Contributed by:  Reverend Patrick Dooling, Parochial Vicar, San Carlos Cathedral, Monterey, CA

Two celebrations coincide this week: this weekend, Fathers Day, and this Tuesday the feast of St Romuald, founder of the Camaldolese monks.  I know, I know, St Romuald is not exactly a household name, but without him we would not have the gift of the New Camaldolese Hermitage in Big Sur.  I am one of  thousands of people who have looked upon the Camaldolese as lifesavers and their Big Sur hermitage as a true refuge.

The monks there have been spiritual fathers to so many.  When I made my ordination retreat there, Father Bruno was my director; as a famous Benedictine writer, Sebastian Moore, once told me, "Fr Bruno is one of the brightest men in the church" or words to that effect.  For years Fr Aelred Squire, another writer and a British convert, was a true spiritual father.  I loved coming to his cell for confession: he had a true English garden surrounding his hermitage and could be depended upon to make the austere chapel radiant with his flowers.  We laughed, we cried, we dined together, and when he suddenly died I felt like a whole library had burnt down because he was so well read and so wise.  I could go on and on.
 
Getting back to this weekend's commemoration.  In all our crises as Catholics I suspect one thing is true: we need to discover a way that men can feel at home, as well as needed in the Church.  God knows the women do most [or all?] of the work and are constantly present for which we can never thank them enough.  It gives me great joy when I see the men of this community assume responsibility for a task or ministry and I would so much love to see their number increase.  Recently a man who is temporarily in our parish came for a visit.  His biggest desire was to grow spiritually.  In my view he was already far along the road--and so grateful.  Again, on this Fathers' Day, my heartfelt wish is that his tribe may increase in the Catholic Church and this cathedral parish.
 
P.S. Interested in the New Camaldolese Hermitage?  Check out their website: contemplation.com