On May 5, our good friend Fr. Miguel Mariano, pastor of St. Odilia’s Parish in Tucson, brought a group of nearly 50 parishioners for a visit in honor of the Year of Consecrated Life. Sr. Pam was asked to give them a brief talk about our Cistercian way of life, and then she and Sr. Nettie gave them a special tour of our altar bread bakery and the art studios. Fr. Miguel celebrated Mass for the Sisters and guests in the monastery church. Lunch followed, picnic style, in the cottonwood grove behind the bakery.
At the same time, Fr. Gerard, a priest of our Order from Holy Spirit Monastery in Georgia, was here for a two-week retreat. He graciously celebrated Mass with us throughout his retreat.
Fr. Casimir is now here as our chaplain for the months of June and July. He is from the Abbey of the Holy Trinity in Huntsville, Utah. We are grateful to Fr. Brendan and the monks of Holy Trinity for their generous gift to us in Fr. Cas.