This past week, Br. Stanislaus and I spent a fine set of four full days at the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, California. Located about two hours north of Sacramento, just south of Corning, it is the only Trappist monastery in the state. I've been coming here since the late 70's, off and on, and increasingly find it a quiet (but hot) restful place, surrounded by prune and walnut orchards.The property was originally owned by Leland Stanford, who had established an extensive irrigation system with the goal of creating a winery. That idea didn't last, but just a few years ago the monks resurrected the idea, and now there are some vineyards and a pretty decent little winery there.
The other project that they began many years ago is the "Sacred Stones" project. A 12th century Cistercian Chapter House had been brought over here by Randolph Hearst and then abandoned and given to the city of San Francisco, where the stones became scattered throughout Golden Gate Park for various purposes. Almost 40 years ago the present abbot, then a young monk, saw them and vowed to bring that Chapter House back to life. A few years ago, they were able to secure the stones and began the project. It looks to be one of those multi-year, or multi-decade, kind of projects. But monks know how to do things slowly and over a long period of time.
Both Stan and I had our own goals for the retreat. Mine was to tackle the next phase of the District Ordo and to prepare a mailing on Vocation Ministry for the Brothers. With a wonderful liturgical life, simple vegetarian fare, and no TV or magazines or newspapers, you can get a lot done. I was able to finish the work and spent a good deal of time reading, walking, and watching the families of wild turkeys (one had 4 adults and 18 chicks) wandering around the grass areas, pecking at the ground while paying attention to the two resident cats who seemed to give them undue attention - a whole natural drama acted out over half an acre and 35 minutes (without commercials).
This retreat was the appropriate beginning to the ILYG/WYD odyssey that starts this evening. Today at Mont La Salle there are two liturgies to oversee (the regular Sunday one at 11 AM and then the 25th anniversary liturgy for Fr. David Deibel at 3 PM) after which, at 6 PM, I'm getting a ride to SFO to meet up with Br. Peter Killeen, Br. Richard Galvin, and 10 young men who will be travelling with us to Melbourne (15+ hours and 1 transfer in Sydney) for a week, followed by Sydney for a week. We're leaving on a Qantas flight at 10:40 PM, and Australia is 11 hours ahead of us. God know what it will all do to one's psyche or disposition. But let's just hope for the best.I will try very hard to access the internet each day so as to keep folks informed about this rather unique experience for us. It should all be quite "interesting" - as they say.
