August 2016

Monday 1st. Our computer technician Brett was due to visit us this morning, but then it did not take place. Today was New Brunswick Day, so I guess it’s normal he would not be at work. New Brunswick Day is a subtle feeling and event, aside from things being closed. Father Jason Touchie, Graham’s younger…

Friday 1st – Canada Day.  We started listening to audio books during lunch, bought from Amazon.  The start book is: The Deep South, Four Seasons on Back Roads by Paul Theroux, published by Penguin in 2016.  At one point during the day the outside bells ceased to ring.  It would be confusing to say: “They…

Monday 6th. In Chapter, Dom Bede mentioned that for simplicity’s sake we would soon experiment with a less involved way of having Eucharistic Benediction on Solemnities, maintaining the present manner for Sundays. There is a simpler form permitted, but not often used, which involves opening the tabernacle door for adoration (small monstrance) rather than placing…

Sunday 1st. At lunch, we listened to Offenbach, a composer who put Oomph into Oom-Pah-Pah. As soon as lunch was finished, John took Father Innocent to the Moncton airport to begin a long journey to visit his family in Nigeria. His journey will include a twelve-hour layover at London Heathrow. Monday 2nd. With Father Innocent…

Friday 1st. In Chapter this morning, Dom Bede commented on the Rule of Saint Benedict’s teaching on humility. Bede coined a new phrase to describe asceticism that has lost its way: ‘self-imperialism.’ Saturday 2nd. Father Innocent is planning for travel, home to Nigeria for a brief visit. He has been there once since arriving at…

Tuesday 1st. Our newly-acquired John Deere tractor was delivered today. It is taller and stronger than the Case tractor it is replacing. A retreatant swept and washed the corridor floor in the old novitiate/annex this morning. This had gotten more than dusty and it took a while to get used to seeing it clean again.…

Monday 1st. This morning, we heard of something that happened last evening: Holstein break-out. The cows managed to get out of the barn, and Brother Stephan had to convince them to go back into the barn. One of them had gone around to the other side of the barn, into the hay loft. Steve says…

Friday 1st. Some guests were up and about for Vigils this morning. In Chapter, we wished each other a Happy New Year, and Dom Bede presented us with our choice of calendars. One was ‘home-made’ by Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in England, with nice photos by their Brother Martin. Alec Guinness from ‘Star Wars’ used…