Friday 1st. Father Bede said our Canada Day Mass this morning. Dom Innocent did some mowing in the cemetery. Saturday 2nd. Starting this week, we leave off our cowls for Lauds and Vespers, till things cool down. Sunday 3rd. Brother Leo was talking about monks of yesteryear, and about his today, at 95 years old.…

Wednesday 1st. Brother Leo had the first visit from family in a while, and enjoyed a cool Pepsi with them. Though Leo is second oldest in a family of seven children, he has outlived all but the youngest, Anna. Thursday 2nd. A helper got the basement corridor tidied up, post-ceiling renovations. Friday 3rd. Dom Innocent…

Sunday 1st. Dom Innocent got back early this afternoon, rounding out our number of six monks. Monday 2nd. As we undertook Vigils, the power went off for just a moment. Then the generator and the lights came on. Tuesday 3rd. Brother Stephan is doing maintenance of the wall heater units, which for now are still…

Friday 1st. A list has been posted for Mass duties for Holy Week; another list gives the schedule. Easter Vigil will once again be at the regular time for daily vigils, 3:40. Saturday 2nd. The snow has melted enough for the little no parking signs opposite the front of the guesthouse to reappear. Sunday 3rd.…

Tuesday 1st. In chapter, Dom Innocent presented questions for monks to answer; questions created by our order, to help prepare the usual house reports sent to the General Chapter, which resumes its meetings in September. The order’s hope with these questions is to bring out the positive in house reports. Each of us is asked…

Tuesday 1st. The front door re-opened today for Mass-goers, with two of them joining us this 8 AM. Before long, Bede was selling a bit of honey again out front. In Chapter, Dom Innocent read us accounts of the gyrovagues of long ago: monks on the loose, so to speak. Wednesday 2nd. One couple only…

Saturday 1st. Upon rising, we found gifts from a secret Santa. As per custom, we met after Lauds to exchange New Year’s greetings, and pick up a calendar, or two. We had a wonderful lunch together, and shared stories of friends old and new. Sunday 2nd. In one of Brother Leo’s first dreams of the…

Wednesday 1st. Cook Simone is making some meat pies, to set aside for Christmas; two varieties. Thursday 2nd. Bede was looking at some of the heating units today. Some parts of the monastery are warmer than others, like the Chapel. Friday 3rd. With rain, and outside temperatures just above normal, a December salamander made his…

  Monday 1st. At All Saints Mass offertory, Brother Stephan played Leonard Cohen’s Alleluia on the organ. As Stephan observed at lunch, this day next year, the community will be celebrating its 120th anniversary. Nothing is planned yet for marking the milestone. When we turned a hundred, the year was peppered with special events, including…

  Friday, October 1st. With grace, a heron flew just over the lake’s surface, and out of sight. I don’t often see them here.  Saturday, October 2nd. At Mass, Brother Stephan once again sang at the organ for communion; a contemporary hymn adds a different light to the whole celebration. Sunday, October 3rd. At lunch,…