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In this edition:
The Monastery grounds are bursting with color, thanks to the work of our Groundskeeper, Br. Aidan.

A Word from the Guesthouse

Dear friends,

We are so excited to be receiving reservations once more, as we ready for our Guesthouse to re-open in September.  It has been quite a year, and we can't tell you how much we look forward to the return of our guest ministry--and all of you.  If you would like to book a retreat for the coming months, please reach out to our Guesthouse Administrator, Donna Mallory, at 845-384-6660, ext. 1.  In addition, you can explore our full retreat schedule here.

We're also happy to bring back in this edition of the Mundi Medicina our Community News Notes, which were a regular feature of the printed Mundi--an opportunity for the brothers here at Holy Cross Monastery to give you a small window into what's been happening in their lives of late.  We hope to continue this tradition going forward.

You'll also find in this edition an interview with Br. Bob Pierson, Director of Formation here at the Monastery, as well as the latest from Br. Bernard Delcourt at The Monastery Column.  Enjoy, and we hope to see you soon!

Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Matthew Wright
Assistant for Guesthouse Communications
In Profile: Br. Bob Pierson, OHC

This past month I sat down and talked with Br. Bob Pierson, Director of Formation, about his journey to Holy Cross Monastery and the Episcopal Church.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up on a farm in Iowa and decided to go to college at St. John’s University in Collegeville.  After four years of college, I decided to join the Monastery there.  I was a novice in 1979, and made first vows in 1980.  My life profession was in 1983 and my ordination to the priesthood was in 1984.

Which came first, your calling to monastic life or priesthood?
My vocation to the priesthood was actually first.  It was my experience of God’s love and mercy that led me to want to be a priest, and as I contemplated priesthood as a celibate in the cornfields of Iowa, I thought, “You know, it would be easier to do this in a community,” and that’s when I began to think about those monks I had met in college.

How did you find monastic life?
I took to it like a duck to water.  I grew up in a large family—I have five siblings, so I’d always lived in community, so living in a monastic community felt very natural. I joined in 1979 and left in 2013.

Why did you leave?
In 2012, I gave a talk to a group of Catholics explaining to them how they could vote against the Minnesota Marriage Amendment, based on the Church’s teaching on freedom of conscience.  I didn’t tell them how to vote, but that they had an obligation to prayerfully consider this and let their conscience be their guide.  In the end, the Catholic vote went against the amendment and the amendment was defeated.  So I played a part in that, and as a result, the hierarchy in the Catholic Church in Minnesota was really angry at me and they banned me from ministry—meaning I could not function as a priest outside of the monastery (I could still function as a priest inside the monastery).

I had been pondering my disagreement with the Church’s teaching on sexuality, and homosexuality in particular, for some years, and had been wondering if I should consider the Episcopal Church, because I knew the Episcopal Church was more welcoming of gay people, women clergy, and a whole host of other issues.  When I was banned from ministry, I took that as a sign that God was calling me to the Episcopal Church, so I prayed for God to show me how I could live a life as a Benedictine monk and an Episcopalian.  I discovered Holy Cross Monastery and took that as a sign.

How did you discover the Monastery?
One of the things that I had done for 2010 to 2013 was that I became a board member for the Catholic Association for Lesbian and Gay Ministry.  As a member of the board, I was asked to chair the national conference of the organization in 2011.  That was a hosted in Albany, NY, and while I was at that conference, I ran into a guy by the name of Michael Brembs who was an associate here.  I told him I was a Benedictine monk; he said, “I know a group of Benedictines, but they’re Episcopalian…”

I contacted Robert Sevensky right away and asked if they would consider a transfer from a Roman Catholic Monastery.  He said come for a visit.  I went to West Park for a year of discernment in April 2013, joined in 2014, and a month later was sent to Santa Barbara for my first stationing.

Did you choose Santa Barbara or were you sent?
Robert Sevensky said “Where would you like to be stationed?”  I said, “Well I could live here…”  The he said, “Where would you like to live?”  I said “I’ve always wanted to live in Southern California,” and he said “Okay, we’ll put you in Santa Barbara.” 

While there I was able to move into several positions of responsibility that helped life to continue there for three more years, until I was asked to come back here and take on the job of Formation Director in 2017.  I had been vocation director at St. John’s and had worked in seminary formation for nine years at St. John’s.  The work of religious formation was familiar.

Shortly after I became formation director, the community decided to offer a couple of brothers to the Diocese for part-time ministry in local parishes and I became the priest in charge of two churches, Ascension & Holy Trinity (already a merger of two smaller parishes) in West Park and Christ Church Marlboro, both of which I still serve.  I started in 2018.

Were you happy to return to parish work?
For the first six years of my ordination, I served in parish ministry, and had missed it.  When the community asked if any of us were interested in serving as parish priests, I put myself forward.  And then the Monastery entered into a conversation with the Diocese, and the Canon for Transition Ministry came up with the offer.

How’s it been?
I’ve loved it.  I think having ministry outside of the monastery has helped me in my monastic commitment.  I have to think intentionally about how I serve the community and how I prioritize what’s going on in the Monastery so I’m not being inappropriately out of the Monastery.   One Sunday a month I’m at the Monastery, during which the parish has Morning Prayer or invites a supply priest.

How has it been being a “pandemic priest”?
It’s been a challenge—how to stay in touch with people without actually being able to be with them.   In terms of worship, we started Zoom right away.  On March 15, 2020 we had in-person worship and on March 22 we had Zoom.  And then of course with Zoom we had a few lessons to learn, but those came quickly.  Now the Zoom church is actually the preferred option for attending worship on Sundays—we typically have 25-30 people on Zoom and only about 10-12 in-person.  We do 9:00 in-person in each church every other Sunday, and then at 11:00 every Sunday we do Zoom.

What have you grown to love about the Episcopal Church?
The Anglican tradition is more open to diversity of thought.  And so, the Church might tell us what we believe, but it doesn’t tell us how to believe it.  So, we believe in the Creeds, but the Episcopal Church doesn’t define how we have to think about it.  A better example is the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  We believe that Christ is really present, but how is left up to us—transubstantiation or another understanding.  It’s up to us to figure out—or not.  It trusts us to use our reason and intelligence in the exercise of our faith.

My experience of my first Episcopal Diocesan Convention was in Los Angeles, and we got to vote for our bishop, and what a tremendous experience it was, to participate in decision-making at that level, because I’d never done that before.  We had elected superiors at the monastery, but had no voice in the selection of our bishops.  That’s another way the Episcopal Church is more open and flexible.

Any word to our guests?
It’s been difficult to have the separation caused by the pandemic and I look forward to being able to welcome out guests back again, because their presence here really is a real blessing for our lives as monks.
 
Thank you, Br. Bob!
(listed alphabetically by last name)








 
 




 
 



Br. Bernard Delcourt
A couple of months ago, I got my second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. I was in the last wave of brothers who got vaccinated. So it’s been 6 weeks since we are all fully vaccinated. It has opened options for our community. We are so glad to welcome people who worship with us back. In April, I entered my seventh decade of life. I’ve always been happy with my age whatever it is. I’m a healthy and content sexagenarian.

Br. John Forbis
While taking a hiatus from preaching and leading retreats, I’m enjoying being a backup for the community, taking care of some nitty gritty things of daily life that you all have to do, empty the garbage, clean, etc. The library work continues ... and continues ... and continues, and so does some good writing, including some good poems, if I do say so myself. Stay posted.

Br. Randy Greve
Within the monastery, I continue to serve as bursar and tend to our financial life with the help of Toni, our bookkeeper. We are all deeply grateful for the generosity of your gifts to us while the guesthouse has been closed.  I see several folks in regular spiritual direction—a ministry which I increasingly love and I know is needed especially in this time. I just passed my 3-year anniversary as Priest-in-Charge of Christ Church, Red Hook.  We are slowly easing into a less restrictive experience of worship and hope by later in the summer we can celebrate the end of safety protocols.  I am both a bit anxious and excited about how our post-pandemic lives will unfold, but I believe that both in the monastery and parish we are seeking to recover the essence of our identities and relationships in a way that will bring us closer to each other and our common baptismal call.

Br. Timothy Jolley
Since November of last year I have continued my solitary living that began with four years of remarkable life with the Camaldolese Hermits in Big Sur, CA.  When the Order decided to close and sell Mount Calvary Monastery in Santa Barbara, CA and the withdrawal of the monks here, I stayed on as a caretaker of the property while it was on the market.  I have enjoyed the silence, the solitude and the time to pray and study that this assignment affords me.  When will it end?  Depends on the market!

Br. Robert James Magliula
These last weeks have been taken up with reports and budgets in preparation for our Annual Chapter. My visitations with individual brothers and to our houses were conducted on Zoom this year. Unfortunately, our Chapter this year will also be on Zoom again. The Canadian border remains closed and our brothers in South Africa have not had access to the vaccine. It is good to have Scott with us in West Park as he begins his visa application in order to return to South Africa. It’s our hope that the whole Order will be able to gather the first week in October for the centennial celebration of the monastery church. The plan is for three days together later that week for facilitated conversations on visioning our future.
Now that I’m fully vaccinated and travel is able to resume more safely, I’m looking forward to visiting my nephew and his family in Colorado later in July. My second great niece is due earlier that month.

Br. Josép R. Martínez-Cubero
I continue to joyfully do my work as Director of Vocations, Director of Associates and Choirmaster. I am currently in conversation with two men who are discerning a call to our way of life. Please pray for Marc and Kevin! Pray also for Daniel Beckham who, God willing, will be entering as a postulant in September. It is quite life-giving for me to have the privilege to guide these men in their discernment. We have recently received two new associates: Karen Freitag and Phillip Loud, and will be receiving two more associates in the weeks to come. Thanks be to God! As Choirmaster, I very much enjoy composing music for the Gradual Psalms we sing at Eucharist on feast days. And, of course, I love helping my brothers with their singing. Can’t wait for the guesthouse to open!

Br. Bede Mudge
From my room I keep track of an eagle (not bald!) who appears to nest in the trees directly north of our property.  I’m also acutely aware that the number of songbirds and insects is noticeably less than in former years—both probably related to the climate change.  We really can see the difference now!

Br. Aidan Owen
In early May I got to spend ten days in Santa Barbara with Brs. Timothy and Scott. It was wonderful to see Mount Calvary, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy quality time with two of my brothers. We also got to visit New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur. The view of the ocean from 1200 feet up was stunning, and the silence was very soothing to my soul. Upon my return, the Hudson Valley was looking particularly lush and charming, as if to say “You thought California was beautiful!?” It’s been wonderful this spring to get to enjoy that beauty. I’ve also been working with our staff and the monastic community to get the Guesthouse ready to receive all of our guests this fall. We can’t wait!

Br. Bob Pierson
My life has been very focused during the Covid 19 pandemic on Holy Cross Monastery and on ministry in my two churches.  One exception to that was a family event last August 2020, when we moved my mother to assisted living in Estherville, IA, and the siblings gathered to clean out her apartment to get it ready to sell.  It took until May 2021 to sell it, but that has been accomplished and the money is in her investment account so she can afford to pay for her assisted living accommodations.  Thanks be to God!

Br. Robert Sevensky
Eastertide, with its many alleluias, seemed endless to me this year, and I was glad to welcome Pentecost and the coming of summer and the green season, not only in church but in nature. It feels like the beginning of the return to a more normal, though not unchanged, life. The high point thus far was a visit to Vermont to work with seminarian interns at Mission Farm/Church of Our Savior in Killington. They are spending the summer drawing nearer to the earth to find something more of heaven. They drew me along. And on the way, I got to see some old friends, take in the glories of the Lake Champlain Valley, and breathe a bit more freely.  Pretty amazing!

Br. Carl Sword
I continue my ministry of psychotherapy with a limited number of people.  I have been doing some studies of St. Paul starting with reading N. T. Wright’s book: Paul: A biography and studying Timothy Seid’s book: Rewriting Paul: Original Translations of the Letters of Paul. These studies have led me into further Biblical Studies on the Gospels. I have participated in some of the Diocesan Workshop’s on Racism.
Living in Remembrance:
The Wisdom of the Sufi Path

Led by: The Rev. Matthew Wright

September 21 - 24, 2021

This retreat offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rhythms and wisdom practices of Islamic spirituality: daily embodied prayer, chanting the names of God, attending to the breath, and anchoring awareness in the heart. We’ll study the basics of Sufi teaching, beginning with the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an, and unfolding through such spiritual giants as Ibn al-Arabi and Jalaluddin Rumi.  Attention will also be given to the connections between the Islamic and Christian Wisdom streams.

The Rev. Matthew Wright is an Episcopal priest and retreat leader. He serves as priest-in-charge at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Woodstock, NY and as a teacher for Northeast Wisdom (www.northeastwisdom.org) and The Contemplative Society (www.contemplative.org), non-profits dedicated to the renewal of the Christian Wisdom tradition.  Matthew has been a student of the Mevlevi Sufi path for over a decade, under the guidance of Kabir and Camille Helminski (www.sufism.org). The Mevlevi tradition is rooted in the teachings of the Sufi poet-saint Jalaluddin Rumi.   Matthew and his wife, Yanick, live alongside the brothers of Holy Cross Monastery.

Suggested Donation: $385
LEARN MORE HERE

Contemplative Days

Led by: The Monastic Community

Tuesday, 28 September – Friday, 1 October 2021


Join the brothers in this time of complete silence, with no programs or spiritual direction offered and a reduced worship schedule.  Unplug and refresh your soul, while enjoying the Monastery grounds, the Hudson River, and the opportunity to listen deeply.


Suggested Donation: $285
LEARN MORE HERE

A Hundred Years of Praise:
The Centennial of the Dedication of the Monastery Chapel

Led by: The Rev. Martin Smith

Tuesday, 5 October – Thursday, 7 October 2021

In October 1921, the newly constructed Saint Augustine’s Chapel at Holy Cross Monastery was dedicated in a joyous celebration. A century later we commemorate that event as we enter our second century of worship in this sacred space.

The Rev. Martin Smith will offer three addresses on the shape of Christian worship today. Because of space limitations in our guesthouse, we will livestream these presentations for those unable to attend in person. And on Thursday, October 7, a festival celebration of the Holy Eucharist open to all will be held at 11:00. The Rt. Rev. Andrew ML Dietsche, Bishop of New York and Bishop Visitor of the Order of the Holy Cross, will preside and The Rev. Sean E. Mullen, rector of St. Mark’s Church, Philadelphia, will preach. (It was the Bishop of New York and the rector of St. Mark’s who served in these capacities at the original dedication.) An open luncheon reception will follow for all in attendance.

Suggested Donation: $190
LEARN MORE HERE

Contemplative Hiking Retreat

Led by: Br. Josép Martínez-Cubero, OHC

Tuesday, 12 October – Friday, 15 October 2021

The goal of this retreat is for participants to silence the clutter of the mind by cultivating a contemplative awareness of natural surroundings and the beauty of autumn. Each day will begin at the Monastery with the office of Matins, followed by breakfast. After a fifteen-minute stretching session, we will travel to the location of our hike for the day. The hikes will be done mostly in silence. A short reflection will be offered once we have reached the peak of the mountain. Meditational chanting, sharing, lunch, and rest will follow. Bag lunches will be provided. Hikers will be back to the Monastery in time for supper, and Compline if they wish to attend.

Suggested Donation: $385
LEARN MORE HERE
The Monastery Column by Br. Bernard, OHC

Although Br. Bernard recently finished his time as Prior, he intends to keep up the blog formerly known as "The Prior's Column," which has now been renamed "The Monastery Column."

Chapter of the Order of the Holy Cross


This week, we prayed for Br. Randy on the anniversary of his Life Profession (in 2010).

This Saturday, Br. Luc was off to a two week vacation at our monastery in Santa Barbara, CA.

*****

On Thursday, we held the 309th Chapter of the Order of the Holy Cross. The West Park monks gathered in our Chapter Room and we got all together on Zoom (from California, Ontario and the Western Cape province of South Africa). Due to the time difference with South Africa, we held our meeting in the morning, starting at 8 a.m. EST (2 p.m. for our South African Brothers, 5 a.m. for the Californians).

This is the second time we conduct our Chapter on Zoom because of the Covid 19 pandemic. We were well prepared and conducted our business swiftly (reports, council elections, resolutions and the like).

At 10 a.m. we had the in-person visit of Derek Nolan, our Account Manager at Merrill Lynch to give us an overview of how our long-term financial reserves are performing (the short of it is "very well despite a harrowing year"). He brought donuts. Too bad you can't share those on Zoom... [read more]
OHC Sermons Blog

Proper 6 B - June 13, 2021
Br. Scott Borden, OHC
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
 
 
This morning’s reading from Samuel grabs my attention. There are a couple of things that jump out at me. Samuel covers a wild time in the history of Israel – a time of transition from a sort of loose and weak federation into a unified people with a unified leader. Samuel tells us that story – an origin story. 
 
We generally prefer origin stories that flatter us and denigrate everyone else. In the US, our “received” origin stories focus on things like the Declaration of Independence and the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and gloss over things like slavery and the Tuskegee Study. Who, after all, wants to tell stories in which they look bad? But the writers of the Hebrew Scripture don’t seem to have gotten that memo. We want Disney Princes. Samuel is more Game of Thrones...  [read more]
See our full retreat listing here: 
https://holycrossmonastery.com/events/
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