Mundi Medicina - Holy Cross Monastery

Transcription

Crux est
Mundi Medicina
Holy Cross Monastery, West Park, New York
ISSN 1524-251X - Volume 28 - Issue number 3
A Beautiful New Icon Triptych
for our Chapter Room
by Zachary Roesemann
Zachary Roesemann is an Associate of Holy Cross and an
iconographer who works out of his studio at the Church of
St. Mary the Virgin in New York City. You can see more of
his work at sacredicons.net. Zachary generously donated a
stunning triptych that now adorns Holy Cross Monastery's
Chapter Room. We asked him to tell the story of these icons.
Several years ago I sat down with Brother Ron,
then the Director of Associates, and made an offer.
Since my formation as an iconographer was in many
ways connected with Holy Cross, I wanted to give an
icon to the community in thanksgiving for that very
fruitful and blessed relationship. Ron thanked me for
the offer and said he would consider what might be
appropriate. A day or two later (I remember it was
just after dinner), Ron told me he had something he
wanted to show me. Joined by Brother Bede, then
Prior, we crossed to the enclosure and entered the
Chapter Room. Centered on the far wall were three
large niches. "Here you go," they said—"we would
love to have three icons to fill these empty spaces!"
“The Cross is the Medicine of the World”
September 2016
Love Must Act:
The Young Adult Service Corps
by Elizabeth Boe
Global Partnerships Office,
The Episcopal Church
“Listen carefully, my child, to my instructions, and
attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice
from one who loves you; welcome it and faithfully put it
into practice.”
In the 6th Century, St. Benedict opened his Rule
with the words “listen carefully.” Fifteen centuries
later, listening is an integral part of what missionaries
of the Episcopal Church do as they go out into the
world to be present, build relationships, share their
own stories and gifts, and receive the stories and gifts
of the people they meet.
Our office’s relationship with the Order of the
Holy Cross has evolved over time. Through the Young
Adult Service Corps (YASC), we have been sending
young adults to Grahamstown, South Africa to work
with the brothers at the Mariya uMama weThemba
After discussing with the brothers what images
they wanted, I started, as is my custom, to research
historical models, photograph and sketch sites and
buildings, and comb through sources. The three
icon boards arrived, and they became my constant
companions as I thought and prayed about the images
they would contain. The slow, traditional process of
painting in egg tempera began. Gradually, the triptych
took form and life, and was finished.
And so it was with great joy that I participated in
its consecration during the Order’s Annual Chapter in
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Triptych
continued
June. At the service, one of the brothers commented
to me that, for him, the three figures represented
Love (Christ), Wisdom (Benedict), and Perseverance
( James Huntington). Those seem to be excellent
figures to have in a Chapter Room, at the heart of the
monastery.
The Three Icons
Christ is in the large center panel, seated on a
Byzantine-style throne as the Pantocrator, or “Lord
of All.” The colors of his clothing are traditional:
the reddish tunic represents his humanity, and the
blue himation, or outer robe, his divinity. The vivid
blue pigment used is high-quality lapis lazuli—in
fact, from the same storied mines in the mountains
of Afghanistan that have provided the best lapis for
thousands of years, from the days of the pharaohs
to the Italian Renaissance to the present. The tunic
is embellished with a gold clavus, a mark of exalted
status in ancient Rome.
In his left hand, Christ holds the Gospels. His right
hand is raised in blessing, a gesture derived from a
classical Greek pose that indicated someone was
speaking with authority. The inscription “IC XC” is
2 Crux Est Mundi Medicina
the abbreviation of “Jesus Christ” in Greek. In Christ’s
halo are three arms of a cross on which are written the
letters spelling “I AM,” also in Greek.
On the panel to Christ’s right is St. Benedict, dressed
in the traditional black habit of the Benedictines. He
holds a book representing his Rule, and bows his head
reverently.
On the other side of Christ is James Otis Sargent
Huntington, founder of the Order of the Holy Cross.
He is shown as a younger man, wearing the Order’s
original white habit. He too bows his head in adoration
as he presents a miniature version of the monastery to
Christ. It is an ancient convention to show a monastic
founder humbly offering his life’s work to the Lord.
Place and Transfiguration
The background of the three icons depicts the
glorious physical location of the monastery. The three
figures, though transcendent, appear in this specific
place, a visual reminder that they are present with
the community here and now, and that the brothers,
through their Benedictine vow of stability, have a
strong connection to the place in which they live.
The traditional use of gold is not just for color or
decoration. On the books, the throne, and the clothing,
it symbolizes God’s transfigurement of created matter.
As a background, the gold infuses the entire image
with light, a symbol of the Divine Presence embracing
all things in the timeless spiritual space in which “we
live and move and have our being”—something many
of us have felt while watching a golden dawn over the
Hudson from Holy Cross. Around the figures, there
is neither a specific light source nor shadow because
they are transfigured, illumined by the in-dwelling
of the Holy Spirit. The golden haloes indicate this
holiness. The haloes also illustrate something else.
Each image is framed in the icon board’s recessed
area, called the “ark” because it holds holy things. The
haloes extend beyond the arks to show that holiness
cannot be contained.
My teacher and mentor in iconography was Father
John Walsted, a former monk of Holy Cross, whose
magnificent icon cross hangs in the monastery church.
He used to say that, beyond all considerations of style,
technique, and symbolism, icons are fundamentally
about relationship—the viewer’s prayerful relationship
with the figure depicted, and what that two-way
relationship can lead to in the world. It is my hope
and prayer that in living with these icons, the brothers
will find new ways to live into their relationships with
Christ, Benedict, and James Huntington, and with
each other in their life together. I am deeply grateful
to all the brothers for inviting me to contribute this
work to the life of a community I love and cherish.
Attention Philadelphia Associates
A group of Holy Cross Associates has begun
meeting in center city Philadelphia for prayer
and fellowship. To join us or be added to our
mailing list, please email Lloyd at
[email protected].
Crux Est Mundi Medicina
September 2016
Holy Cross Monastery
P.O. Box 99, West Park, New York 12493
(845) 384-6660
www.holycrossmonastery.com
Crux Est Mundi Medicina is published three times a year
by Holy Cross Monastery
Br. Peter Rostron, OHC, Editor
YASC
continued
Monastery since 2005. This year, the brothers will
welcome their 13th young adult from YASC!
In 2013, we decided to revamp our missionary
orientation program. One of the first things we did
was reach out to Holy Cross. We were fortunate to
have Br. Robert James serve as our chaplain and we
spent a quiet day at the monastery. It was by far the
most popular day of the whole two-week orientation.
Not long after our visit, we were delighted to receive
an invitation from the community in West Park to
hold our whole two-week orientation program at
Holy Cross. At the time, I don’t know that any of us
really knew what we were getting ourselves into. How
would a group of mostly twentysomethings react to
spending two weeks with a community of slightlyolder-than-twentysomething monks? Clearly, there
was no reason to worry because hospitality is what
Benedictines do – “all guests who present themselves
are to be welcomed as Christ.” If anything, it’s hard to
get our group out the door at the end of their time at
Holy Cross!
Since 2014, we’ve held three orientation programs
and two discernment retreats at Holy Cross. None of
us can imagine being anywhere else. Our main goals
at orientation are to help the missionaries understand
themselves, understand others, and develop selfcare practices to support themselves during their
missionary service. Where better to do that work than
with a community of Benedictine monks?
Most of our orientation participants are part of
the Young Adult Service Corps, which is a ministry
of the Episcopal Church for young adults ages 21 to
30, who seek to explore how God is calling them to
live out their faith in new ways and different contexts.
They commit to spending a year learning from and
working, living, and praying with other Episcopal/
Anglican communities around the world.
The foundational work for this ministry begins at
the February YASC discernment retreat. In addition to
learning more about and interviewing for YASC itself,
the young adults have a cross cultural experience of
being at the monastery and building intergenerational
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September 2016
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YASC
continued
relationships with the brothers. The young adults leave
the monastery with a deeper sense of their faith, new
ideas about spiritual practices, and usually a few new
monastic Facebook friends. When we return in June
for the orientation program, there’s a palpable sense
of excitement at being back and seeing the brothers
again.
Missionary service is an act of faith and a way
of being Church. While there is a lot of work that
goes into preparing someone to live cross culturally,
the commitment to serve as a missionary is first
and foremost a faith commitment. During our time
together at Holy Cross and through the relationships
with the brothers, our missionaries receive tools
to nurture vibrant lives of faith. Our group attends
a minimum of two services a day to get into the
rhythm and practice of intentionally taking time to
bring what they’ve heard, experienced, and thought
to God. We sit in the chapel and let the psalms wash
over us; listen in the silence of Diurnum; smell the
incense at Vespers; and feel the sprinkle of holy water
at Compline. We do all of this in community with
each other and the brothers.
We tweak the orientation schedule a bit each year
as we reflect on what went well the previous year, what
we’d like to do more of, or what one of the brothers
would like to share. Some mornings our group
splits up into smaller groups for lectio divina led by
the brothers. In the last two years, the brothers and
Fr. Matthew Wright have offered spiritual practice
workshops on silence, journaling, the Daily Office,
the Book of Common Prayer, meditation, and yoga. This
has allowed our missionaries to learn new spiritual
practices to support them in their journey.
One of this year’s participants said being at Holy
Cross, “…gives you a new perspective on what holiness
really means and what it means to be a human in God’s
world. And I think being around these brothers who
are so dedicated and so devoted to their faith, but are
at the same time so honest and so real, has been just
such an awesome experience…the hospitality here
has been incredible and you never really go a second
feeling that you’re not completely and totally loved
beyond all reason.”
At a time when the Episcopal Church is renewing
our focus on evangelism – sharing and hearing the
Good News – it is an immense gift for everyone
preparing for missionary service to be part of a
community that lives out that calling in their daily
life and work and welcomes, teaches, and encourages
others to do the same.
For more information about the Young Adult
Service Corps, please visit episcopalchurch.org/yasc.
A Word from the Chef
by Robert Morano
Here at the Holy Cross Monastery we take an
almost spiritual approach to how we prepare and
acquire the ingredients that we use to feed our guests.
As the executive chef and a Hudson Valley native, I
take a seasonal, simplistic, yet never boring approach
to the food I prepare. Everything here is made by
scratch, from the stocks to the sauces, the pizza dough
to the breakfast sausage, and everything in between.
I want to create whatever I can from the highquality local ingredients we’re lucky enough to have
right outside our door. I feel that our food program
carries the important responsibility of supporting
and reflecting our bountiful local environment. We
have almost 4,000 square feet of edible garden on the
property of the monastery where we grow common
vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini,
beans, lettuce, herbs, as well as rare seed varieties of
many unusual fruits and vegetables. This allows us to
be constantly learning and experimenting with our
food program and the dishes we bring to our guests.
Our sous chef has more than 30 years’ experience
as a professional gardener including edible gardens,
orchards, floral setups and edible landscaping. He
brings this experience to the gardens of the Holy
Cross Monastery and into the kitchen.
Improving our Financial Sustainability with a Monastic Endowment
by Br. Bernard Delcourt
A monastery is a place of prayer, but it also requires
a solid financial foundation in order to be sustainable,.
A key ingredient for that is a strong endowment. The
funds in the endowment are invested to earn income,
which is then used to support the monastery’s activities
on a long-term basis. A monastic endowment is an
embrace of God’s abundance and providence for
the present and future generations of users of the
monastery.
Many people assume that an institution like ours
already has and depends on a sizable endowment.
Not so. The Holy Cross Monastery endowment is a
relatively new development, begun only in 2009. It
has grown modestly thanks to contributions made
from bequests received over the years. About a third of
amounts received through bequests is directed to the
endowment (unless a bequest is specifically intended
fully for the endowment).
assistance to those who can’t afford to stay here. It will
insulate us from the ups and downs of the economy.
In other words, a stronger endowment will ensure
that Holy Cross Monastery is here for all who wish to
come, far into the future.
If you would like to discuss the endowment further,
or learn how you can contribute to its growth through
either the Capital Campaign or through planned
giving, please contact Br. Bernard Delcourt. You can
learn more about the projects we are envisioning for
the Capital Campaign by visiting our “Chanting to
the Lord” web site at GivingSites.com/HolyCross.
At present, our endowment approaches $690,000.
We utilize a conservative approach to drawing down
on our endowment, allowing ourselves a yearly draw of
up to 4% of the principal. That means that our current
endowment contributes less than 2.5 % towards our
annual budget. A more significant endowment could
contribute 10% or more of our annual budget. Our
new Capital Campaign aims to bring our endowment
to that level in the next three years, about $2.8 million.
Ultimately, we hope to be able to use our endowment
to fully finance capital projects, maintenance, and
operations – hopefully, by mid-century. That would
require an endowment of about $35 million.
A stronger endowment will ensure that we
can continue our current ministries of hospitality,
spiritual direction, and retreat work. It will increase
our capacity to develop and pursue new ministries. It
will help us care for brothers of all ages who live in
the community. It will enable us to offer scholarship
Attention NYC Associates
A group of Holy Cross Associates meets
monthly in NYC for prayer and fellowship. If
you would like to join us or be added to our
mailing list please email Christine at
[email protected] for more information.
September 2016
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Brothers Gather for the Annual Chapter of the Order of the Holy Cross
June 7-12, 2016
Many brothers in the Order see each other only on this occasion every year, so it is indeed a very special time
of prayer, work, and fellowship. One highlight of this year's chapter was the blessing of the newly installed icon
triptych in the Chapter Room of the monastery here at West Park. We were also blessed with the presence of our
Bishop Visitor, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Dietsche, the Bishop of New York
Guest House Program Schedule
SEPTEMBER
Praying with the English Mystics:
Wisdom for Today from Julian of Norwich and
The Cloud of Unknowing
Friday, September 2 – Sunday, September 4
Led by Carl McColman
England boasts a remarkable heritage of saints, mystics, and
contemplatives — prayerful followers of Jesus Christ whose
ancient wisdom remains surprisingly relevant even for our
time. What can we learn from our "spiritual heroes" of the
past? Do they have something to teach us today, as we strive to
live out our faith in the twenty-first century? Can a medieval
woman like Julian of Norwich, or a manual of contemplation
like The Cloud of Unknowing, really help us to grow closer to
God, deepen our daily prayer, and find a greater sense of Divine
Intimacy in the ordinary moments of our life? The answer is
YES! This retreat, which combines interesting insights into
the wisdom of the past with practical guidance for meditation,
contemplation and prayer today, celebrates the uniquely English
contribution to Christian spirituality with an eye to applying its
timeless teachings to today's world.
The retreat will be led by Carl McColman, author of The Big
Book of Christian Mysticism and the forthcoming Christian
Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages.
Cost: $325; deposit: $80
The Benedictine Experience: Hallowing Time
Tuesday, September 6 – Sunday, September 11
Co-sponsored by Friends of St. Benedict
and Holy Cross Monastery
The Benedictine Experience offers the opportunity
to live the rhythm of Benedictine life and experience its
distinctive balance of time spent in prayer, study, work, rest,
and community. We will pray alongside the monks for the
full round of the daily offices and be in silence for most of
our time. Daily conferences led by Holy Cross brothers will
focus on how the cycle of monastic offices as outlined by St.
Benedict help us to "hallow time." Each day we will also spend
time engaged in practical or manual work and in private study
or reflection. After Compline each evening, we will enter the
Great Silence until after breakfast the next morning. This time
spent fully living into the monastic rhythm of life will, we hope,
inculcate Benedictine values of listening, humility, silence, and
hospitality, and help us to find a way to reorder our everyday
lives.
The Friends of St. Benedict is an ecumenical organization
that seeks to make the ancient wisdom and practice of Benedictine
spirituality accessible to modern people. The Friends have been
hosting Benedictine Experience retreats at Canterbury Cathedral
and a few "thin places" in the US for more than thirty years. To
learn more about the work of Friends of St. Benedict, please visit www.benedictfriend.org.
Cost: $595, deposit: $80
Individually Directed Retreats
Tuesday, September 13 – Friday, September 16
Led by the Monastic Community & Friends
*short written assignment before the retreat begins
*limited registration
Spend some time with a director and a good deal of time
in silence. This is a retreat in which prayer and silence will
be practiced as an invitation for deeper union with God and
in which each participant will work with a spiritual director
chosen by the monastic community.
Library Retreat
Led by Br. Bernard Delcourt
Join enthusiastic volunteers for a labor of love – and balance
work, prayer and recreation – as we continue the rewarding
tasks of caring for and cataloging over 20,000 volumes.
Cost: $200;deposit: $80
Memorare
Tuesday, September 20 – Sunday, September 25
Led by Beverly Donofrio
Limited to 8 participants.
This is a five-day writing retreat for people already in the
process of writing their memoirs. We will meet each day for
three hours to discuss, review, and read our work to each other.
Exercises may be given, depending on the group's needs. The
rest of the time is your own to write, read, contemplate, walk,
pray. Structure can be the most difficult part of composing
a book: how to craft the stories of your life into an engaging
and dramatic whole. My intention is to help you see the forest
(of your book) through the trees (of your experiences). I will
meet with each of you individually to discuss how to further
September 2016
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your writing. The idea is to create a sense of expansiveness,
community, inspiration, and fun.
Beverly Donofrio has published three memoirs: her first, The
New York Times bestseller, Riding in Cars with Boys, was made
into a popular movie; her second, Looking for Mary was chosen as
a Barnes and Noble Discover Book; and her latest, Astonished, is
still collecting accolades. She has also published three children’s books.
Her essays have appeared in many anthologies and periodicals,
including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles
Times, Spirituality and Health, Oprah Magazine, Huffington Post
and Slate. Her NPR documentaries can be heard through Sound
Portraits. She has taught creative nonfiction workshops across the
United States and is currently on the faculty of the low-residency
MFA program at Wilkes University. Ms. Donofrio lives in Wood
stock, NY, where she is writing the libretto to a musical based on
Astonished. You can read or access some of her essays at her website,
beverlydonofrio.com.
Vulnerability as Spiritual Practice:
Listening with the Body
Friday, September 23 – Sunday, September 25
Led by Erika Murphy
While God embraces us in our completeness, we often reject
parts of ourselves that we see as “unworthy.” What happens
when, instead of trying to struggle against our vulnerabilities,
we dive into them, beginning a journey of becoming even more
intensely human? This retreat will explore the possibilities
of Spirit that arise when we honor our full selves and begin
to listen (and speak) with the most vulnerable aspect of our
humanity: our bodies. Qi Gong exercises and guided moving
meditation will allow us to take root in the spiritual “alignment”
and centeredness that we all naturally possess. During these
practices of harmony and stillness, we will reflect on what
we hear: what are our bodies telling us? What do we need to
embrace about ourselves in order to become more connected
to ourselves, others, and God? Participants will have the
opportunity to interweave their thoughts and reflections with
these guided practices as we find ways to appreciate the gift of
our humanity. Join us as we bring our bodies and minds – and
their accompanying vulnerabilities – into the vibrant light of
spiritual awareness.
Erika Murphy, M.Div., Ph.D., teaches religious studies in
Fairfield, CT. Her work in theology and spirituality has led her
to explore the rich world of the mind-body connection through
meditation and other mindfulness practices. In her academic
work, Erika is often drawn to explore the theological resonances
between vulnerability and spirituality. She is also a practitioner
of the internal martial art I Liq Chuan, an art based on Tai Chi
philosophy and Zen principles, which focuses on the body as a path to
awareness, stability, and mindfulness.
Living the Threefold Rule
Led by Rev. Matthew Wright
“Rule”—as in “Rule of Life”—comes from the Latin
word regula, and is not so much about rules as it is a regulating
principle that governs one’s life of prayer. Anglican theologian
Martin Thornton wrote about the “threefold Rule” of the
Church—a balanced life of prayer that intentionally connects
the pray-er, through regular disciplines, with each Person of the
Holy Trinity. We will examine the Daily Office, contemplative
prayer, and Holy Eucharist within this framework, and look at
ways to make each an intentional part of your personal rhythm
of prayer.
We will focus particularly on The Book of Common Prayer as
an “ascetical tool-kit” (and not just your “Sunday pew book”!).
“Ascetical theology” is our theology of how we practice or “do”
our faith, and from this angle we’ll engage the Prayer Book
and the Church’s liturgical year as road maps. We will ground
our discussion in the wider currents of Catholic and Anglican
spirituality. Come and explore a deeper life of Christian prayer
and practice!
The Rev. Matthew Wright is an Episcopal priest, writer,
and retreat leader. He serves as priest-in-charge at St. Gregory’s
Episcopal Church in Woodstock, NY. Matthew and his wife, Yanick,
live alongside the brothers of Holy Cross Monastery.
Fall Associates Retreat: "My Soul in Silence Waits"
Led by Br. Randy Greve
We will spend our retreat time together looking at Margaret
Guenther's book, My Soul in Silence Waits, in which she closely
examines themes of patience, trust, and expectation found in
Psalm 62. In the first chapter of the book, Guenther introduces
us to ways of making a retreat wherever we are – at a place apart
or in the midst of our daily lives – and then she continues with
eight meditations on the psalm, exploring images of longing,
silence, waiting, safety, enemies, and God as a rock and a refuge.
As in all her books, Guenther finds new ways to explore these
ancient themes with the wit and practicality of an accomplished
storyteller. The book will be provided on arrival.
OCTOBER
River & Mountain Pilgrimage
Tuesday, October 4 – Friday, October 7
Led by Br. Peter Rostron
Join Br. Peter for several hikes along the Hudson River and
in the Catskill Mountains. We will approach these outings
as pilgrimage, with discussion and prayer to frame each hike.
Please bring appropriate clothing, footwear, and other gear
(water bottles, sunglasses, daypack, etc.) for hikes ranging in
length from 2 to 8 miles, rain or shine. Some hikes may include
steep, rocky trails with elevation gains of up to 1800 feet. You
are also invited to bring tools for personal expression, such as
journals, sketchpads, or cameras.
Ballroom Dance for Couples
Friday, October 7 – Sunday, October 9
Led by Julie & Joe Donato
Have you always wanted to learn to dance? This is a joyful
weekend for committed couples seeking to learn to dance or
improve their dancing, to develop an activity to enjoy together,
and through this activity, deepen their faith. Through the
verbal and non-verbal interaction of partner dancing, and the
roles of leading and following, we will learn how to improve
communication, create trust, and find more joy in relationship.
We will learn the basics of waltz, foxtrot, swing, rumba, cha cha
and merengue in a relaxed, non-competitive and fun style. The
weekend also includes time for reflection and quiet.
Joe and Julie Donato met at a swing dance. Joe was a longtime ballroom teacher in the Philadelphia area, and moved to the
Hudson Valley when they were married in 2012. They opened their
dance studio in Poughkeepsie and have enjoyed teaching couples and
singles there and throughout the Hudson Valley. Both members of
this dancing duo also have many years of leading retreats, worship
groups and small group ministry. They are known as patient,
encouraging teachers and have lead hundreds of people to enjoy the
mental, physical and spiritual benefits of social dancing.
Cost: $590 per couple which includes tuition, room and
board. To register or ask questions, please contact Julie Donato
at 845-227-2706 or [email protected].
Sing a New Song: Revisiting The Psalms
Led by Laurel Massé
We all have tunes that make us want to dance, tunes that
break our hearts, and tunes that help to heal the breaks. We
turn to music to help us gather, celebrate our triumphs, and
grieve our losses, and that is the power of song.
Several millennia ago, a great king wrote songs that remain
unequaled in their depth of expression. In this retreat, we will
explore his masterwork: the Psalms. The emotions and longing
in them are as human and universal as when they were new.
Yet many of us have lost the sense of their earthy immediacy
because we only hear sanitized versions, or in poor musical
settings or language to which we can’t relate. It's time to peel
away the safety wrappers and make these psalms our own to
whisper, shout, and sing. This retreat is for all who have loved,
hated, and struggled with the psalms, and who long to sing a
new song.
With a repertoire that embraces Basie and Bach, banjos and
bagpipes, the Beatles, and the Bard of Avon, Laurel Massé is a
singer without musical borders. A founding member of the vocal
group Manhattan Transfer, she has won international respect as
a solo artist and teacher. She has lectured and led master classes at
prestigious institutions such as Dartmouth and The Royal Academy
of Music (UK) and is a long-time instructor at Ashokan Music and
Dance, and a popular adjudicator/clinician of high school choral
programs. Ms. Massé resides in the Hudson River Valley in upstate
New York, where she is an Episcopal worship leader, lector, and
Eucharistic minister.
Prayerful Stitches
Thursday, October 13– Sunday, October 16
Join us for the New York Sheep and Wool Festival and a
prayerful focus on being mindful and intentional in our yarn
work. Bring your own stitching material and technique of
choice (knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, etc.).
Fall Contemplative Days
Join the brothers in this time of complete silence, with no
programs or spiritual direction offered and a reduced worship
schedule.
September 2016
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October Garden Days
Led by Br. Will Owen
Join the monastic community in the Benedictine rhythm
of work and prayer, help us maintain and restore our garden
spaces, and enjoy the beauty of the Hudson Valley in the fall.
We will have morning and afternoon work periods as well as
time for the Office, rest, and recreation. No payment is required,
though your donation in any amount will be gladly accepted to
support our life and work. Please e-mail Br. Will (will@hcmnet.
org) with any questions.
NOVEMBER
Dramatizing Scripture
Tuesday, November 1 – Friday, November 4
Led by Br. Reinaldo Martinez-Cubero
Until the printing press made ownership of books
commonplace, the Bible was experienced by listening to it being
read aloud, and it was largely written with this in mind. Expand
your experience of Holy Scripture by exploring different modes
of delivering aloud the words of the Bible. We will use a variety
of acting methods, including light and easy physical exercises,
diction exercises, games, and journaling as a prelude to dramatic
readings of scripture. No acting experience is necessary, but do
come with an open mind, a relaxed stance, and a desire to know
scripture in a new way.
Br. Reinaldo has been a voice teacher and theater director for 24
years and before entering the order of the Holy Cross worked as a
voice teacher and theater director in NYC for 18 years. He founded
The Pied Piper Children’s Theatre of NYC in 1999, and Delphi
Theater in 2004. With those two organizations he produced over
130 plays, musical, and operas, and taught acting, scene study, and
musical theater repertoire classes. As a singer/actor he has performed
in operas, oratorios, musical theater, concerts, recitals, cabarets, and
theatrical plays throughout the United States.
hands-on work, dialogue, in-depth learning, and fun. All levels
are welcome, from beginners to those who have studied the
technique extensively. Why not take time for yourself in a
special time, in a special place, and find a healthy mind/body
balance?
Dan Cayer is a nationally-certified Alexander Technique teacher
working in the field of pain, injury, and stress. He brings the unique
experience of a life-changing injury and extensive mindfulness
training to help students become less stuck in their bodies. After a
serious injury left Dan unable to work or carry out household tasks,
such as washing dishes, he began studying the Alexander Technique.
His return to health, as well as his deep experience with the physical,
mental, and emotional aspects of pain, inspired him to help others.
Dan now teaches the Technique as a method of recovering balance
and well-being. He has conducted workshops in New York, Las
Vegas, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Dan's
website at www.dancayerfluidmovement.com.
Cost: $385 for tuition, room and board; for commuters,
$275. For more information, please visit www.createabalance.
org. To register or ask questions, please contact Julie Donato at
845-227-2706 or [email protected].
Library Retreat
Alexander Technique
Friday, November 4 – Sunday, November 6
Led by Dan Cayer
This retreat features three days of intensive yet relaxing work
using the Alexander Technique, a 100-year-old method aimed
at improving the way the body is used. A few of the many
benefits of the technique are learning how to reduce tension
and stress, improving posture, and managing pain. Those who
may benefit from the technique are people in pain, those
with physical restrictions, those who want to improve their
posture, performers, musicians, athletes, and those interested
in the mind/body connection. The workshop will be full of
Brush with God
Led by Peter Pearson
For over twenty five years, Peter Pearson has been teaching
others to paint icons using the classic techniques of Byzantine
iconography. In each workshop there is a focus on the four fold
way of iconographic technique, history, theology, and prayer.
Each student will complete their own icon from start to finish
in a peaceful environment that fosters a deeper experience of
praying in and through the brush strokes. This year, we'll do a
simple icon during out time together.
No previous experience or training in art is necessary, and all
materials will be furnished. All that is required is a willingness
to let go and to try something new. Please join us for this
exciting journey into Byzantine iconography!
Peter Pearson, OSB, has been painting icons since he was 12
years old and has taught hundreds of people to learn to paint them
as well. The author of two books on icon painting, he is also a priest
in the Diocese of Bethlehem, PA and a vowed member of the New
Benedictine Community, an ecumenical monastic community. Each
of these aspects of his life nourishes his soul, as well as the souls of
those he serves.
Holy Discontent:
Finding Meaning in Spiritual Pot Holes
Led by Christopher McCauley
How might we name the great spiritual discontent that finds
its way into each of us at some point in our life? Is it possible
to engage this 'hunger' and find meaning in its presence?
Audaciously, might we even need this disturbance to our inner
peace for the very sake of our happiness? Join us for this deep
exploration of the "spiritual pot holes" that may either leave
us stuck or become a portal for welcome change in life–right
now. We will learn specific techniques to identify our Holy
Discontent and its invitation to response and revelation. Take
a "long loving look" at your own life challenges and what may
be the sources of new calling and life, and then prayerfully and
gently explore how you can move through this discontent to a
place of joy and happiness that is life-giving for you and those
with whom you share your life. We will use talks, safe sharing,
music, contemplation, and prayer in this process. This retreat is
facilitated in a style that is both interactive and enjoyable.
Christopher McCauley is the former Chair of Spiritual Director's
International, the first global learning network of spiritual directors
in history, and is Executive Director Emeritus at Stillpoint: The
Center for Christian Spirituality in Pasadena, California. He is a
contemplative Christian with a deep respect for the wisdom of the
world's great spiritual traditions. Christopher leads retreats and
pilgrimages both in the US and in the world. He lives in Pasadena,
California.
every opportunity. At the monastery, we blend Americana (yes,
turkey, dressing and the works on Thanksgiving) with religious
tradition. Join us for any or all of these days.
Cost: $250 for all three nights; deposit $80
Advent Silent Retreat with Yoga and Meditation:
Breath of Heaven
Friday, November 25 – Sunday, November 27
Led by Carolyn Bluemle
Come, take refuge. Enter the healing power of monastic
rhythm each day and integrate body and spirit. Align body and
breath through yoga postures in prayer; sit in guided and silent
meditation; chant the psalms with the monks; and sing Taizé
chants in the beautiful chapel.
Advent is a time of God's presence in the darkness of
Mary’s womb with a promise of light and love. Yoga can help
us enter our bodies to find gentle awareness of God's presence
in our hearts: God who seeks to be born again and again out
of our struggles and out of our tender longing for balance and
joy for everyone. Pondering Mary’s assent and hope expressed
in the Magnificat, we will explore the healing power of the
breath which unites our deepest selves and God and the
world. Together we will co-create our own variations of a yoga
sequence to Amy Grant’s simple and beautiful song, Breath of
Heaven.
Please bring a symbol of your intention for the retreat to
place on a prayer table in the practice room. Yoga props are
provided. Previous experience with yoga is not required but is
recommended because familiarity with some of the postures
makes it easier to enter the practice as prayer. All postures can
be modified for any body.
Carolyn Bluemle has taught yoga since 1989 and is Iyengar
certified. She has led numerous retreats at Holy Cross and workshops
in the Sacred Circles program at the Washington National
Cathedral. She holds a Masters in ancient Greek philosophy from
UC Berkeley and has enjoyed many years as a dancer. Through
the healing practices of yoga, meditation, and Taizé chant she
has renewed her Christian faith. Her teaching, precise and
enthusiastic, with humor and compassion, reflects her deep experience
of yoga as prayer. www.cmagicisafoot.com
Thanksgiving, the Monastery Way
with the Monastic Community
Harvest Thanksgiving is a wonderful and ancient tradition
that calls us into a thankful relationship with God and with all
of God's creation. As Americans, we join with our sisters and
brothers, without regard to faith tradition, in giving thanks,
and as Christians it is vital to give thanks and praise to God at
Advent Contemplative Days
Tuesday, November 29 – Friday, December 2
schedule.
September 2016
11
DECEMBER
The Advent of the Prince of Peace
Friday, December 2 – Sunday, December 4
Led by Rev. Martin Smith
In this weekend of pondering, prayer, and silence, we will
seek to know Jesus again as the "Wonderful Counselor, the
Prince of Peace,” and honor our calling to be peacemakers with
him. How does Christ want to be our Counselor just now,
for finding peace within ourselves, peace in our dealings with
others, peace at the heart of our witness in the world? In our
meditation, we will seek to hear his wisdom and receive the
peace that is unlike anything the world can give.
Fr. Martin L. Smith is well know throughout the Episcopal
Church and beyond for his explorations of contemporary spirituality
through workshops, retreats and preaching, and widely read books,
including The Word is Very Near You, A Season for the Spirit,
Reconciliation, Compass and Stars, Love Set Free, and recently,
with the Rev. Julia Gatta, Go in Peace: the Art of Hearing
Confessions. He has over thirty years of experience in training
and supervising preachers and spiritual directors. Now retired, he
makes Washington, DC his base for a roving ministry of spiritual
formation and teaching.
Tuesday, December 6 – Friday, December 9
Preparing for the Incarnation
Friday, December 16 – Sunday, December 18
Led by Rev. Gwyneth MacKenzie Murphy
This retreat is an opportunity to leave behind our culture's
Christmas frenzy and enter together into the deep calm of the
monastery's observance of Advent. (Is there a better way to
prepare for Christmas? No Santas, sales, or singing of carols!)
We will focus on the mystery of Incarnation in the here and
now. In the Middle Ages, Meister Eckhart said, "We are all
called to be Mothers of God, for God is constantly needing
to be born." How can we bear God into the world? How can
we be God's presence in the world? There will be time spent
together in reflection, conversation, and prayer, as well as
unstructured, individual time. Please bring writing materials.
The monastery library and bookstore will offer a selection of
Advent books.
The Rev. Gwyneth MacKenzie Murphy is a retreat leader,
spiritual director, sacred dancer, and serves as an interim parish
priest in the Diocese of New York.
Christmas, the Monastery Way
Tuesday, December 20 – Sunday, December 25
Christmas at the monastery is filled with solemnity and
celebration as we observe the closing days of Advent and
then the great feast of Christmas. We gather together as the
shepherds did, to offer praise to God and to pray for peace on
earth and in our hearts. A treasured highlight of this time is
the decorating of the Guesthouse and the great tree in Pilgrim
Hall. Join us as we observe the ancient cycle of monastic prayer
from Advent into the Christmas season. Stay for any or all
of these days. (Please note that the Guesthouse closes after
Vespers on Christmas Day and reopens as usual the following
Tuesday afternoon, December 27.)
Cost: $80 week night/$95 weekend night; deposit: $80
Welcoming the New Year: A Twelve-Step Retreat
Friday, December 30 – Sunday, January 1
Led by Sr. Shane Phelan, CMA
Do you struggle with the holidays? Or do you just need a
tune-up? Either way, the New Year is a great time to take stock
of your spiritual program. Come listen for the ways God is
calling you to new life in the coming year. We will have meeting
time each day and time for silent reflection and journaling. Our
theme this year is “Spiritual Awakening.” This retreat is open
to all people in 12-Step programs. It will offer a space for
confronting our addictions in all their manifestations. Come
with an open heart and a desire to see God in one another and
in ourselves.
Sr. Shane is an Episcopal priest and a member of the Companions
of Mary the Apostle, an ecumenical community dedicated to
Mary Magdalene. She has over thirty years of recovery work and
regularly leads recovery groups and retreats.
The Guesthouse closes on Sunday, January 1
and reopens on Thursday, January 12.
JANUARY
Winter Associates Retreat: A Second Chance at Life
Thursday, January 12 – Sunday, January 15
Led by Br. Randy Greve
The January Associates retreat will explore the book My
Descent into Death: A Second Chance at Life by Howard
Storm. The book will be provided upon arrival.
From the book description: "Storm, an avowed atheist, was
awaiting emergency surgery when he realized that he was at
death’s door. Storm found himself out of his own body, looking
down on the hospital room scene below. Next, rather than
going 'toward the light,' he found himself being tortuously
dragged to excruciating realms of darkness and death, where
he was physically assaulted by monstrous beings of evil. His
description of his pure terror and torture is unnerving in its
utter originality and convincing detail.
“Finally, drawn away from death and transported to the realm
of heaven, Storm met angelic beings as well as the God of
Creation. In this fascinating account, Storm tells of his 'life
review,' his conversation with God, even answers to age-old
questions such as why the Holocaust was allowed to take place.
Storm was sent back to his body with a new knowledge of the
purpose of life here on earth. This book is his message of hope."
Spiritual Practice of Singing
Tuesday, January 24 – Friday, January 27
Led by Br. Reinaldo Martinez-Cubero
St. Athanasius of Alexandria believed that singing is
essentially a spiritual discipline, and an important practice in
spiritual formation. Singing allows us to use the core elements
out of which the world came into being and through which it is
sustained: breath, tone, intentionality, and community.
This retreat offers intensive spiritual work on the
fundamentals of singing: posture, breath, tone production, and
diction. Br. Reinaldo will use a variety of practical methods to
help participants find their best tone production and range.
Participants will explore the spirituality of singing through a
variety of musical styles.
All who would like to explore singing as a spiritual practie
are welcome, as well as clergy who do not feel comfortable with
their singing, those who wish to get in touch with their singing
voice, and those who feel out of practice and want to get back
into it.
See the entry for November 1 for more information about Br.
Reinaldo.
Tracing the Spiral:
Exploring Our Celtic Christian Heritage
Friday, January 27 – Sunday, January 29
Led by James Ruff
The ancient Celts prized deep connections with nature and
the divine wisdom hidden within it, and their spiritual tradition
is deeply embedded in our own Anglican Christianity. In this
introductory retreat, we will examine traits that distinguish
Celtic Christian spirituality and read selected writings from
early Celtic Christian theologians that illuminate their thoughts
and theology. We will learn early Gaelic chants, stories of
the Celtic saints, and prayers from the Carmina Gadelica, a
collection of early Celtic prayers from the Hebrides. Through
the beauty of prayer, chant, Celtic harp music, story, and time
spent walking and praying in nature, we will seek to deepen our
awareness of Christ's presence, within ourselves and in all that
surrounds us.
James Ruff is a professional singer and harper specializing in
music for voice and harp from Gaelic Scotland and Ireland. A
speaker of Scottish Gaelic and a member of the Episcopal Church
since 2000, he has also been involved with the Ceile De (Culdee)
Order – a Celtic Christian monastic order centered in Scotland –
since 2005. He has sung as soloist with many early music groups,
opera companies and festivals throughout the US and in Europe,
teaches Music: Voice at Vassar College, and was Director of Music
at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Stone Ridge, NY from
2004-2015. Find out more at: www.jamesrufftenorharper.com.
Seeking Christ, Our Soul's True Lover
Tuesday, January 31 – Friday, February 3
Led by Br. Will Owen
You seduced me, O Lord, and I was seduced. - Jer. 20:7
The Christian mystics often write of a powerful longing
that leads them to abandon all in their search for Christ, their
soul's true lover. Drawing on the Song of Songs, we will join
the mystics in seeking Christ not only with our minds but
also with our bodies and our hearts. Retreat talks will offer a
framework of spirituality and theology that undergirds spiritual
practice and small-group sharing. We will focus on desire,
longing, the body, sexuality, purity of heart, the foolishness of
love, and contemplation.
Library Retreat
Tuesday, January 31 – Friday, February 3
September 2016
13
FEBRUARY
Agents of Peace in a Time of Fear
Friday, February 3 – Sunday, February 5
Led by Masud Syedullah, TSSF & Garrett Mettler
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of
love, and of a sound mind.
- 2 Timothy 1:7
In these days when hate speech and acts of violence are all
too common, many find themselves fearful and with a sense
of helplessness. We don't have to be. As followers of Christ,
Jesus calls us to be peacemakers and reconcilers, just as he was.
This retreat aims to reinforce our trust in and dedication to
the peacemaking work of Christ. Through prayer, reflection
on scripture, and times of silence, participants will have
opportunities to personally tap into that "peace that surpasses
all understanding." Furthermore, they will consider ways to
create safe and constructive dialogue among those who have
not had much positive conversation with each other regarding
race, politics, class, or religion. And to help put faith into
practice, they will be empowered with methods to use in
their relationships and communities for positive responses to
violence.
The Rev. Masud Ibn Syedullah TSSF, Founder and Director
of Roots & Branches: Programs for Spiritual Growth, a
ministry resource for individuals and communities of faith
(rootsandbranchesprograms.org). An Episcopal priest of the Diocese
of New York, he creates and leads an array of conferences, retreats,
pilgrimages, and other events to support spiritual formation.
The Rev. Garrett Mettler, Associate, Roots & Branches, is
an Episcopal priest and former journalist interested in creating
more intersections between Christian wisdom and secular culture.
While serving in congregations, he has taught and written about
how to apply faith practices in everyday life. In his ministry as a
school chaplain, he has worked to strengthen inter-generational
relationships, bringing the insights, creativity and curiosity of youth
and adults together in mutually encouraging ways.
Amazing Grace: The Wonderment of Grace in Our Lives
Tuesday, February 7 – Friday, February 10
Led by Janet Corso
Grace has been called truly amazing, for we have
experienced it as such. It is undeserved, beyond our control or
manipulation, and given when we least expect it. Our capacity
to receive grace, to be available and open to it, and to recognize
it when it is offered, is dependent on our openheartedness,
poverty of spirit and awareness. This retreat will explore the ins
and outs of grace, how we might block or refuse it, how we may
be instruments of it and where it has amazingly appeared in our
lives.
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Janet is the past director of Mariandale Retreat and Conference
Center in Ossining, NY. She is an associate of the Dominican Sisters
of Hope, taught philosophy for many years at Mt. St. Mary’s in
Newburgh, NY and is the founder and past director of Sarabrae,
Women’s Spirituality Center. An experienced certified spiritual
director, supervisor, program presenter, and retreat director, she is
also the team coordinator of Mariandale’s Contemplative Formation
Program, as well as a team member of the Linwood - Mariandale
Spiritual Directors’ Training Program and the Supervisors’
Training Program. She resides in the Hudson Valley.
Your Life As Story
Wednesday, February 8 – Friday, February 10
Led by Beverly Donofrio
Are you stuck, looking for a way in, unable to figure out
how to proceed, wondering how to make a cohesive story and
a compelling read from the raw material that is your life? To
master memoirist Beverly Donofrio, writing is about diving
deep to find your truth, and then shaping your experiences into
a story others will not want to put down: because your truth,
pain, shame, obsessions, help them face their own. And because
telling your story not only has the potential to heal the teller,
but the reader, too. Beverly will offer in-class exercises designed
to unearth memory and approach your material in a safe, fun,
and original way. She will instruct you in the craft of plot,
setting, and reflection, teach you how to move back and forth
in time seamlessly and to write detailed, visually descriptive
language.
See the entry for September 20 for more information about
Beverly Donofrio.
Entering into Lent
Tuesday, February 28 – Friday, March 3
Led by Rev. Gwyneth MacKenzie Murphy
This retreat offers "spacious time" to consider and discern
the focus and practice of our Lenten journeys. Using the
Gospel of Matthew's account of Jesus's baptism and time in
the wilderness, we'll prayerfully explore "where we are" in our
individual and communal lives and how the Spirit is leading us
into the wilderness. (If Jesus needed The Spirit to get Him into
the wilderness for forty days, then it is no surprise that we do
too!)
There will be time together in reflection, conversation, and
prayer, as well as unstructured, individual time. We'll gather
Tuesday evening after the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. On
Wednesday, the Ash Wednesday liturgy is in the morning, and
the monastery is then in silence for the rest of the day. Please
bring writing materials. The monastery library and bookstore
will offer a selection of Lenten books for you to consider.
The Rev. Gwyneth MacKenzie Murphy is a retreat leader,
spiritual director, sacred dancer, and serves as an interim parish
priest in the Diocese of New York.
MARCH
Living "Hidden with Christ in God"
Friday, March 3 – Sunday, March 5
Led by Rev. Martin Smith
In a world of surfaces and compulsory connectivity, where
celebrity is paramount and self-publicizing valued, attending
to the inner life of the spirit becomes more counter cultural
than ever. Join us for a weekend of silence, prayer and reflection
for deepening our sense of the mystery of our true identity in
Christ, and for growing in appreciation of the hidden life of
the heart as the tap root of our capacity for communion with
others. The addresses will draw on rich traditions from the
experience of those who have explored the life of solitude down
the centuries.
See the entry for December 2 for more information about Rev.
Martin Smith.
Lenten Contemplative Days
Tuesday, March 7 – Friday, March 10
schedule.
Leadership in Community
Co-sponsored by Friends of St. Benedict
and Holy Cross Monastery
The Rule of St. Benedict has, for more than 1400 years,
guided communities and their leaders in how to seek and serve
God, to be formed and transformed in the image of God as
they live their daily lives in community. Today there is growing
interest in applying this framework in a variety of work settings.
We will consider how Benedictine virtues such as listening,
humility, balance, and the dignity of work can enable us to live
in community and to lead in community. In an era that seems
to value self-promotion and the carefully crafted online profile,
we will explore how true self- knowledge can inform healthy
leadership and a community life that supports growth for all its
members.
See the entry for September 6 for more information about the
Friends of St. Benedict.
Icon-Writing Master Class
Led by Christine Hales
This master class will provide an in-depth experience of
painting in egg tempera for those who have previous icon
writing experience. You will learn the Byzantine method of
using egg tempera and gold leaf gilding on gessoed panels to
paint an icon. This is a rich spiritual experience combining
prayer and painting, taught step by step by innovative artist and
iconographer Christine Simoneau Hales. This class is a five-day
course condensed into three days! No matter your skill level,
you will be expertly supported and guided through the process
of creating your own individual expression of this ancient art
form.
Christine Hales is a well-loved teacher and iconographer
whose icon commissions are at St. Vincent’s Church in Albany, the
Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, NY, as well as in many private
collections. She has taught icon writing workshops for over 10 years,
and her style of icon writing is both contemporary and honoring
to the ancient traditions of iconography. For more information,
visit www.newchristianicons.com.
September 2016
15
Community News
We mourned the death of Br. Ronald Haynes on April
13, 2016 at the age of 76 and in the 43rd year of his Life
Profession in the Order. He received the ministrations
for the dying from Br. Joseph in the morning and then
passed away calmly and without pain at about 6:30 PM.
Ron had suffered from various forms of pulmonary disease
for many years, but we rejoice that he now breathes freely
in the hands of God. He served for a number of years as
Director of Associates for Holy Cross Monastery and is
remembered with great affection by all those who came
to know him during that time. He was a gentle person,
full of good cheer, always seeing the good in people and
in situations, a monk full of quiet joy. His funeral was held
here in St. Augustine's Church on May 10. Please continue
to keep Ron and his family in your prayers.
We bade farewell to Br. Jose Folgueira, who made the
difficult decision to leave the Order. We wish him well in
his journey, knowing that he is a man of God and trusting
that he will find the path to which the Spirit is calling him.
We also saw the departure of Br. James Dowd on a leave
of absence to work in the Diocese of Nebraska, where he
will hold the position of “Monk in Residence.” Based at
Trinity Cathedral in Omaha, James's ministry will focus
on enriching the prayer and spiritual life of the diocese and
on discovering and building better ways to befriend the
poor in their communities. He will also serve as chaplain to
the Downtown Episcopal Outreach community and will
preach regularly at the cathedral and at other parishes in
the diocese.
We welcomed Br. John Forbis to our community after
he left his home of 18 years at Maria uMama weThemba
Monastery in Grahamstown, South Africa. John is
currently taking some sabbatical time to travel and to be
with his family. We look forward to his settling in with us
soon.
Br. Reinaldo: I’m enjoying the slower pace of August
after the eventful preceding months. In April, I helped
my mother move from her house of 34 years in Pueblo,
Colorado, to a retirement community in St. Petersburg,
Florida. My personal retreat in May was at the monastery
of the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. The SSJE brothers were wonderfully
hospitable. Our annual chapter in June was busy but also
fun, with many brothers from our other houses visiting.
After chapter, I spent time in California: at Bishop’s
Ranch working with the Benedictine Experience, at New
Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, with our brothers at
Mount Cavalry Monastery in Santa Barbara, and with my
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dear friend Barbara in Los Angeles. At home, it’s always
great to see friends who visit the monastery, and I have
been enjoying my new voice lessons ministry. If you are
interested, contact the Guesthouse office.
Br. Rafael: Earlier this year, my nieces from Miami came
to visit: Tracy, Bev and Ann. Then in July, more nieces came
from Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Their names are Mayla and Kimberly. I have relatives all
over the world! To crown it off, my nephew from Tampa,
Florida, Major Frank Hooker of the US Army spent a
weekend visiting me in August. He joined the brothers for
several meals in the monastic enclosure, and we enjoyed a
dinner together at a local restaurant. Now, I eagerly await
my next visitors...
Br. Robert: As always, June is the time for our annual
OHC Chapter, when brothers gather for prayer, fellowship
and legislative and planning meetings. This year was
no exception, as thirty brothers met June 7-12 at West
Park. In July, I attended a week-long Introductory Archives
Workshop for Religious Communities in Leavenworth,
Kansas. Hard work, but valuable and informative. Br. Randy: The highlight of my summer was attending
the Leadership and the Rule of St Benedict course at Sant'
Anselmo in Rome, Italy, July 12-28. Sant' Anselmo is
the "headquarters" of Roman Catholic Benedictines and
is both a monastery and an active college and seminary
for students from around the world. The course brings
monastic wisdom, secular insights, and business practices
to Benedictines who are leaders in their communities,
and gives them tools to think and act in faithful and
effective ways. Few monks or nuns have much business
or management background, so the training offered in
the course is vital toward enabling our communities to
flourish. The insights I gained will be a resource for me for
many years to come. It was also a thrill to be able to visit
many of the great basilicas and churches in Rome and to
bask in the beauty and history of such incredible art and
architecture.
Br. Will: Since March, I have been enjoying my new
work as the monastery's Groundskeeper, which has
taken up much of my time these last months. I have
been renovating the flower gardens, reviving our garden
volunteer program, and making plans to expand our
vegetable and fruit growing. I also started a weekly blog on
gardening and spirituality (groundinginthespirit.wordpress.
com). In June, Bishop Dietsche made me a postulant for
Holy Orders in the Diocese of New York. I have also kept
up my reading, and particularly enjoyed Ross Gay’s new
collection of poetry, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude.
Br. Scott: Summer has been an interesting and reflective
time for me. Even though the monastery has been busy, it
still feels a bit quieter, and that is good. Part of the quiet
means I can catch up on reading, and I have been very
taken with Ronald Rolheiser's Secularity and the Gospel,
which addresses many things that have been on my mind.
The sentence in the book that most jumped off the page at
me was, "We need great artists and great saints, ideally in
the same person." Br. Roy: One of the more interesting recent events
for me was a workshop given by Carol DuBosch in New
York City on the topic of the "Bone Alphabet." Ms.
DuBosch, a master of the script, is an adept teacher of the
pen manipulation which tapers the letter strokes to the
shape of the human bone. I've taken to it as an informal
yet attractive script for certain sorts of pieces. Br. Bernard: In mid-March, I helped Sisters Elizabeth
and Shane, Companions of Mary the Apostle, move to
their new home in Accord. They are in a good space,
and we keep in touch regularly. I continue to work on
the development of our new capital campaign. We are
planning several information events in various locations, so
check your mailbox or our Facebook page for notifications.
The cataloging and re-stacking of our library collection is
proceeding apace, with help from our library volunteers
and our friend Matthew Wright. In May, I enjoyed
spending quality time with family and friends in Belgium.
Back home in June, four of us packaged about 45 pounds
of honey from our two hives – our first harvest! The honey
has sold briskly in the Monk's Cell Book and Gift Shop.
Perhaps the bees will share more of their sweetness with us
in September.
Br. Peter: I was very pleased to complete in May the
spiritual direction training program based at Linwood
Spiritual Center and Mariandale Retreat Center. The
twenty participants shared a very transformative experience
that concluded with a highly emotional closing ceremony.
Yet another intense experience awaited me at Ghost
Ranch in northern New Mexico in August, where John
Philip Newell and others led us through an exploration
of Celtic Christian spirituality and Native American
tradition, and the various ways in which the two overlap.
Afterward, I spent a few days driving through and camping
in the awesome mountains and canyons of southwestern
Colorado en route to visiting a friend of forty years in
Boulder. Now, I am appreciating the many satisfying fruits
of simply being at home.
Br. Robert James: I continue to be enriched by my
formation work and my spiritual direction ministry here at
the monastery. I also enjoyed working with the community
as we renovated our Chapter Room in preparation
for receiving the icon triptych gifted to us by Zachary
Roesemann. Outside of the house, I continued my work
on the diocesan Commission on Ministry and served as
chaplain for the two-week Young Adult Service Corps
orientation that was held here at the monastery in July. For
rest and refreshment, I made my annual retreat at Linwood
Spiritual Center in Rhinebeck in May, I joined my family
in celebrating my mother's 90th birthday in June, and I
spent some vacation time with friends in early August.
Simon N. Thuku: I entered the postulancy on March
15, 2016 and have completed five of the six months that
the postulancy ordinarily takes. Although religious life
technically starts with reception into the novitiate, which
makes me currently more or less an observer, I have had
the honor and privilege of living, praying, and working
alongside the brothers at Holy Cross Monastery. This has
been a challenging and enriching experience for me, and
I am grateful to God and to the monastic community
here for granting me this life-changing opportunity. I
can confidently say that the journey inward has kicked off
in full gear for me, and when my novitiate begins, God
willing, I will eagerly welcome the obligations, challenges,
and joys of that first stage of religious life.
September 2016
17
Guesthouse Information
• The guesthouse is open from 2:00 PM Tuesday through 5:30 PM on Sunday most weeks.
• Contact our guesthouse manager, Ms. Lori Callaway, to make a reservation or for more information.
She is in the office Tue. - Sat., 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
845-384-6660, ext. 1
[email protected]
What will you find at the monastery?
• A time of quiet prayer, rest, and renewal in the presence of Christ
• A beautiful setting on the Hudson River, as well as many nearby Hudson Valley sights, including
national historic parks, hiking trails, and river tours
• Delicious, fresh food prepared by our chef, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America
• Books, icons, and other unique gifts at the Monk's Cell Book & Gift Shop
845-384-6660, ext. 4
[email protected]
• Massage therapy with Lori Gross, LMT. Lori offers a variety of techniques and has advanced training
for those living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Contact her directly at
845-249-0660
[email protected]
is one of four monastic communities within the Order of the Holy
Cross. We are Benedictines in the
Episcopal Church and follow the
rules of our founder, James Huntington, and of St. Benedict.
We serve our guests and the wider
Church by inviting guests to share
in our monastic prayer and the
peace and stillness of the monastery’s sacred space, by facilitating
your parish or group retreat at the
monastery, and by providing spiritual direction.
You can help our community
by praying for us, by visiting the
monastery on retreat, by supporting us financially, or by inviting us
to preach, speak, or offer a day or
weekend retreat at your location.
Topics can include Benedictine life,
prayer, meditation, lectio divina, vocations, and more.
18
Make Us Part
of Your Legacy
Financial stability is an important element of enabling
monastic life to continue to
flourish in the Order of the
Holy Cross beyond our own
lifetimes.Please join those generous souls in the Holy Cross
Legacy Society who have included our monastery in their
planned giving.
Contact Br. Bernard to
schedule an informative conversation to explore possibilities together.
You Know The Man...
...the one who loves God and
neighbor deeply and yearns for
keener purpose in his life with
God. Please don’t be shy; drop
a word to that man.
We often grow in God
by invitation. Among your
friends or acquaintances, who
may be ready to consider God’s
invitation to look at the monastic way as a life for himself ?
The Order of the Holy
Cross is eager to engage him
in conversation. Invite him to
come and spend some time at
the monastery to check it out.
Encourage him to contact Br.
Robert Magliula, Director of
Formation.
“O Lord, you have enticed me, and I
was enticed."
— Jeremiah 20:7a
The Brothers of Holy Cross Monastery
Br. Laurence Harms
[email protected]
Br.Rafael Campbell-Dixon
[email protected]
Br. Bede Mudge
ext. 3012
[email protected]
Br. Roy Parker
[email protected]
Br. Lary Pearce
[email protected]
Br. Robert Hagler
[email protected]
Br. Robert Sevensky
Superior of the Order
ext. 3006
[email protected]
Br. Scott Borden
Prior
ext. 3005
[email protected]
Br. Bernard Delcourt
Librarian
ext. 3008
bernardjeandelcourt@
gmail.com
Br. Randy Greve
Director of Associates
ext. 3027
[email protected]
Br. Robert Magliula
Director of Formation
ext. 3026
[email protected]
Br. Peter Rostron
Guestmaster
ext. 3019
[email protected]
Br. Will Owen
Groundskeeper
[email protected]
Br. Joseph
Wallace-Williams
frjosephwallacewilliams@
gmail.com
Simon Njuguna Thuku
Postulant
[email protected]
Br. Reinaldo
Martinez-Cubero
Choirmaster
ext. 3011
rmartinezcubero@
icloud.com
Post Office Box 99
West Park, New York 12493
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
KINGSTON, NY
12401
PERMIT 160
Visit us in person at
1615 Route 9W, West Park, NY 12493
Write us at
P.O. Box 99, West Park, NY 12493
Email us at
[email protected]
Give us a call at (845) 384-6660
Visit us on the web at
holycrossmonastery.com
Like us on Facebook at
facebook.com/holy.cross.west.park
Sign up for our Guesthouse E-mail Newsletter
by scanning the QR code to the left or by clicking
on the link on our homepage.

Mundi Medicina - Holy Cross Monastery

Transcription

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