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APRIL 2009
Thursday 2 April – A group of farmers from Mexico came to visit the farm.
They were given a guided tour by Br. Stephan. In the evening we continued watching the video of
Bishop Yvon-Joseph Moreau’s ordination as bishop. Very impressive. We have begun to get the
greenhouse ready for growing tomatoes. Friday 3 – Fr. Innocent’s
pottery is taking on ever more importance. Today he went with Br. Stephan in the pickup truck to bring
a load of clay back from Dartmouth near Halifax. Br. Martin of Mount Saint Bernard, in England, is
going to come and spend two weeks with us in order to share his pottery experience with Fr. Innocent. Saturday 4 – This evening, another singing class to get up to scratch our singing of the psalms of Sext
in English for week 2 of the Divine Office. We also had a look at the music and ceremonies for Palm Sunday. Sunday 5 – The Palm Sunday celebration, blessing procession of palms, Mass with the Passion gospel by
three readers, went off well, with the Abbot presiding.
Monday 6
– Fr. Serge Comeau is here for a few days. He is the parish priest in Néguac, the nearest
parish to us in the diocese of Bathurst. He also writes a weekly religious column in the daily “L’Acadie
Nouvelle.”
Tuesday 7 – We took up again our Tuesday gospel sharings after a break for Lent, because we had reading
at supper and our own personal Lenten reading.
Maundy Thursday 9 – All the retreatants were here in time for the
afternoon service of Mass with Washing of the Feet and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament. The guest-house was full.
Good Friday 10 – The weather was very pleasant
and the guests in a cheerful frame of mind and full of zeal; so were we, of course. The ceremonies go off
well, thanks to the Abbot who is capable in matters liturgical and organizes everything.This evening we had another singing class to prepare for the Paschal Vigil.
Holy Saturday 11 – We had the
first part of the Paschal Vigil this evening at 7.30 – the new fire, procession of the paschal candle and the Easter
Proclamation – then the rest at 5 am on Easter morning. This is to encourage people to make a personal
all night vigil of prayer, and it also makes it possible to fit the milking in!Easter
Sunday 12 –
We had a light snowstorm that lasted all day and dumped about a foot of snow. Not very pleasant.
But everybody seemed happy.
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| Fr. Innocent's biggest pot yet - created in two stages - 14 in. high |
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| Pottery training |
Monday 13 – Fr.
Nocalas Thériault is with us for a few days. He is chaplain at the hospital in Bathurst.
Wednesday 15 – I felt the flu coming on. I hear that there are a lot of people down
with it in the area.
Thursday 16 – This morning I did not feel up
to celebrating the community Mass and had to ask the Abbot to replace me.
Saturday
18 – I let Father Graham say the Mass instead of me. His parents were here and the Mass
was in English, as it is every Saturday.
Sunday 19 – Octave Day of Easter.
Divine Mercy Sunday. There were quite a number of people in the guest-house this weekend and plenty
at the Mass this morning, where Father Maurice preached a stimulating sermon, and the Abbot presided.
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| Discovering the woods |
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| Preparing the greenhouse |
Monday 20 – Brother Martin arrived
this evening. He is a monk of our Order from Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in England. He
will be here for two weeks.
Tuesday 21 – I went to pick up
the tomato plants for the greenhouse.
Wednesday 22 – Br. Martin spoke
to us in chapter this evening and replied to our questions about pottery and about his monastery.
Thursday 23 – Fr. Innocent and Br. Martin went to Halifax,
Nova Scotia, to a pottery supply company.
Friday 24 – In just two days all
the ice has disappeared from the lake and the fields are clear of snow.
Saturday 25 – This year, 2009, is World Astronomy Year. We were able to download
for free a “Planisphere.” This is a map that rotates so that you can see one constellation
after another and marvel at the wonderful works of God. Alleluia!!!
Sunday 26 – 3rd Sunday of Easter. Father Innocent presided the Mass in
French with a bilingual homily.We are getting used to the psalms in English at Vigils and at Sext.
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| Training session |
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| Drying pots in the sun |
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| The pottery attracts visitors |
Monday 27 – Father Yvon Cormier from Moncton is with us on retreat. At the beginning
of his time as a priest he was pastor of the neighbouring parish of Collette, which has not had its own pastor for years and
has been incorporated into the parish of Rogersville. We also had a judge here on retreat.
Tuesday 28 – The Reverend Ingalls, an Anglican priest, was staying in the guest
house and looking very Catholic in his apparel.
Wednesday 29 – Late
afternoon the formation committee had its monthly meeting.
Thursday 30 – The Anglican priest’s family, his wife and three boys, came to join him overnight,
and they all went off the next day.
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