The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James presiding and preaching.

Part and parcel of global awareness is the appreciation of the lighter moments of our life. As such, a story from our Bakery Manager, Ernie Polanskas, reminded me that there is more to recycling than large green bins at the curb’s edge. Truth be told our great-grandparents didn’t think that they were recycling but did […]

Local history buffs are well aware that Holy Cross Abbey, built on the Cool Spring property, stands on the site of the Battle of Cool Spring (18 July, 1864). They are also aware that Federal troops were encamped across the River within the survey of Judge Parker’s House. Local residents would be aware of recent […]

Perhaps one of the most frequently overlooked features of this website is the Message from the Abbot on the opening page identified as ABOUT. Each Sunday (admittedly, sometimes sooner and sometimes later) it is updated. It wasn’t always like that. When we began this new website, there was an opening message from Abbot Robert, but […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching.

Mass Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Revelation 5: 11-14; John 21:1-19 We are now celebrating the wonderful fifty days between our Lord’s resurrection and the marvelous outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday–events carefully spelled out for us by the Church. During these fifty days the Church lives in the present world as if we […]

This past Friday, 12 April, Bishop Paul Loverde began to celebrate his 25th year of episcopal consecration. Abbot Robert represented Holy Cross Abbey at the mass in the Cathedral in Arlington; characteristically, Bishop Loverde noted the value of our monastic presence in the Diocese. Our Bishop expressed his gratitude to the Chancery staff who have […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Abbot Robert Barnes will preside and preach.

It’s always interesting to bring volunteers into the bakery. Most try very hard to fit into their expectations of working with monks and it can be a very self-conscious exercise. Some people  go on vacation and spend good money to swim with sharks; others go on retreat and try working with monks. It can be […]

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14, 8-10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38 At the beginning of each of the four Gospels, we are firmly informed that Jesus is the Son of God, not the son of Joseph. Matthew tells us: Joseph son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife for that which is conceived in […]