Gethsemani’s monks made a community retreat Jan. 17 through Jan. 24. As in previous years, fruitcake and fudge oprations were shut down so the brothers could spend more time in prayer and contemplation. Unlike previous years, there was no need to shut the retreat house as it remains closed due to the pandemic. Also due to COVID restrictions, the scheduled retreat master was unable to join the monks and lead a retreat. Fortunately, Dom Timothy Kelly, longtime abbot of Gethsemani, was in town. Fr. Timothy did not hold conferences, but he did preach each day’s homily at Mass.

Fr. Timothy served as abbot of Gethsemani from 1973 until 2000. Currently he lives and works at the Order’s Generalate in Rome, where he serves as the Order’s Procurator General. Fr. Timothy returned to Gethsemani for a visit in early January. After more than a week of quarantine in our South Wing, and then a healthy negative result from his COVID test, Fr. Timothy joined the community in choir and at meals and kindly agreed to support the monks’ retreat.

The retreat opened and closed with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The daily horarium was modified to allow more time for lectio after Vigils, and Mass was celebrated in the evenings. Beyond the logistical changes, each monk was challenged to use the retreat to recommit himself to his conversatio and monastic practices.

Thank you to Fr. Timothy and thanks to all who are praying for us, even as we are praying for you.