July 25, 2015

July 25, 2015

View of the abbey church from the west on July 19

Storm clouds and lightning on June 30

Monsoon season is here and the hills and valleys around us are turning a glorious green.

 

The season began with a bang, quite literally, when lightning struck one of the electric poles on our property, and fried the transformer for our water system.

Only a few hours after the electric company fixed this problem, a furious storm knocked out power to a larger local area.  Due to the extreme conditions, it was 10:30 the next morning before power was restored everywhere.  God bless the electric company repair crews!  They work long hours this time of year, keeping the rest of us supplied with the electricity we so easily take for granted.  We pray for their safety in all they do.

We celebrated Independence Day with patriotic hymns and prayers at the Divine Office and an indoor picnic at noontime.  We put on appropriate picnic clothes–red, white and blue, or at least white & blue, those who had them.  A good time was had by all, as you can see by the photos!

Fr. Casimir, our chaplain for June & July.

Sisters Esther, Kate and Clare

Sisters Jacqui, Nettie, Fabi, and Marg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have two new Sisters with us this summer.  Sr. Fabiana is from Monasterio Santa Maria de la Paz which was founded in Nicaragua in 2001 by our Sisters in Argentina.  Fabi is staying with us for a year, studying hard to learn English.  Sr. Eleanor of St. Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn, Ireland is here for the summer.  The monastery at Glencairn is our grandmother house which was itself founded in 1932 by Holy Cross Abbey in England.  In 1949 Glencairn founded our motherhouse, Mt. St. Mary’s Abbey, Massachusetts.  We are delighted to have both Fabi and Eleanor with us.