Dear friends,
If there was any doubt that our monastery is built on the “Wet” Coast of Canada, June certainly put that doubt to rest! But while the garden vegetables are coming along a bit more slowly than usual (fortified by various methods of defense against slugs), our community continues to grow in ways both big and small.
Work on our micro-hydroelectricity project continues. While the big machinery began placing our final heavy pipes at the base of the mountain in mid-June, another sign of progress began to appear in front of our guesthouse: a moat (or, on less soggy days, a trench). It will contain the electricity cable that connects our turbine-powered generator to the electricity room up at the main monastery building. It also features a new stand pipe to supply extra water in the event of a wildfire. A week or so later, the turbine itself arrived, providing a bit of colour in the midst of the clouds.
On July 1, we celebrated Canada Day with an indoor picnic (see aforementioned remark about rain!). The novitiate decorated the community, sisters pitched in for the kitchen and the barbecue, and there was even a surprise appearance of a homemade Canadian treat: beavertails (100% dough and sugar; no beavers were harmed in the making of these doughnuts).
The beavertails were inspired by another growing presence around the monastery: our wildlife population. Although there are beavers in Pilchuk Creek, they are usually elusive and shy. It’s a rare treat for us to see one, and ordinarily only around dawn or dusk. During the recent rains, we were surprised and delighted to see a beaver paddling about in broad daylight! A family of chip”monks” has also taken up residence in our cloister garth. Originally, the babies confined themselves to investigating our outdoor chairs. Now, they can be spotted by the library, the nuns’ field, the chapel garden, nibbling the nasturtiums… And, finally, there are the birds, most of whom we hear but don’t see.
Last but not least, we are happy to announce that Sr. Marie Étienne (below right) and Sr. Diana Marie will make their simple profession of vows on the feasts of the Assumption (August 15) and the Queenship of Mary (August 22) respectively. Please pray for them as they prepare for this next joyful step in “seeking the face of God” (Pope Francis).
