The number of applicants for our Monastic Experience Weekend this year very considerably exceeded the number of available spaces. But providentially, in the last days before the weekend began, cancellations flowed in. Reasons given included a broken leg, a changed work schedule, changed exam times, the last minute acquisition of a new job, a vocational discernment place elsewhere, and illness. So in the event we received nine young men.

As before, participants found themselves immersed in very full monastic days, joining the community in Choir, sharing our food and our silence, receiving various talks, and working in our garden. It certainly seemed to all concerned that the weekend was blessed by God. We look forward to welcoming again those who came, and also to meeting those who had to cancel, but who nevertheless plan to come at some other time.