Dear Friends in Christ,

From each of the monks here at San José a hearfelt greeting to our confreres, families and friends. Just last week, for the first time in my twelve years in Guatemala, I had the opportunity to visit the Pacific beach at Port San José. This may not sound too exciting, but it is the site on August 14, of 1969 where Father Conrad Lamb, OSB (a founder of our mission) drowned saving one of the students who was drowning in the ocean. The boy was saved and is still alive today, but tragically Father Conrad was pulled under by the strong current. Don't worry, we do not take trips to the beach any more. Remembering his tragic death helped me, and I hope all who are reading this brief letter, to better understand that the existence and the success of our mission for almost forty years now, has not come without a lot of sacrifice by the members of our community, both here and at Marmion Abbey, our families and all those who have helped us in many ways over these years.

There are less of us now from the United States (only three), and more Guatemalans (and one Nicaraguan) in our community, but all of us are still called upon to have the same missionary spirit of sacrifice left to us by Father Conrad and the other members of our mission in the early years. I especially want to mention Father Matthias Zinkan, who recently celebrated his ninetieth birthday in February. He is the last of the founding members of the priory still living here. His health has recently declined, although he has now stabilized. I ask your prayers for the continued stability of his health. Not mentioned in this edition are the numerous activities of other members of our community.

Father Cristobal Coché has just recently returned to the priory after successfully concluding a two year degree in liturgical studies at St. John´s University, Collegville, Minnesota. Father René Otzoy has recently been named Pastor at the nearby parish of San Cristobal, a parish of over fifty thousand people with only one priest. Brothers Juan Francisco and Carlos are in the major seminary studying second and fourth year Theology respectively, and Brother Casimiro is also in the major seminary in his first year of Philosophy. Novice Armando has recently passed mid year as a novice and is looking forward to his first vows in October. The rest of us, myself together with Father Orlando and Brother Andrew, are attending our daily work with the seminarians in classes, spiritual direction, supervision, etc.

A very special thanks to everyone on behalf of our mission and for your continued prayers and support.

God bless all of you.

 --Father Prior John Brahill, OSB