As the end of the year approaches (along with the holy season of Advent) we are happy that our Monastery Chapel remains open to the general public. However, please be aware that in the interests of protecting the health of our elderly and vulnerable monks, we request that those attending Holy Mass and the other services, continue to wear masks. In the attempt to maintain some degree of social distancing, the monks will continue to remain in their choir stalls throughout Holy Mass. This means that the priest will celebrate Holy Mass with his back to the Guests. Also, until further notice, and as an additional precaution, we will not be offering the chalice to our guests at communion—we thank you for your understanding. Given the unpredictable nature of this Covid pandemic, these arrangements will be periodically reviewed and adjusted, if necessary.
We are also happy to announce that beginning Sunday, November 13 the Gift Shop will reopen—though only on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons, from 2.15 until 4.15. ALSO, UNTIL CHRISTMAS, the Gift Shop will be open on Saturday Mornings from 10.00 – 12.00 Noon Please be aware that we are still in the process of reacquiring merchandise and so, for example, we still do not have the famous Trappist Preserves, Jams, and Jellies—though we hope these will soon become available. Also, our fruitcakes have sold more quickly than in other years and it seems likely that we will soon be sold out—both the large and smaller fruitcakes. However, we are happy to reassure you that our popular creamed honeys are readily available.
In the meantime, however, our Retreat House is open but does require that retreatants be vaccinated. Until further notice, access to the confessor/counselor will be very limited and not always guaranteed. For more information on safety measures being implemented in our Retreat House and for making a reservation, please email Carol Hensley at information@hcava.org Also, we will continue to livestream daily mass and the main offices of the day: Lauds and Mass at 7.00 a.m. (Sunday Mass at 10.00 a.m.); Vespers at 5.30 p.m. and Compline at 7.30 p.m. (Please be aware that the quality of both image and sound is far less than ideal because of technical limitations)
- Anyone wishing participate virtually in our liturgies need simply Click Here to be redirected to our livestreaming page.
MONASTERY FRUITCAKES AND THE GIFT SHOP
Fruit Cakes, Creamed Honeys, and Monastery Truffles can still be purchased online at: www.monasteryfruitcake.org and fruitcakes are still available at the Monastery Gift Shop—though possibly selling out before Christmas.
