COMMUNITY RETREAT NEXT WEEK

Next Sunday, May 25, I leave for Conception Abbey for our community retreat which will be from Monday evening until Friday morning.  I am looking forward to going home for this, although I do not particularly look forward to the drive and to and from there.  At least at this time of the year I should not have to worry about snow or ice. 

The monks at the abbey have all moved out of the monastery itself and into St. Joseph Hall where they will live during the renovation of the monastery building.  That means students who would usually live in St. Joseph Hall will take over one of the guesthouses next school year.  It must have been quite a big job for the monks to move out.  After all these years a lot of things had accumulated.  We monks who are living outside the monastery will stay, as we usually do when going home, in St. Gabriel guesthouse.  

Yesterday, on Tuesday, May 20, I was pleased to get a call from Greg Dolan's parents.  They were travelling from Wyoming to the Twin Cities and wanted to see if I was home and if they could stop to visit a while.  We had a great visit and many things to talk about.  Their son Greg was at Conception for his college work in the seminary but then decided to drop out of the seminary.  Just last year he graduated from medical school with his M.D. degree.  He is now in residency at Seattle Childrens Hospital. 

Charles and Mary Dolan

Tonight the 4th degree Knights of Columbus meets here in Norfolk so I will be going to the meeting.  Their meeting includes a meal and then a meeting.  On Saturday evening I will celebrate the regular Saturday evening Mass at Stanton, Nebraska.  Father Connealy who is the pastor there asked me if I could do that as he is taking some vacation time.  Another priest will be there for the Sunday morning Masses.  With two Masses here every day I cannot usually provide help on Sunday mornings.  

About forty Benedictine novice mistresses and novices are here this week for some classes and workshops.  Three are here from Clyde.  Always good to see some of the Clyde Sisters since I know most of them.  

Pray for safe travels this coming week.  And know you are all in my prayers.