Widows and widowers from Ithaca’s Immaculate Conception Parish enjoyed a peaceful day trip to Mount Savior Monastery on Aug. 11.
A group of 10 attended the event at Mount Savior, located in Pine City outside of Elmira. The itinerary began with 9 a.m. Mass followed by free time to pray, visit the on-site gift shop, and walk the peaceful monastery grounds. Then came a 50-minute talk by Benedictine Father James Kelly, a resident priest, who emphasized the need to extend kindness — that “maybe it’s not always kind to share our bad moods,” said Mercy Sister Edna Slyck, Immaculate Conception’s pastoral associate, who coordinated the event.
Sister Slyck added that the group thought Father Kelly’s presentation “was terrific. Father James was really nice and was so gentle.”
Following the talk, participants strolled around the monastery cemetery. The day’s activities concluded with lunch at nearby Papa Dale’s Restaurant.
Sister Slyck said the group seemed to appreciate the chance to engage in deep reflection that day. “In looking at their faces, some of them really had a peacefulness,” she said.
Based on the success of this first-time event, Sister Slyck said she’s considering another outing for people who are widowed, such as a trip to Corning Museum of Glass.
