Daniel Devoe Moves to Iowa

Many visitors to the Abbey, guests in our Retreat House and neighbors recognize who Daniel Devoe is. Daniel first came to Holy Cross Abbey some six years ago, when he was part of the gardening staff at historic Mount Vernon, to explore the possibility of a monastic vocation. Although he did not complete the Observership here to enter the novitiate, he did return as an employee, helping out at the Cool Spring Cemetery, the on the monastery grounds, at the bakery work or driving monks to doctors’ appointments and serving guests in the Retreat House. Most visitors here seem to know who Daniel is.

Perhaps you don’t know that Daniel has a Masters Degree in horticulture. He has diligently discerned in the nearly four years he’s worked here, what God is calling him to do with his gifts. Recently he had the opportunity to apply for a job in Northern Iowa with a company called Seed Savers. As the name implies, they process and sell vegetable, fruit and herb seeds–organic seeds–a business that is also a mission working from a vision, the integrity of which Daniels respects. Happily, Daniel landed the job and, this weekend makes the move from Northern Virginia to Northern Iowa. Daniel is grateful for his time here–he told me it’s probably the best work situation he ever had– and is also grateful for the fine people he met through the Retreat House.

Please keep Daniel in your prayers. You can be confident that he keeps all of us in his.