Abbey of Genesse

I arrived here at the Abbey of Genesee in Piffard New York on Monday evening and will be departing tomorrow (Friday) morning. I have been staying in the Cooks room at the Bethlehem Retreat House. I came to Genesee on the recommendation of my friend Dick Mandell whom I met at the Hostel in Chicago. I will also visit St. Joseph's Abbey in Massachusetts in the coming weeks as it is also along Route 20. I arrived on Monday night just after 6:00 and I met the Porter, Brother Lewis, up at the Abbey. Other retreatants were just about to have their welcome meeting and I Let Brother Lewis know that I was traveling and requested hospitality. He called Down to Kathee at the Retreat House and she said to bring me down. She set me up in the cooks room behind her office and adjacent to the communal dining area and the kitchen. The meal had already been served to the other guests but she warmed me up some of the leftover pasta and cut me a ripe yellow tomato that she had grown herself and I had some warm slices of Monk's Bread. The other guests are here on silent retreat which suits me just fine as I am silent most of my days while walking except when speaking or singing to myself and the butterflies. The House Observes a grand silence from 7pm to 7am. I have enjoyed staying put for a while and having a warm bed. I showered and settled in, with some Chinese Tea, to what would be my home for the next three days.

Breakfast of Monk's Cinnamon Raison and Raison Bran Cereal. I volunteered to prepare the dining room for noon diner. All the retreatants filed in and stood behind the seat where they would sit after the diner bell rung and grace was said. Kathee had prepared a wonderful meal as she does noon and night daily for all the guests of the Bethlehem House. We have had Potato Pancakes, Buttered Sage Pasta, Beef Stew, various salads and vegetable dishes, pumpkin pies on Halloween and lots of great deserts. Every day at 1:30 there is a talk by one of the Monks. Tuesday and Wednesday Father Jerome, the Prior and Guest Master of the Abbey came down to speak with us. Father Jerome is the embodiment of Love and Congeniality. Stories and jokes were the vessel with which he conveyed his lessons, wisdom, and experience on prayer and our relationship with the divine.

Tuesday afternoon I went to Mass in the Chapel and received communion. We sang psalms and several of the brothers shared their thoughts and writings with the congregation. Afterwards, I was hanging around in the bookstore and Father Jerome found me and asked if I would like to be beaten up by a monk later... Of course a chat with the Father was exactly what I was hoping for and I was delighted that he had the same desire. I ate my 5:30 super quickly so that I may arrive at the Abbey punctually at 6:00 for my exclusive visit with the head of the Abbey. On my way up the trail, Father Jerome drove up and had me ride with him to the other guest house which he needed to open up and prepare for some Late Tuesday Arrivals. Father Jerome drives, has a cell phone, checks email and keeps the website going for the Abbey. In our chat up at the Abbey, we talked about the Monastic life, about his contacts with the outside world and his past life, and how technology enters into the equation. Father Jerome says that the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, or Trappists, The order of which he and the Abbey are adherents to, is in another period of deliberation on certain issues including technology, that will shape the future of Abbey for some time to come. Trappists have had several periods of reform and the issue of how do cell phones and computers impact Monastic life is sure to be addressed soon. I thought about my journey and how many miracles have occurred for me along the way, and I am myself contemplating how the advanced technology I carry has affected me. The thought has occurred to me that technology is increasing the rate at which miracles are manifesting in my world, patience used to be one of the essential for the observance of miracles, perhaps the technology I carry has allowed miracles to become more instantaneous and brings a new equation for the interconnections of life, or the web of life. The Father agreed with me on the world responding to what we ourselves emanate or carry with in us. The Pilgrim moves when the light shines through the clouds and the smoke to illuminate the path. When I shared with Father Jerome, the multitude of Angels that have blessed me along my way, he closed his eyes and emanated a most joyful and contented "Mmmmm" as he in that knowledge found joy and faith.
To Be Continued...


Nov 5th
I am presently in Geneva, NY with my friends Jenn, Daithai, and Jenny. Jenn and Daithai run a natural healing shop in town and have been so wonderful and have let me stay with them at their home on the lake. Saturday night, After a delightful visit with Ethel at the Z-Coil Store and after my newspaper interview, Jenn and Daithai and I went for a delightful dinner and I very much enjoyed being around two people which emanate such peace and love and who complement each other so well. Jenn's Good Friend Jenny and I will be going to Rochester today to see the Our Body: The Universe Within Exhibit at the Rochester Science Center.

I have only another 360 miles until Boston!

Special Thanks to Ethel from Z-Coil Geneva for my new Shoes that will carry me to the Ocean!