Blessed Advent
Dear friends,
A blessed First Sunday of Advent to you all! The prologue of St. John’s Gospel includes the encouraging message, "The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness shall never overcome it” (Jn 1:5). This verse comes easily to mind this time of year, as the days grow shorter and snow begins to fall. As we enter into this beautiful season, we want to share with you a bit of the news from around our monastery.
After a few weeks of hard frost (below), we received our first bit of snow on the feast of St. Andrew. This means that the garden is officially put to bed for the winter, with the last harvest of kale coming up to the kitchen on December 1.
Our winter newsletter will be heading out to friends near and far beginning this week. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can sign up for a print or digital edition here. In the meantime, you can read it online in both French and English. This has meant a lot of recreations of sticking, folding and sealing—and, as ever, our monastery’s rabbit Dominic tries his very best to help.
Construction continues on our new workshop building. The candle shop was completed in mid-September, the paper making and packing rooms are almost finished, and work continues on the soap department. The increased space, light and ventilation are very much appreciated by all the sisters in the work areas, and we are very grateful for your support for this project. The new shops are safer, quieter and much more conducive to prayer and recollection. Thank-you!
As they await their new workspace, the soap sisters have been busy creating a new “Winter Collection” inspired by the snow and forest around our monastery. Containing a bar each of our Mint Swirl, Log Cabin, Pumpkin Spice and Mint & Eucalyptus blends, each box is $25 (and shipping is free on Canadian orders of $100+). You can find out more and place an order through our online store, or pick up a box in our monastery’s gift shop.
During what can be a busy season for many, we just want to remind you that our chapel is open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. most days of the week (Sunday opening 7:00 a.m., Mondays closing 7:30 p.m.). You are welcome to join us for the liturgy at the scheduled hours, or simply to enjoy the atmosphere of silence and recollection. Mondays this Advent will be hermit days of solitude for our community, with no public liturgy apart from Mass.
May God bless you and those you love as we prepare to celebrate our dear Saviour’s birth!
