At the invitation of the Clergy and Vestry of St. Mark Orthodox Church in Denver, the monks are spending the winter at the Church and helping out with the parish. This is much easier on the older members of the brotherhood not only due to the winter conditions at the St. Laurence campus, but also because of being 2,000+ feet lower in altitude. This is allowing Dom Emmanuel-Gerasim to look at moving here from Wichita and, at last, being able to live with the other monks. We have named our winter residence "Glastonbury House at St. Mark's Parish," to link it to the Patroness of the monastery, Our Lady of Glastonbury. The monastery remains our principle residence and address for correspondence. We will be visiting there periodically through the winter and checking in with our resident caretaker.
It has been a challenge, to say the least. The BFSL, through Lancelot Andrewes Press, has paid for renovation of 5 rooms into monastic cells, a new handicapped accessible shower, and other small improvements. The monks have been given the use of the Lady Chapel on the lower level for the daily monastic services. We have been engaged in assisting with a great deal of clean-up and refurbishment of the facilities in the parish house, and things are coming together nicely. Fr. John, the Rector, and the Vestry and people of the parish have been very welcoming and supportive of this venture. Fr. Abbot is now the regular priest for the Sunday 10:00 a.m. Sung Mass, and also did the Christmas morning Mass.
Pray for the monks and the parish as they seek to bring new vigour and vision to the long-standing ministry of St. Mark's in Denver and in our Vicariate!
Comments