February Information Forum
Today we held our monthly gathering to share personal news and updates on the goings-on within the monastery, the region, and the Order. No one had personal news to share this month. A number of liturgical items were mentioned including the upcoming introduction of our new monastic Mass gradual, the distinction between commemoration and memorial Masses during the Lenten season, and an explanation of criteria for selecting Vespers scriptural commentary readings. Other updates included the positive feedback from our first college “Lunch & Learn” session, the progress on an “Our Life at New Melleray” booklet for inclusion in Trappist Casket mailings, the start of a long-term project to refinish our choir stalls and desks, the success at keeping deer out of our tree plantation, the problem of keeping rabbits out of our tree plantation, and a heads-up that we will be hosting the regional novice directors meeting at the end of May.
about Information Forum
The purpose of the Information Forum is to provide an opportunity for brothers publicly to give information or news about themselves or their departments and areas of responsibility that will be of interest to the community or important for the brothers to know.
The Information Forum is a response to:
Constitution 16 of the Order, “Active Participation of the Brothers: the brothers are called to mutual care, mutual co-operation, and mutual obedience. … The abbot and the officials are to communicate to the brothers what concerns all and readily accept their desires and suggestions” (16.2,4).
Priority One of the Transition Process 2012:
Whatever we do, we need to do it together in the community as a whole.