Most importantly, all the monks gave thanks to God at Christmas for restoring Fr Prior to good health. Each year we try to embellish the Christmas liturgy a little bit more than the last. This year we chanted the readings at the dawn Mass, offered 3 coped Solemn Vespers (we only have 3 white copes!) and Br. Anthony illuminated the Responsory for the cantors.
We had few guests for Christmas itself but immediately following Christmas we hosted 3 young men considering monastic life. Duncan Stroik spent 3 days with us working on the designs for our new Abbey Church and several diocesan priests of the USA passed a week with us for retreat.
During the octave of the Epiphany we made our now annual climb into the mountains for sledding. We sent Fr. Prior away for a few days of rest and we used new software to update our website.
More news after the feast of S. Anthony…January 17
-Brother Subprior Benedict Nivakoff, OSB