The Chapter of the Order met

The Chapter of the Order of the Holyh Cross met in early June at the monastery in West Park, NY.  We discussed the needs and directions of the Order.  In this context we reached a unanimous decision to sell the property on Gibraltar Road where the buildings of Mount Calvary were located.

This was, of course, a difficult decision.  Almost all of us had lived at Mount Calvary at one time or another.  It was my home for twenty years.  However, it was clear that we could not replicate the old Mount Calvary, nor could we afford to build something new there,.  We simply accept that Mount Calvary at that site was a wonderful time in history, now over. 

However, Mount Calvary was principally the brethren and guests, and all this continues.  We will continue living for an indefinite time at St. Mary's Retreat House, praying the Divine Office, celebrating the Eucharist, and doing all those things that monks do.  We continue to offer a monastic retreat house to all those who wish to spend time here.  We hope that you will want to make use of all we have to offer. 

We note that these changes are a fifteen hundred year old monastic tradition.  Within sixty year of Benedict's death his monastery, Monte Cassino, was destroyed and his monks faced an uncertain future.  We ask your prayhers as we continue to move into an uncertain future, aware that our faithfulness to God and the monastic life are all that is needed to sustain us.

Nicholas, OHC