This week began with a visit from our Fr. Andrew.
Father Andrew has been residing at Carroll Manor for a good number of years where he can get the constant health care he needs. During his sojourn there, Br. Isaac, a monk from another of our houses, Genesee Abbey, near Rochester, NY, has been studying at Catholic University in Washington, DC, preparing for ordination. Br. Isaac is no stranger to Holy Cross Abbey; during breaks at school, when there isn’t enough time to return to his home abbey, he has spent his days with us, enjoying the monastic routine. He has also been a loyal visitor to Fr. Andrew, talking with him, playing chess, taking him on short outings. Br. Isaac is wrapping up his studies now and wished to bring Fr. Andrew on a visit home for a few days, providing the care and attention he needs.
Andrew and Isaac arrived on Sunday in time for the 11:00 AM Mass and Fr. Andrew concelebrated from his wheelchair. The visit continued through the celebration of the Annunciation on Monday and at mid-morning on Tuesday, a few hours after community Mass togather at 7:00 AM, they returned to DC. Do I need to describe how good it was to have Fr. Andrew back home? I don’t think he had a dull moment and certainly caught up on local news. Fr. Andrew had served the community as master of the brothers, infirmarian, novice director, vocation director and even supervisor of the fruitcake shipping department in its early days, among other responsibilities. Many in the community can never forget his ubiquitous camera and experiments with a cam-corder during any and every community celebration.
An enormous thanks to Br. Isaac for his friendship and care of Fr. Andrew. He probably won’t soon forget their walk up our main road, pushing Fr. Andrew in his wheel chair over hill and hollow.
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