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NOVEMBER 2009
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| The Abbey of Bonnecombe founding house of Our Lady of Calvary |
Sunday 1 November
– Feast of All Saints. It
is also the anniversary of the foundation of our monastery in 1902.
Monday 2 – An aspirant, Jean Pierre Groulx from Ottawa is making an introductory visit to the guest-house.
Tuesday 3 – Chris McKee from Manhattan is persevering in his observership.
Wednesday 4 – This morning we had our monthly community dialogue on the topic
of whether we were happy with our new schedule. The general opinion was favourable. There
was some question as to whether the Tuesday gospel-sharing should be in the morning. So the Abbot decided
we should try it for a month in the mornings and see what the effect was.A Camaldolese novice, Daniel Perron, from Montreal, is living with us.
His superior, at the Holy Family Hermitage in Bloomingdale, Ohio, asked Dom Bede to let him stay here until his immigration
formalities are completed with the US authorities.
Thursday 5 – My brother-in-law,
Édouard Savoie, died today, at the age of 97.
Sunday 8 – 32nd
Sunday of Ordinary Time. There were a lot of people at the Mass this morning to hear Fr. Adrien preach.
Monday
9 – I went to my brother-in-law’s funeral at Saint-Charles. Father Mercier was the officiant,
he is a Redemptorist who has been working in the area for a number of years.Jean Pierre Groulx,
the aspirant who has been staying for a week as a guest reflecting on his possible vocation, went back home to reflect on
his experience and, possibly, tie up his loose ends. We would be happy to see him back.
Tuesday 10 – A priest of the diocese of Rimouski, Claude Pigeon,
is here for a retreat. He is a military chaplain. He knows Dom Jacques Pineault and
Mgr. Yvon Moreau well.
Wednesday 11
– In chapter, the Abbot gave us a certain amount of news of the Order, as usual on Wednesdays. He
also gave a résumé of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, on the incorporation into the
Catholic Church of certain groups of Anglicans.
Friday
13 – Feast of All the Saints of the Order. This is about those who have been sanctified through
living according to the Rule of Saint Benedict.
Saturday
14 - Chris McKee, another aspirant, who has been doing the month’s observership, returned home to New York to
reflect on his experience.
Sunday
15 – Three Salesian sisters are currently here on retreat.
Monday
16 – Br. Gilles and I went to Miramichi to do a few errands.
Tuesday 17 – Father John LeBlanc, retired priest of the Gaspé diocese is with us for his annual
retreat.
Wednesday 18 – In chapter, the Abbot commented
on the Pope’s General Audience about Cluny. It is interesting to hear what the Holy Father thinks
about this renowned Monastic Congregation which had such an impact on the Church of its time.
Thursday 19 – Father Maurice and I went to the funeral of Leo Poirier of Rogersville,
to represent the community. Leo was a man who gave himself totally to the village and the parish.
He belonged to all the associations, more or less. He was involved in the start of our association,
Friends of the Trappists. He was 79 years old.
Friday 20 – This afternoon a retreat began in our guest-house. It is being led by
Father Melvin Doucette, a White Father from Prince Edward Island. People from Rogersville and from certain
parishes in the diocese of Bathurst are taking part. The main theme is “Contemplative Prayer”.
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| Advent has begun |
Monday 23 – The group of Anglican ministers arrived this evening, about 12 of them, including a bishop.
They came to study, among other documents, the Apostolic Constitution of Benedict XVI Anglicanorum Coetibus concerning
the arrangements for receiving Anglicans within the Catholic Church in personal ordinariates. Apart from
their times of conference they made a type of silent retreat. They come from all over Atlantic Canada. Tuesday 24 – Father Jean Doutre of Val-Notre-Dame came by train in time for dinner. He
came for a meeting with the Abbot. Wednesday 25 – In chapter Father Jean Doutre spoke about his
community and how it is settling in to its new monastery at St. Jean-de-Matha. Thursday 26 –
Thursday evenings we watch a video. Currently we are watching “Monarchy: the Royal Family at Work.” Sunday 29 – First Sunday of Advent. Br. Isaac set up the Advent wreath.
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| First snow of the year, just like the last! |
Monday 30 – Brother Stephan came back from his
long trip to see his family in Pennsylvania. Br. Stephan’s absence means no organ at the offices
which makes the liturgy harder work.
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