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JULY 2009
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| Observer cutting grass |
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| Postulant in retreat |
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| Making honey |
Wednesday 1 July – We celebrated my 50 years of priesthood. The
ordination actually took place at the Trappistines where my sister Marie-Anne was then a religious. Today’s
celebration here was simple but meaningful surrounded by my family. In the evening, in community, we recalled
memories of the last 50 years. Friday 3 – Our bilingualism
is a bit of a trial. It is difficult to get used to the various accents in both English and French.
We need patience! Sunday 5 – 14th
Sunday in Ordinary Time and the monthly Retreat Sunday. Rain and yet more rain! Erik
Towne, our postulant, will begin his retreat tomorrow in preparation for receiving the habit and beginning his novitiate on
the Feast of Saint Benedict, Saturday July 11th.
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| Repairs to the #2 chicken barn |
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| Old heifer barn roofless |
Monday 6
– Our aspirant, Michael Galante, received a difficult piece of news : his father needed to have an urgent operation
for a tumour on the brain. He was obliged to return home. We hope to see him back sooner
rather than later.
Wednesday 8
– This evening we had our monthly community discussion. There was nothing special to discuss.
Thursday 9 – There have been some big
jobs on this week. At # 2 chicken barn they are having to relay the concrete apron under the two silos.
This turned out to be a bigger job than expected.
Friday 10 – A neighbour came with his big crane to take the roof off the old heifer barn.
Br. Stephan wants to turn it into another silage pit.
Saturday 11 – Feast of our Father Saint Benedict.This morning,
after Lauds, our brother postulant, Erik, received the novice’s habit in a very nice ceremony. He
has taken the name of Br. Isaac, in honour of Isaac of Stella, for whom he has a great admiration.Fr.
Jacques Bourdages, of the Missions Étrangères de Québec, arrived for a few days retreat.
Fr. Jacques was a missionary for 40 years in the Philippines and in Cambodia. Since his return he
has been infirmarian to his community in Montreal.
Sunday 12 – Father Graham presided the Mass in French, but gave the homily in English. There
were a lot of people present, despite the rain.
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| Brother Isaac |
Monday 13 – We are happy to see the chronicle
of our Mother House, Mistassini, back on view again.
Wednesday 15 – Father Jean-Marc Laporte, S.J. stayed here for a few days’
retreat. He will be with us until Friday. He is originally from Edmundston, but has
always worked in Toronto. From here he goes to Halifax to take charge of a retreat centre and work in a
parish. It was his grandfather who provided us with the recipes for a tonic and syrups we marketed in the
50s.
Thursday 16
– The farm team was getting in a bit of hay. The Abbot and Br. Isaac gave a hand.
Friday 17
– Tom Garvey turned up, accompanied by his son. Tom has been connected with the monastery for a long
time.
Saturday 18 – It rains almost every day! Br. Gilles is trying to get rid of the racoons,
in order to protect the bees. Not an easy task!
Sunday 19 – The guests were quite numerous this weekend.
Monday 20 – Tomato
crisis. In the greenhouse the crop got off to a very good start but this morning I discovered that the
tomatoes were going rotten and the plants drying out. It has something to do with the weather.
Wednesday 22 – The Abbot, among other things
that he talked about in Chapter, announced that Fr. Innocent and Br. Isaac would be going with him to Mistassini next week.
Friday
24 – On the farm people are worried about the prospects for the corn harvest. There is all
this rain and very little sun. This morning, feast of Saint Charbel Makhlouf. We had
the Mass in his honour. Father Joseph Salame’s time here make us more aware and appreciative of this
saint. Fr. Joseph called in here yesterday, but since the Abbot was out, he went on his way.
Saturday
25 – Br. Stephan gave his sixth and last singing class in the present series. He recalled
to our minds the main principles of Gregorian chant, but we forget so quickly. There will be more classes
at a later date.
Sunday
26 – Our three travellers, the Abbot, Fr. Innocent and Br. Isaac are busy getting ready to take off not for the
Moon but for the celebrations at Mistassini in honour of the silver jubilee of ordination of our Father Immediate, Dom Jacques.
Monday 27 – Our travellers, that is to say, the Abbot, Fr. Innocent and Br. Isaac, left this morning
about 5 am, for Mistassini in the Lac Saint Jean area.
Tuesday 28 – We
had our gospel sharing despite being low in participants.
Wednesday 29 –
Even if the weather is not the best, the garden is growing well – the weeds especially!
Thursday
30 – On the farm they are piling up the grass silage.
Friday 31
- Our travellers came back at about 8 pm.
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