Scenes from Nantucket, Day 3

 { selfies and snuggling } 

{ mickey mouse and milk }

The start of a 17-mile bike ride around the island.

{ babies in Burleys }

{ dinner at the Lobster Trap }

Scenes From Nantucket, Day 2

{ morning coffee and juice }

A day on Dionis Beach

{ shopping in town and ice cream at the Juice Bar }

35th Anniversary of Ordination of Very Rev. Fr Michael Mary, F.SS.R.

Today Very Rev. Fr Michael Mary, F.SS.R. celebrates 35 years as a priest of God. We thank him for those many years of service to the Church, to souls and especially to us, the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer.

Father celebrated Holy Mass this morning in the chapel in Papa Stronsay.

 35 years ago today this young Deacon knelt before his bishop to receive the the Holy priesthood from his hands, in an unbroken line back to St. Peter himself!  Thank you Father for this courageous sacrifice of yourself to and for the Church.

 May God bless you Father and grant you many more years for the exercise of your sacred ministry.  Thank you on behalf of all those whose souls you have helped towards their eternal salvation!

Something to warm you up!

 Thanks to a benefactor's kind donation of seeds, this year Br Jean Marie, F.SS.R. has grown a whole selection of chili peppers.  He has grown a selection of the different seeds which were so kindly sent to us, one of which is currently ranked as the third hottest variety of chili in the world!

The first batch of chilies to be ready for harvesting have been picked.

 Brother has grown eight varieties so far.  The only one which has not turned-out as well as it could have is the Basket of Fire variety.  The particular variety of the Bhut, or Ghost Pepper, which Brother grew is the third hottest chili in the world.  You can click the image if you would like to see it in greater detail :).

The chilies having been sampled, they are now going to be made into a hot sauce.  Here Br. Seelos assists in preparing the peppers.

 The Bhut pepper is in the foreground.

 Gloves are worn as capsaicin (the chemical in chilies which makes them hot) can burn the skin.

 Removing some of the seeds.

Br. Seelos drops some chopped chilies into the bowl.

 In case the chilies are too hot for you, Br. Gerardo Maria, F.SS.R. has some other greenhouse produce.  No, these are not marrow, but courgette/zucchini!!  They are also the average size of all our courgette/zucchini.  "They must be tough having left them on the plant so long" I hear you cry.  Not so.  These Courgette/zucchini were picked just one week after they were pollinated!

Or perhaps some beets?  Our beets have also grown with great rapidity and to a large size, not so far off the size of Br. Alphonso Maria's head in fact!

Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they? Matt. 6:26

DEO GRATIAS ET MARIÆ!