the founder.

Another enquirer arrived for a stay in the guest house today.  Greg is a fine young guy of 6’2”, a young doctor in philosophy, 29 years old, originally from Hamilton, Ontario, currently working in Truro N.S.

Wednesday 24 – Br. Stephen lost one of his best cows.  For more than 10 years Twinky had given over 20 litres of milk a day. An untreatable infection made it necessary to send her to the cows’ paradise.

Saturday 27 – On Alan’s initiative, an Advent wreath has been displayed in the refectory.  Br. Stephen, very capable in metal work and at patenting things, created a very decorative stand from bits and pieces of metal he had lying around.  At supper it was solemnly lighted to the accompaniment of several prayers.

Sunday 28 – Br. Graham’s parents came to visit.  They are great company.

Monday 29 – In chapter, the Abbot gave his final instructions before leaving for Utah.

Tuesday 30 – Brother Stephen drove the Abbot to Monton, at three o’clock in the morning, to catch his plane.

Wednesday 1 December – This morning we had an e-mail from our Abbotwith interesting details about the community of Holy Trinity, Utah.

Friday 3 – Another Mess’aje session at the Trappistines; only two of us monks were there.

Father Connell, a Redemptorist, is with us for his retreat.  He is very edifying.

Saturday 4 – Father Maurice received another catechetics group.

Sunday 5 – Collette parish, the nearest to us, celebrated its fifty years of existence.  Father Maurice, Brother Gilles and I went and took part.  The atmosphere was very festive, with most of the priests who had served the parish present.  The singing was remarkably good for such a small parish.

An e-mail from Brother Graham, addressed to Fr. Maurice, brought us up to date with his news, including that he is adapting well to sunshine rather than snow in December.

Monday 6 – In the refectory we finished reading the account of the Abbot General’s 109th journey.  We also read the papal document proclaiming the year of the Eucharist: Mane nobiscum, Domine.  For the time being we are not reading the Rule at the end of dinner, but, instead, the Constitutions of the Order.

Wednesday 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Traditionally it is our “Thanksgiving” day.  We had a festive supper. We watched a monatage of slides from the archives which Alan had put together.  We were also marking the 30th anniversary of Father Maurice’s profession.  This came as a bit of a surprise to us, and even more so to him.

Thursday 9 – In the night the abbot got back from Our Lady of the Holy Trinity in Utah.

Friday 10 – In chapter, the abbot spoke about his journey and about the community of Holy Trinity.  He found the situation right in the middle of the Rockies very impressive.  Their principal source of income is producing creamed, and variously flavoured honey.  The abbot brought a few samples back with him.

Across the street at the sisters we concluded the first round of conferences in the Mess’aje series.  We will carry on in the spring.

Sunday 12 – We are praying for the abbatial election which will be held on Tuesday at our sisters’ monastery of Assumption

Monday 13 – Sr. Rita went back to her own community at Wrentham.  She had been superior at Assomption for nearly a year.  The sisters began the process of electing their new abbess this evening, by voting to elect an abbess for an indefinite term.

Tuesday 14 – Election Day at our sisters at Assomption.  Sister Alfreda Gaudet was elected.  She originates from Collette, right by here.  Several members of our community took part in this election in various capacities: Dom Bede, Father Immediate, presided over the election; Fr. Maurice was secretary, Br. Stephen and Fr. Clovis Chiasson were the official witnesses.

The election was over before half after ten, but Dom Bede spent most of the rest of the day trying to contact the Abbot General for the confirmation.  He was reported to be travelling by car from one of the Paris airports to La Trappe.  Dom Bede caught up with him just after he arrived at La Trappe t 7 pm in France.  So the nuns were able to have their new abbess installed before Vespers in Rogersville.  Then the community and those involved in the election were able to have a festive supper.

Friday 17 – We had a gospel-sharing as a way of reflecting together on the theme of the Advent and Christmas season.

 

Our Lady of Calvary Abbey
11505 Route 126, Rogersville NB, E4Y 2N9
Tel : 506 775 2331
E-mail : CalvaryAbbey@aol.com