Very hot and dry

We continue to have very hot weather and it continues to be very dry. The lawns are all pretty well turning brown and the temperature gets up into the 90's everyday it seems.

I continue to go to Maryville three times a week for cardiac rehab at the hospital there. I am doing well and building up my strength but going to rehab does make you exercise and that is important.

A number of you who are oblates of St. Benedict, affiliated with Conception Abbey, have asked me for a suggestion of a commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict. The one I usually recommend is written by an oblate from England, Esther deWaal. It is called A Life Giving Way, A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict. There are of course many other good books on the Rule and on St. Benedict also available, but the one above is generally the one I recommend to our oblates.

Thank you to those of you who have sent comments concerning the blog. It is always good to know that people are reading it.

Until the next time may God bless each of you.

Oblate Pray and Work weekend

This weekend of July 6-7 was our annual Pray and Work weekend for the oblates. We had about twenty five oblates here who spent most of the day on Saturday working. They painted in St. Benedict and in Marian Hall and they put together notebooks for each room in the guest house with information that is needed by the guests. We appreciate all they do for us and enjoyed having them here for the weekend. Some pictures of the weekend will soon be available on my Smugmug photo site. Photos are courtesy of Karen Ceckowski. Above is a picture of those who attended the weekend.

It is very hot and dry here. The temperature has been up in the 90's and it is windy and we need rain badly. While they have had plenty of rain south of here even in Kansas City, we have not had rain for some weeks now. The grass is drying up.

Yesterday I celebrated my 74th birthday. The years just keep counting up as we go through this life. Last night the oblates had a little party for me. It was very nice.

Many of the community are gone right now. It seems to be a busy time for vacations. Some come home but then others leave.

This week I have Mass for the Sisters at Clyde everyday. That is enjoyable but does mean preparing a little homily every day.