Readings: Exodus 20:1-17; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25 Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. All these years I’ve been hearing, “If someone destroys this temple, in three days I will raise it up.” In other words, everything the Temple of Jerusalem signified would be fully realized in Jesus himself. […]

Readings: Exodus 20:1-17; 1 Corinthians 1:22-15; John 2:13-25 Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday. I mention this first from memories of people appearing at 12:00 noon, sitting patiently through Midday Prayer (12:20) and asking, “what happened to Sunday Mass?!!!!” We will reset our clocks one hour ahead. Even if it seems otherwise (should you forget […]

We had been reserving the rooms in the Retreat House for an expected group retreat from 6 through 13 March, but we just learned that the retreat would not materialize. We apologize to those we’ve turned down for those dates and invite all our readers to reconsider a retreat either on the weekend of 6 […]

Readings: Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18; Romans 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10. The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. The heat for the church is functioning again and Mass will be celebrated in the Abbey church as usual. It is the First Sunday of the Month and Eucharistic Adoration begins […]

Readings: Genesis 9:8-15; I Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1: 12-15 The Liturgy has a way of surprising us. It will throw us a delightful curve when we are least expecting it. Here we are, all ready for the beginning of the Lenten Season, having gotten our ashes last Wednesday. We are now resolved to make heartfelt […]

I know that a number of our readers are familiar with the work of the late Fr. Chester Michael. In 1989 he had established The Spiritual Direction Institute for those who wished to learn the art of spiritual direction. On Sunday, 12 April of this year, the SDI will host an informational meeting at the […]

We had been keeping a reservation for a large group from 6 through 13 March only to learn today that they would not be coming. The Weekend, Friday though Sunday, 6 to 8 March, is now available as are the weekdays, Monday through Friday, 9 to 13 March. Lent is a wonderful time for a retreat and […]

We’re experiencing some problems with the boiler that heats the church and chapter room. Given how the temperatures still drop so low at night we’ve begun congregating in the refectory, where there is heat, to celebrate the Divine Office and Mass. We hope to have the problem corrected soon. Of course, this is nothing like the unheated […]

Readings: Genesis 9:8-15; I Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament follows Vespers (5:30 PM)

Weekends are often prime time for busy people to take a retreat. If you’re planning ahead, you’ll be glad to know that there is very good availability during the weekend of 24-26 April. If you’re interested in those dates, contact Carol Hensley, Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM by calling 540-955-4383 or email Carol at information@hcava.org