News
Monastery News
Here is our update on monastery news. First of all, a generous thank you to all who do so much for us - as I often remind those who come to Sunday mass "I could not do it without you!" And that is the truth.
Our retreat season is winding down, by the middle of November we should have a quiet guest house. This will be the time to do some deep cleaning and other necessary maintenance work that we can't do during the summer months.
The Tolomei building is doing very well for us. And what is happening now is that more groups are offering to bring their own cook. This makes it easier for us, especially as I am doing the cooking at the moment, because we cannot find a reliable cook. And as many of you know, I do know how to cook, I was trained many years ago in the UK. I suppose these days it is referred to as Culinary School. I trained through a program with Trust House Forte Hotels. They may not be around anymore, but I trained at the Royal Hotel in Llangollen, Wales.
The rooms in the Tolomei will be updated through winter and I have decided to remodel the bathrooms. They are very outdated and we are constantly having problems with them. We will upgrade each bathroom (there are 20). Each bathroom will have a new shower, vanity, commode, flooring, lighting etc. This will be a big project, but I pray worth it. I just signed the contract yesterday.
As many of you know there are 10 guest rooms on each side of the building, so the contractor will do one side at a time. Thus allowing us to begin renting out the rooms as a side is completed next spring. For the rooms I will purchase new mattresses, a comfortable sitting chair, writing table,night stand, rugs etc., and add some artwork. So I think when complete the rooms will be much more welcoming and comfortable.
I will probably be sending out an appeal letter to help cover the cost of the work. At the end of each day I am grateful that we have recovered from the Pandemic and the groups are now coming back.
The water tank is functioning as it should. The water pressure has improved and we don't have to keep turning the pump on and off to maintain the correct water level in the tank. Last winter I was out there at 5:00 am every morning to turn the pump on - and then at night to turn it off. Not fun!
Another project through the winter will be to clean up and paint the inside of the old gift shop. I would like to turn it into a small cafe/art studio. It would be open just during the summer months. We would use our commercial kitchen to make the baked goods, and find a local coffee distributor for the coffee. I would offer the space to the local people to sell their art work and hand crafts - all the proceeds would go to the individual artist to help them out. Also we would not charge for the coffee,tea, baked good etc, but rely on donations...depending on how tasty the treats are!
Oblates Robert and Yvonne Lauro are volunteering with us until the end of November. Robert is helping me with office work and other projects, and his wife helps in the kitchen and is also making greeting cards and other items for the gift shop. I am very grateful to have them with us at this time. Oblates are a great blessing to any community - we are thankful for ours.
We will not be having the Gala this year. After last years Gala I decided to form a committee to help me pull it all together. Well, the committee decided not to have the Gala because we dragged our feet in getting it organized, the months passed, and there is so much to do ahead of time. Usually we start planning in January but it was not until some months later that planning meetings began, and it was then decided to wait until next year.
Well, that's all for now - I will update more soon...thank you so much and God bless you all. The Holidays will be here before we know it...start planning ahead!
God bless you all,
Abbot Aidan,
Here is our update on monastery news. First of all, a generous thank you to all who do so much for us - as I often remind those who come to Sunday mass "I could not do it without you!" And that is the truth.
Our retreat season is winding down, by the middle of November we should have a quiet guest house. This will be the time to do some deep cleaning and other necessary maintenance work that we can't do during the summer months.
The Tolomei building is doing very well for us. And what is happening now is that more groups are offering to bring their own cook. This makes it easier for us, especially as I am doing the cooking at the moment, because we cannot find a reliable cook. And as many of you know, I do know how to cook, I was trained many years ago in the UK. I suppose these days it is referred to as Culinary School. I trained through a program with Trust House Forte Hotels. They may not be around anymore, but I trained at the Royal Hotel in Llangollen, Wales.
The rooms in the Tolomei will be updated through winter and I have decided to remodel the bathrooms. They are very outdated and we are constantly having problems with them. We will upgrade each bathroom (there are 20). Each bathroom will have a new shower, vanity, commode, flooring, lighting etc. This will be a big project, but I pray worth it. I just signed the contract yesterday.
As many of you know there are 10 guest rooms on each side of the building, so the contractor will do one side at a time. Thus allowing us to begin renting out the rooms as a side is completed next spring. For the rooms I will purchase new mattresses, a comfortable sitting chair, writing table,night stand, rugs etc., and add some artwork. So I think when complete the rooms will be much more welcoming and comfortable.
I will probably be sending out an appeal letter to help cover the cost of the work. At the end of each day I am grateful that we have recovered from the Pandemic and the groups are now coming back.
The water tank is functioning as it should. The water pressure has improved and we don't have to keep turning the pump on and off to maintain the correct water level in the tank. Last winter I was out there at 5:00 am every morning to turn the pump on - and then at night to turn it off. Not fun!
Another project through the winter will be to clean up and paint the inside of the old gift shop. I would like to turn it into a small cafe/art studio. It would be open just during the summer months. We would use our commercial kitchen to make the baked goods, and find a local coffee distributor for the coffee. I would offer the space to the local people to sell their art work and hand crafts - all the proceeds would go to the individual artist to help them out. Also we would not charge for the coffee,tea, baked good etc, but rely on donations...depending on how tasty the treats are!
Oblates Robert and Yvonne Lauro are volunteering with us until the end of November. Robert is helping me with office work and other projects, and his wife helps in the kitchen and is also making greeting cards and other items for the gift shop. I am very grateful to have them with us at this time. Oblates are a great blessing to any community - we are thankful for ours.
We will not be having the Gala this year. After last years Gala I decided to form a committee to help me pull it all together. Well, the committee decided not to have the Gala because we dragged our feet in getting it organized, the months passed, and there is so much to do ahead of time. Usually we start planning in January but it was not until some months later that planning meetings began, and it was then decided to wait until next year.
Well, that's all for now - I will update more soon...thank you so much and God bless you all. The Holidays will be here before we know it...start planning ahead!
God bless you all,
Abbot Aidan,