October Events
We aren’t even halfway through October and already it has been full of events! This blog will be doing a little catch up.
On Tuesday, October 2nd, we had the official opening of our Jubilee Year for our monastery’s 100th Anniversary. Tuesday was the 99th anniversary, and so the beginning of our centenary year. The faithful were invited to Compline & Benediction with an address from our chaplain Fr. Gregory Salomone, OP. Afterwards we visited with the attendees in St. Dominic’s Hall.
Our Holy Father has given a decree granting a plenary indulgence in honor of our 100th Jubilee, to anyone who comes to the monastery and fulfills the conditions as posted in the vestibule of the chapel.
On Thursday, October 4th, the Feast of Our Holy Father Francis, we celebrated our monastery’s patronal feast day, Our Lady of the Rosary, which fell on a Sunday this year. There is a deep bond between Franciscans and Dominicans, and we think of ourselves as cousins. In the litany not only is St. Dominic addressed as “Our Holy Father Dominic”, but so is St. Francis! On the carved wood doors to choir can be found the Franciscan shield of the two arms crossing in front of a cross. So it was an appropriate day to move our celebration to! As usual we had a 10&4 day with snacks at 10 and ice cream and cookies at 4 (along with recreation), and ‘talking meals’ in the community room for dinner and supper. It was a lovely relaxing day to enjoy each other’s company.
On Sunday, October 7th, Solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary, the faithful gathered in the afternoon for Rosary Sunday. It was the perfect way to participate in the Rosary Coast to Coast movement what happened to fall on the same day. Along with the rosary, benediction, and blessing of roses, there was also preaching by Fr. John Martin Ruiz, OP, librarian for the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
