Br. Richard Vaggione OHCDear Friends,

After 19 (cumulative) years in Canada, I am being transferred to our Order’s monastery at West Park, New York. I’m getting just a little too tottery to remain in a house with as many stories (and steps!) as the Priory, so the Superior has decided to send me to West Park, where everything is on a level. I will even have a new status: “Monk in Assisted Living”. This means that, among other things, I get a spiffy new monastic cell, and – for the first time in my 36 years of religious life – my own shower! To say that my feelings are mixed is an understatement. I had five wonderful years here in the 80’s as priest-in-charge of St. Matthias Bellwoods Avenue, and then another 14 more recently in a variety of ministries, including teaching at Trinity College. I have put down roots and become a Canadian as well as a U.S. Citizen, but that just means that now there’ll be a Canadian at West Park once again! (I plan to display my Canadian flag proudly.) My thanks to the monastic community here in Toronto, and to all of you for these many years. I will keep you in my prayers; please keep me in yours. I can be reached by e-mail at vaggione@rogers.com or by phone at 845-384-6660, ext. 3022.

Once again, thank you.
RICHARD PAUL VAGGIONE, OHC