This year the feast of All Saints brought great joy to our community with the Solemn Profession of Sr. Gertrude Feick, OCSO.  Friends and family from her hometown in Indiana came to Redwoods to celebrate with the Redwood's community.  Dom Peter McCarthy, OSCO, Father Immediate of Our Lady of the Redwoods Abbey and Abbot of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Carlton, OR, officiated at the profession.  He was accompanied at the altar by Abbot Paul Mark,OCSO and Dom Thomas, OCSO, Abbot Emeritus.  Both Dom Paul Mark and Dom Thomas are from Our Lady of New Clairvaux Abbey in Vina CA.  

Sr. Kathy DeVico offered a profoundly moving evocation addressed to Sr. Gertrude.

The Fall Newsletter recaps yet another summer of navigating the pandemic while maintaining our monastic life and ministry of prayer and hospitality.  Even though our guest house has been closed, we were able to host several young women as interns.  These women participated fully in our life of prayer and used the time wisely.  They took the opportunity to look inward in order to discern their life's meaning and direction at a deeper level.  

Also featured in the newsletter is an article about our community retreat with Fr. Simeon Leiva-Merikakis, ocso, a scholar and monk of Saint Joseph’s Abbey, Spencer, MA.   As Sr. Gertrude writes, "The retreat, 'Encounter with the Risen Jesus,' gave us an in-depth and fascinating look into the post-Resurrection accounts found in the Gospel of St. Matthew."

Our beloved chaplain, Fr. Maurice Flood, died suddenly at his monastery of the Holy Cross in Berryville, VA.  He was 85 years old. He had served as our chaplain from 1999 - 2014 and was known by all for his big smile and even bigger heart. 

Funeral Mass Information- September 4, 2021

*In the photo above, Maurice is seen sawing some fallen branches after a winter storm.

A few nights ago, we had some furry visitors to our garden.  

Monastic Internship program is in full swing at Redwoods Abbey. Already two women have completed their internships.  The young women help us with gardening, cooking and miscellaneous chores while learning about prayer and monastic life.