For some odd reason, we get a lot of visitors in the Summer. We’re so grateful – but we pity them having to bear with the Arizona heat! We feel like we are natives now – even spending some time outside in the habit in 115 degree heat. Honestly, dry heat really is much easier to bear than humidity!
Fr. John Caulfield, our ever faithful friend and new Pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in the diocese of Washington, D.C., took a week out of his busy schedule to come to AZ and help us begin packing for the great exodus to Tonopah. He packed the entire library! Well, he did have a little help from his friends. Mark Reyburn, Sr. Augustine’s little brother, showed us his brawn by assisting Father in this great task. Thanks Father and Mark for all your hard work!
It seems like many days are spent in the car either enroute to Tonopah or coming back from Tonopah! There’s been lots of construction meetings and lots of trips to the land to ‘show it off’ to our friends.
Below are a few pics from some of the recent trips out there. Fr. Paul Sullivan, Vocation Director for the Diocese of Phoenix, brought some of the seminarians out to see Our Lady of Solitude Chapel! It’s exciting to think that some years down the road, these young men will be ordained and will be offering Mass in this Chapel! Also seen in the photos below are our good friends Howie and Joanne. Howie was very familiar with construction and it was edifying to hear his praise of the chapel. It is built to last. As a church should be, Our Lady of Solitude offers a sense of permanence to those who step through the doors.
The dogs are getting a little worried – they can’t quite figure out what all these boxes mean! They don’t want left behind. Below you see Percy getting a step ahead of the game and packing himself in a box 🙂
Dear Nuns, how busy you are! Isn’t it wonderful that so many people are interested in your amazing journey of building your desert monastary. It is extremely hot and humid here in Maine. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Kathleen in Maine