December Denouement

Advent was a grace-filled season, leading us to the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. In our endings we discover our beginnings and know them for the first time (T.S. Eliot). The most important news of the month was our transition in leadership. Fr. Brendan’s resignation as superior became effective on the first Sunday of Advent, and Br. Paul Andrew Tanner officially became our new superior as prior. Acknowledging that he no longer had the energy for this role in the community, Fr. Brendan is spending some time with his sister in Des Moines, and then will return to assume chaplain’s duties for our sisters at Mississippi Abbey. This is only a temporary move to allow Br. Paul and the community time to readjust to a new person in leadership, and we look forward to Fr. Brendan’s eventual return to the community.

The Guest House was closed from the 19th of December to the 5th of January. In addition to a more thorough cleaning of the Guest House, extensive repair work was performed on the plumbing system which required closing off the water for some time. New windows were also installed in areas of the monastery itself.

We celebrated a quiet Christmas, although there were large congregations at the Midnight and morning services. And all the earth shall see the glory of the Lord.