Br. John Aidan Cook was buried here at Pluscarden on Saturday 6th December. He was not a monk of our house, though he had spent time trying his vocation with our community in 2018.
Br. John/Aidan had first tried his vocation with the Benedictine monks of Norcia in Italy. While still a Junior, both physically and mentally he found himself unable to continue on there. He came here in 2018 to see if he could live this vocation at Pluscarden.
The Community retreat, 10-15 November, was preached this year by Fr. George Bowen C.O., a member of the London Oratory. Fr. George has many years of experience of work as a school and prison Chaplain. But very notably he has been acting recently as Postulator for the Cause of promoting St. John Henry Newman to be a Doctor of the Universal Church.
By Br. Thomas Cole OSB, chief gardener
Farewell to a glorious and incredibly warm summer, and welcome to the bounteous and beneficial harvest of autumn! The waning of the daylight and the contraction of plant life in the polytunnels can give a slightly mournful air to this season, yet one cannot but praise God for the glorious bounty of the garden this past year. Also, of course, for the consoling colour of the fruits and leaves all about us.
This year's response to our Monastic Experience Weekend invitation was most encouraging. Those invited had to be single Catholic men, below the age of 40, practising their faith, and at least open to the idea of a possible monastic vocation. Over 30 young men applied: probably more than we have ever had before, for a single event of this sort.
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