The view from our south field, looking at where part of the fire crested the ridge.
Dear friends,
As some of you may have heard, there was a wildfire in the Upper Squamish Valley during the Easter Octave and we were evacuated for four days. Our community and monastery are fine, thanks be to God, and we are all grateful for the current rains which help protect our area against further fires. We have been so touched by the many friends and members of the local community who have expressed concern and support. Please pray for our neighbours who were most affected, especially those who lost their homes. Sr. Claire, our prioress, talks more about the fire here.
On April 29, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, the entire Dominican Family celebrated a Rosary Rally to pray for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. At nine o’clock p.m. local time, Dominicans in each timezone prayed the glorious mysteries of the rosary, forming a network of prayer that encircled the whole globe as the day went on. Our community gathered by candlelight after Compline to pray for the sick, medical personnel and caregivers, those who are suffering in any way from the current isolation and uncertainty. Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us!
P.S.:
Here is the view from the Chapel as we evacuated:
And, at the end of the summer, a success! Thanks to the generosity of a beloved Lay Dominican benefactor, we are now adequately protected with rooftop sprinklers. We are deeply grateful for being able to protect our home, this “house of prayer for all peoples.”
