Let us return now to ourselves, let us examine our paths; and in order to accomplish this in truth, let us invoke the Spirit of truth, let us call to him from the deep into which he has led us, because he leads us on the way by which we discover ourselves, and without him […]

This morning the monastic community and our guests from the Retreat House celebrated the Blessing of Candles and Mass for the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. This morning, the Abbot blessed at that liturgy our supply of candles for the coming year. The one big exception is the Paschal Candle which is consecrated at […]

If you have been in the Abbey Church for the Daily Office or Mass in the last week or so you’ve seen a new face in choir.  That’s Dan Sebastianelli an observer who is spending his 90 days experiencing life in our community.  Dan is 41 years old and says “I love it here; this is […]

The April MIW is shaping up nicely with an equal number of men and women so far.  If you sent email expressing interest please get your deposit and registration form (sent this week) in to the Companion Office. There are still a couple of slots open if you are interested.  For information on the MIW […]

Saturday 26 January, 2013 Brother Benedict Simmonds was laid to rest today surrounded by many friends and family and the monastic community. Seldom has the Abbey Church been so filled (the size of the crowd required some to watch on closed circuit TV in the Chapter Room) and while the weather was cold and snowy, […]

Since we are getting a blast of winter weather and snow, we ask our guests to seriously plan on car-pools. The present conditions constrain more than usual the available parking space. The parking circle outside the abbey and church entrance will be closed for parking. That area may be used as a drop-off point or pick up […]

This year, our celebration of the Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephen, the First Abbots of Citeaux, is overshadowed by Br. Benedict’s funeral. His family wasn’t aware of the significance of the day when they requested it as the date for the funeral–it was a Saturday when family and friends could gather. But how typical of Br. […]

Our Brother Benedict was born Harvey Albert Simmonds, Jr. on 30 November, 1938 in Liberia, West Africa. His parents were the Rev. Harvey Albert Simmonds and Ethel Louise Byerly Simmonds. His parents had met in Liberia, both serving as missionaries in the Episcopal Church. In 1948, the family moved back to the United States serving […]

In many ways the Abbot assigning me a room across from Br. Benedict in the infirmary wing has served as both a standing joke and a blessing.  It was somewhat of a standing joke with Brother Benedict who would wonder out loud to me occasionally that there had to be a message in the placement […]

On a previous post it was suggested that those far away or impeded by weather or responsibilities or the discouraged by the crowd expected for Br. Benedict’s funeral, might organize their own memorial service. If your need some suggestions, you may request to be emailed outlines for memorial services. One is explicitly Christian the other is […]