Our little community moved from our upstairs choir down to the refectory to pray the divine Office and celebrate Mass last week, the Third of Advent. Brother Bernard serves Mass for Father Raphael, our novice Master. Bernard had a hernia operation last week and needs to rest from going up and down the stairs to choir four times a day. We got our trees set up last week, but as you can see we still have decorating to do. The lights only extend to the top of the picture. A ladder is needed to complete the top. The crib in our big chapel has yet to be constructed. Father John Michael is the architect, and logs have been hauled in for the purpose. We have a Christmas party each year for the priests of the diocese, and cards still need to be mailed. Our superior, Father Ralph, returned home last night from Texas. Our life is a life of prayer and sacrifice, sometimes more one than the other.
Monastery of Marylake
Marylake was founded in 1952. The monastery was built facing a lake by Masons in 1926 as a country club for Little Rock. Father Evarist named the place in honor of Jesus' mother. It is run by the Discalced Carmelite friars of the province of Oklahoma.