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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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