Dom Brendan Freeman conducted a regular visitation at Gethsemani the week of July 25. As superior of New Melleray Abbey – our motherhouse – Dom Brendan is Gethsemani’s Father Immediate.

The OCSO Constitutions require a visitation every two years. During the visit, each monk meets with the Father Immediate to express what they believe is going well in the community and what areas of their monastic life could be improved. At the end of the visit, the Visitator presents a summary report to the community, which is then submitted to the Generalate in Rome.

The Visitation opened with a votive Mass of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the week, after listening to the final report, the community gathered with Dom Brendan for a festive gaudeamus supper.

We thank Dom Brendan for his visit, his insights and his warm, jovial energy during the week.