New Skete Monasteries News

Photo recap of New Skete Pilgrimage held on August 10, 2013. Photos provided by Bill Samsonoff - New Skete Chapel Member  Following Matins, Liturgy started outdoors near the reflecting pool . Brother David leads the choir during Liturgy. Clergy, choir and pilgrims process into Holy Wisdom Temple to complete Liturgy. Father John Frazier censes the approaching pilgrims at the entrance to the temple. The Bible being brought into the temple by Father Deacon Jeffrey Smith. Acolyte Richard Headwell (left front) stands ready to assist the clergy at Liturgy (left to right: Fr. John Fraizer, Fr. Peter Olsen, Hieromonk Marc and Fr. Michael Pelkon) Brother Jacob's presentations on New Skete iconography were very popular. Guest speaker, art historian William Hood, opened his presentation by leading the pilgrims in the prayer "O Heavenly King" Art historian William Hood speaks to the more than 100 gathered pilgrims on the uses of visual...

A Layperson’s New View of Life at a Monastery and of Herself Written by Ida Williams, Director of Marketing, Sales, and Communications It is hard to believe that it has been over 2 years since my first day working for the monks, nuns, and companions of New Skete.   In my career in sales and marketing, I have represented a family-owned business, a non-profit organization, and local corporate entities, and have worked for two national companies, but never a monastery.   I remember my first day at New Skete.   I was as nervous as if it were my first day on my first job ever.     I reverted to my silly sense of humor and told how I explained my new job to friends as working for God, puppies, and cheesecake.   This was the perfect job for me!   I love God, I love puppies, and I love cheesecake. I was not wrong in my description of my new job, but I was wrong in my notion of what working for a monastery would be like. Much of my perce...

Written by Brother Gregory Well, it’s been a long time since I, Brother Gregory, have had a dog that was pregnant.   It was a long- expected moment for both Raja and me, and the wait was worth it. This was Raja’s first litter of puppies; at first no one knew whether she had conceived, and all eyes were on any signs that the breeding had taken. “I think she is” and “No, she’s not” were common statements among the monks. I noticed that she was showing signs of being pregnant as she displayed a quieter side of herself, and then the “belly” began to show very slowly, nipples began to develop, and eventually the “belly” became very prominent. Eventually she looked as if she had swallowed a beer barrel. Sometimes she would lie on her side, and other times she would just spread out with all four legs extended. Going up stairs was difficult, and she didn’t show her usual energy flying up the stairs to the bedroom to get her evening cookies.   My sleep was often interrupted when she...