Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy and Holy Easter!  This month starts off with the Octave of Easter, a wonderful way to begin the month of April.  

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We will meet on April 21^st, the third Sunday as usual.  On the schedule (on the internet), I had that there would be meetings as usual, but noted that there would not be any lunch.  (That was on the schedule which was handed on to me when I became the director).  I do not see any reason why it was that way, so all will be as usual (Mass, classes, lunch, adoration, talk).  (Next month I will explain a slight change in the schedule for May.)

There used to be a lay order meeting (in English) at our Peter and Paul parish.  This stopped about four years ago (although there is still a Spanish speaking branch which is under the Norbertine priests here).  Although I am not able to resume meeting there on a regular basis, I will be giving a talk there this month(Sunday, April 14) to the local lay order members. It will be at 10:30am in one of the rooms in the hall.

I wish I had the time to contact all of you at some point, particularly those who are no longer able to come to the Abbey regularly.  Actually, that applies to everyone, as I see so many of you at the monthly meeting, but do not have much of a chance to greet you.  Please be assured of my prayers and those of the community.

As a reminder to those who are completing their second year of formation (novices), please contact me before the summer so that I can go over your rule with you.  I would like everyone who is at that stage to have their rules completed and approved so that they can be lived out the following year.  This is an important stage in the formation program.

For everyone, I plan this month to speak on the current Lay Order Statues, comparing it with the original rule which came out under Father Thomas ~ 1992 (as I recall well when the Lay Order began here at Saint Michael’s).  I am hoping to show how in some way it is the same, while also pointing out the important clarifications which were made in the 2023 revision by Fr Hildebrand (upon the request of Father Abbot).  Since I was here when it began and saw it grow over the years (assisting in it in various ways) I am hoping this will clarify things and answer questions some people have been asking.  So if you know of anyone who is a member but does not come to the meetings regularly, please invite them to come to this talk.

Pray that everyone throughout the world may be open to receiving the Holy Spirit as we continue through the “longer octave” of Easter (the eight Sundays of Easter).  Saint Ludolph (April 26) pray for us!

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May God bless you.

Br Mark
charlesworth.mark@gmail.com