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.

Monday 5 – One reader suggested that we run a series of feature articles on our individual monks when there is not much other news.  So today we begin with Dom Bede, our Abbot.

Born 8 January 1943

Ushaw College 1957 – 1962

Entered Mount Saint Bernard 22 August 1962

Habit 7 October 1962

First Profession 18 October 1964

Solemn Profession 18 October 1967

Ordained Priest 18 April 1972

Institut Catholique de Paris 1973 – 1975  Maître ès Théologie avec spécialisation en liturgie et en théologie sacramentelle.

1976 – 1981 Novice Master at Mount Saint Bernard

1981 – 1983 Guest Master at Mount Saint Bernard

1984 -1985 Chaplain at Grandselve, Cameroon

1986 – 1991 Secretary at the Generalate in Rome

1991 – 2001 Printer at Mount Saint Bernard

2000 – 2003 Prior at Mount Saint Bernard

2002 – 2003 Bursar at Mount Saint Bernard

2003 – Abbot at N-D du Calvaire.

Tuesday 6 – Fr. Graham keeps us abreast of his comings and goings.  He seems to have found his course in Rome enriching.  He is now in Assisi, on the last stage, and then he will be coming back to us.

Wednesday 7 – Chapter was devoted to our monthy community dialogue.  The only topic that came up was the replacement of the heifer barn.  Since the roof collapsed under the snow, something has to be done, but even before that this barn was not in the best interests of the animals health.  It was too cold and easily became too humid.  The thinking in the community goes in the direction of building a new one.

Thursday 8 – Fr. John Gratton was on retreat here.

Saturday 10 – Something we have not seen too often in latter years: a funeral.  It was for Fr. Maurice’s “Tante Thérèse”.  There were about sixty of her relatives and friends present.  The chapel was full.  The Abbot presided the Mass while Fr. Maurice did the introductions, prayers of the faithful and homily.  Fr. Maurice’s condition prevents him moving with ease around the altar.  Our cooks did a superb job of catering for all the crowd, and there was plenty left over to provide an exceptional dinner and supper for the monks to rejoice in the SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST on Sunday 11 May.

Monday 12 – This morning, the priests of our diocese, of Moncton, began their retreat in our guest-house.  There were only ten of them, representing the French-speaking sector of the diocese.  They had a do-it-yourself retreat, without a preacher.

Tuesday 13 – The farm team has been working hard getting wood out of the forest with a view to work on replacing the heifer barn.

Today we are going to talk about Br. Stephan.

Brother Stephan Hewitt, born 5 October 1958, in the small town of Bristol, Pennsylvania.  He grew up in Burlington, New Jersey, the first 20 years of his life.  Br. Stephan’s father, (died 1993) was from New England.  In Germany, during the allied occupation, he met a young Bavarian, by name of Weyerer.  The two fell in love and eventually got married, before returning to the United States.  They had 13 children, of whom 12 are still alive.  Br. Stephan’s mother, now 85, lives in a small apartment in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where Stephan goes to visit her about once a year.  In 1978, the Hewitts, parents and several of the children, including Stephan, came to live in Baddeck in Cape Breton, where they already had a summer residence.  It was while living there that Stephan got to know our community in Rogersville and felt very drawn to it.  When Stephan entered he began working straight away with the cows and eventually became the farm manager.  In 1996 he was appointed prior (second superior), and still holds this office.  Br. Stephan made solemn profession in 1988.  He readily says that he is very happy and fulfilled in his vocation, and has never regretted entering the monastery.

Friday 16 – The priests’ retreat came to an end.  For the final meal, lunchtime today, the priests invited the whole community to have dinner with them and the Archbishop.  The cook did an excellent job, acclaimed by all, beautifully cooked turkey with home-made stuffing and cranberry sauce and a variety of vegetables, and a delicious gateau to finish off with.

Tuesday 20 – On the farm the heavy work has begun, under Br. Stephen’s direction, with the help of Rémi the main hand on the farm.  While this is going on Rhéal has been doing some repairs to the barn.  We must not forget our pre-postulant, Marc Côté, who gives valuable help with the milking.

Wednesday 21 – Our greenhouse, in which we have planted 100 tomato plants, is looking good.

Curriculum vitae of Brother Gilles:

He says his Curriculum Vitae is to be nothing, nothing, nothing!

Br. Gilles was born on the 7^th June 1943 in downtown Montreal, where he spent 38 years of his life.  His father, an ordinary man, worked all his life at Moulson’s Brewery in Rue Notre-Dame.  He had a perfectly fulfilled life looking after his family; he died on 28 August 1999.  Br. Gilles’ mother is still alive, at 91, but has seemed very feeble recently.  Br. Gilles worked as a cutter in the textile industry.  This trade enabled him to live very well.  What is most characteristic of Br. Gilles?  His zeal for excellence in every detail!  At the beginning he was in charge of one of our chicken barns.  He subsequently had experience in different jobs in the monastery.  He is currently in charge of the laundry and of the cleaning in the guest-house, he is one of the cantors and looks after our vehicles.  The work that he liked the best was looking after his “little ladies” the bees; he had to give them up out of obedience in order to serve the community in another way.  This he did!  He says that he finds contentment in saying a continue “Yes” to the grace of God!  There is life beyond the death he feels at times.

Friday 23 – This weekend we had a group of men and women on retreat from Moncton, organized by Sister Ida Nowlan.  There were nine of them.  Their retreat was taken very seriously – in silence.

Monday 26 – Let me tell you about Brother Leo.  He was born in the United States, at Berry in the State of Vermont, on 18 January 1927.

His Father, Fred LeBlanc, was a stonemason; his mother, Vitaline Dupuis, was from Lourdes in New Brunswick.  Leo, like his father was a stonemason.  He even worked at our quarry for some time.  He was also a lumberjack and a farmhand.  He joined the Trappists and looked after the animals for 37 years.  Then he was made porter, and has been doing this job for 22 years.  Working as porter is his delight.  He has a gift for communicating with people, and he loves reading.  He is very popular with the people of the neighbourhood.  He is currently 81 years old.

Saturday 31 – Br. Stephan found all the cows out, scattered in the orchard and down the fields, when he arrived at the barn at 3 o’clock this morning.  He had to get all 65 back in before he could start the milking.  Fr. Clovis is looking after cutting the grass for the first time this year and Fr. Adrien has begun seeding his garden.  Sure signs that summer is a-coming in.

We had a discussion this evening about the new barn for the heifers and dry cows.