Here we are almost at the end of the Christmas season. Last Sunday we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany, this Sunday, January 13, we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of Jesus by St. John the Baptist. That will officially conclude the Christmas season for this year. Next Monday, January 14, we return to ordinary time.
I hope all of you readers of this blog had a blessed Christmas season and that God will continue to bless you throughout the New Year, 2013. As I mentioned in my last blog I went to Brookfield, Missouri to celebrate the Christmas Masses. I had a Mass at 5:30 PM which was very crowded, then one at 10:00 PM and finally one on Christmas morning at 9:15 AM. Then I drove on to Brunswick where I was born and raised and spent the day with my sister in law and her son and his family. I returned on Wednesday morning, the day after Christmas.
I understand that Christmas here at Conception was also very beautiful with midnight Mass at midnight. The church was pretty well filled for this. The community then has another Mass on Christmas morning at 11:00 AM. Most of the monks were home for the feasst and for Christmas week. Those away at school were back home -- Brother Victor and Brother Macario from St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana and Brother Paul from St. Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania. Of course those priests assigned as pastors in paishes were not able to be home for these days.
The New Year's retreat this year was quite successful. It was given by Father Patrick and George and Barbara Appleby (oblates). About twenty five were here for the retreat and all seemed to enjoy the days.
The students have returned for the 2nd semester. Our enrollment is down some since a few graduated at the conclusion of the first semester and others made the decision not to return. Continue to pray for vocations.
The bridge between the monastery and the Health Care Center has been undergoing a renovation. With the laying of new tile on the floor it is now completed. It is used frequently as monks go back and forth from the monastery to the Health Care Center and vice versa. The Sunday just before Christmas we had a communal anointing of the sick in the basilica. All those who live in the Health Care Center, as well as some others who live in the monastery, were anointed with the entire community present. The anointing was done by Abbot Gregory.
While decorations for Christmas are put up so early in stores and sometimes in homes, we do not do any decorating here until about 2-3 days before Christmas. We have the tradition of the community gathering together to decorate the tree in the recreation room on the 2nd floor. We have a social time with that. This year this was done on Sunday evening after compline, on December 23.
The New Year's retreat this year was quite successful. It was given by Father Patrick and George and Barbara Appleby (oblates). About twenty five were here for the retreat and all seemed to enjoy the days.
The students have returned for the 2nd semester. Our enrollment is down some since a few graduated at the conclusion of the first semester and others made the decision not to return. Continue to pray for vocations.
The bridge between the monastery and the Health Care Center has been undergoing a renovation. With the laying of new tile on the floor it is now completed. It is used frequently as monks go back and forth from the monastery to the Health Care Center and vice versa. The Sunday just before Christmas we had a communal anointing of the sick in the basilica. All those who live in the Health Care Center, as well as some others who live in the monastery, were anointed with the entire community present. The anointing was done by Abbot Gregory.
While decorations for Christmas are put up so early in stores and sometimes in homes, we do not do any decorating here until about 2-3 days before Christmas. We have the tradition of the community gathering together to decorate the tree in the recreation room on the 2nd floor. We have a social time with that. This year this was done on Sunday evening after compline, on December 23.
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| Bridge with new windows, new floor, and new heat and air conditioning |
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| Fr. Anthony coming through the automatic door leading from the Health Care Center. |
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| Manger in dining room of St. Stephen Health Care Center |
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| Tree in dining room of Health Care Center |
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| With the lakes frozen over Christmas, some of the young monks went ice skating. Above is Novice Jonathan enjoying a free afternoon. He is skating on Lake Placid |
