Delayed Celebration

Yesterday, the community went over to New Melleray Abbey for our Annual Christmas party.  We usually have the get together during Christmas week but we needed to postpone the party because the flu was going around New Melleray that week.
We arrived in time for Sunday adoration which was followed by Vespers.  The OLM community sang the responsorial psalm at Vespers.  We usually sing a Christmas carol, so this was a good substitute.

After Vespers we proceeded to the guest dining room for a wonderful dinner prepared by our good friends, Madonna and Paul McAndrews.  They have generously hosted this dinner for many, many years.  It is so good to get together to pray and  visit with our brothers and catch up with what is going on in their lives.

Happy Thanksgiving

We wish you all a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving as we give thanks for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed on us!

We have a new addition to the monastery.  Her name is Pangia.  She came with the name!  She is a 10 year old Lhasa Apso with a lot of energy.  She loves to take walks and play.  We love her and she has taken to the sisters.

50 YEARS OLD!

Yesterday, November 4th, we celebrated our Golden Jubilee.  We will be celebrating the year but yesterday was the actual day of founding.  We decided to celebrate just among ourselves.  We had a nice dinner and in the afternoon watched slides from over the last 50 years.  We had 3 of our foundresses with us, M. Gail and Srs. Mary Ann and Joan.

The foundresses

Arriving in Dubuque

Hand wrapping caramels

The Grill

Singing for the monks of New Melleray

M. Columba and M.Agnes of Wrentham

Candy Season

Sr. Grace

We are in full swing with our candy production.  Production is going very well.  The coating crews are now running double shifts so that we will have plenty on hand for Christmas orders.  The bright crisp days continue and it is so beautiful with all the changing colors.  The abbey grounds are always beautiful but particularly in the autumn.  There is so much to be grateful for.

Sr. Chris

Sr. Gail

Sr. Anna

Sr. Carol

Iowa Autumn

We have had a very beautiful autumn.  Last week the season was at its peak for color.  Today the rains are starting which is very bad for the farmers harvesting their corn.  They need dry weather for the harvest.

just down the road from the abbey