[Please scroll down to see updates of this post.]
On Saturday 9 April one of the brethren tested positive for covid. He duly retreated into isolation at the Lodge. We also have a guest resident in St. Benedict's who has tested positive.
The remainder of the community carried out covid tests, which (to date) have registered negative.
But in consequence of this, St. Benedict's guest house for men has now closed, until further notice. Unfortunately all bookings for the coming days have had to be cancelled.
So far no plans have been made to change any of our public services.
Monday 11 April 2022
Three Pluscarden brethren, plus one resident guest, are now confirmed to have covid. They are attempting to isolate from the rest of the community.
In addition: a number of brethren have developed symptoms of an ordinary cold in the head, with a tickly cough etc. So far the covid test kit has shown a negative result in these cases.
But the decision has now been taken, with great reluctance, to close the Abbey Church while our covid-positive cases last. The Pluscarden liturgy of Holy Week and Easter will continue, as long as we have the resources to keep it going, but nobody from outside will be able to assist, and the live streaming also will not be possible. The brother who habitually sets that up has covid, and is in enforced isolation.
The great mysteries of our salvation in Christ remain true, nonetheless. We pray for all our friends and visitors, always asking for their prayers also for us. Of course we pray especially for grace and blessing from God; but also, according to his holy will, for physical health and well-being.
Tuesday 12 April 2022
Today the number of brethren with covid has risen to 8: 5 more tests came back positive this morning.
Still: the liturgy continues on, at all the regular times, as well as we are able!
Wednesday 13 April 2022
Today the number of brethren with covid has risen to 9 (at least). This number now includes the writer of these notes.
According to our current protocols, I have to move to St. Benedict's, and remain ensconsed in a room there for the duration.
I don't yet know whether or not I will be able to keep up these community news updates from there.
Good Friday
2 more positive tests have been recorded in the past two days, bringing the number of brethren with covid here up to 11, plus our resident guest.
Unfortunately those brethren in the house still testing negative now have no Priest available for sacramental worship.
But in St. Benedict's guest house, special liturgies are being conducted, exclusively for covid-sufferers. Of course necessary adaptations have to be made, and there will be no Holy Communion here this Good Friday. But we are still worshipping God, still remembering Christ's saving Passion, still praying in union with the whole Church; still looking forward with all spiritual desire to holy Easter!
Holy Saturday
2 more today! 13 Pluscarden brethren are now infected, plus our guest.
But this covid-positive community is jolly well going to have a Paschal Vigil, after sunset, with a Fire, and as much of the Liturgy as seems reasonable under the circumstances.
We'll have our own Easter Mass tomorrow morning too, God willing, praying as always for all our friends, and for all who suffer, and for God's glory, and for the spread of the Gospel, and for the salvation of souls, and for peace in the world, and for all other good things.
Easter Tuesday: 19 April
According to the Official Guidance, after the 10th day a covid sufferer is no longer infectious, and can leave isolation.
The first of our infected brethren has now reached this happy milestone, and duly returned to the monastery. But it will be a while yet before all the brethren are able to return, and therefore a while yet before our Church and guest houses open again.
Fr. Abbot has the idea of holding a formal re-opening ceremony, when the community is ready for that.
Unfortunately, if after 10 days there is no longer a risk of infecting other people, that does not mean there are no longer unpleasant symptoms hanging on in the sufferer. For some people, such symptoms can remain debilitating.
We will have to see how all this works itself out amongst us. But it may be that, even after the Church re-opens, the Pluscarden community has to adopt a somewhat mitigated observance of the regular timetable, at least for a while.
Friday 29 April
The Pluscarden community has now resumed - albeit in somewhat mitigated form - the regular Choir Office. Alleluia!
So far though our daily Mass has remained without singing, since not a few brethren continue to suffer from lingering post-covid fatigue.
Of course we hope to get back to full observance whenever that seems reasonable.
But at least for this coming Sunday, 1 May, our Church doors will remain closed to the public.
Sunday 8 May
The Church doors at Pluscarden are opened again at last, so that anyone can freely attend our Mass and Divine Office, as before.
We have resumed singing the Ordinary and Proper at daily Mass.
For the time being however, simply as a temporary measure while post-covid fatigue endures among the brethren, the Divine Office is still currently being recited instead of sung. It is also somewhat reduced in quantity, according to an approved schema. For now, Vigils with Lauds begins at 0600.
16 May
We have now resumed singing Vespers and Compline, thank God! Also the live-streaming has resumed.
And today we had three resident male guests joining us in the monastic refectory for lunch. This was the first time this has happened since covid intervened, over two years ago!
Monday 6 June
We revert now, with joy, to our pre-covid timetable and liturgy.
One small adjustment remains in place though - at least for now. Compline, ad experimentum, is to be a bit earlier than before; beginning at about 7.30, instead of about 7.50.