Cottonwood Chronicle

Monastery has events scheduled
The Monastery at St. Gertrude has several events coming up the rest of the month and in early October. Below is a listing and a short synopsis of those events.
September 12 - Pilgrimage Walk, Keuterville to St. Gertrude's, 11 AM (Pacific Time), Meet @ Monastery of St Gertrude
Co-sponsored by St. Mary's Parish (Cottonwood) and Grangeville United Methodist. Join us for a pilgrimage walk from Holy Cross Chapel in Keuterville to the chapel at the Monastery of St. Gertrude. The route is 4.1 miles of relatively flat walking on mostly dirt roads. At the end of the journey, the reliquary in the chapel at St. Gertrude’s will be open for private prayer. Meet at the main parking area at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in front of the chapel at 11am for a brief talk on the history and purpose of pilgrimage walking, followed by time to eat the lunch you brought. At approximately 12:30, we will carpool to Keuterville and begin our pilgrimage walk. The route will take the average walker between 90 minutes to two hours to complete. A shuttle car will be available for any walkers who are unable to complete the walk and need a ride back to St. Gertrude’s. No registration required. Participants will be asked to sign a Liability Waiver.
September 19 - Shoreline Clean Up led by Diane Penny with special guest and Oblate Alyse Cadez, Meet @ Tolo Lake Parking Area, 10 AM - 12 PM (Pacific Time)
Co-sponsored with Grangeville United Methodist Church. The theme for Season of Creation 2026 is “Living Water.” What better way to honor this year’s theme than to celebrate God’s wondrous Creation at our nearest public body of water, Tolo Lake. Under Idaho Fish and Game direction, we will help with shoreline clean up, willow trimming and other fish enhancements. The event will conclude with a special guest, Alyse Cadez, retired, Nez Perce National Historical Park, who will share the natural history, and important cultural history of Tolo Lake to the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people. Bring sturdy walking shoes and gloves. Meet at the Tolo Lake parking area at 10am. We will supply trash bags. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at Tolo Lake after the work event is over. This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. Participants will be asked to sign a Liability Waiver.
September 25-27 - Backcountry Tent Camping Retreat, Fish Creek Group Site in Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
Gerald May’s book The Wisdom of Wilderness is a natural lead-in to a backcountry tent camping retreat. We have reservations at Fish Creek Group Site, a large forested area with dozens of sites to set up a tent away from the other participants: far enough away, anyhow, that it will feel like solo tent camping, not group tent camping. Participants will supply their own tent, camp chair, sleeping bag, and ground pad or air mattress, dishes, silverware, travel mug, and potable water. A potluck meal no Friday evening (please bring something to share ) + simple vegetarian fare provided for retreat leader for other meals. We hope this is an easy “first time” backcountry tent camping experience for those who want to experience solo tent camping but want the safety and convenience that Fish Creek Group Site offers. Limited to 20 tent campers. Registration will initially be open only to participants in the Zoom book discussion group. Registration opens on September 8. This event is free. Participants will be asked to sign a Liability Waiver.
October 3 - Panel discussion on “The Mystery of Creation”, 1 PM (Pacific Time) @ Johanna Room, Spirit Center, Monastery of St Gertrude
Each of three invited speakers will have approximately 20 minutes to answer this question: “What has the Mystery of Creation meant to you on your personal spiritual journey?” followed by Q&A. No registration required. The event is free and open to the public (and is part of the Fall Oblate Retreat at the monastery).
October 3 - Blessing of the Forest and reception at Grotto, immediately following “The Mystery of Creation” panel discussion (approximately 2:30 PM), Meet in front of Spirit Center @ Monastery of St Gertrude
Join us for our Blessing of the Forest, followed by a simple reception (cookies, punch, and conversation) at the Grotto. A car shuttle will be available for those who cannot walk up/down the hill. Please do not drive up the hill in your private car, as there is very limited parking at the Grotto. The event is free and open to the public. No registration necessary.
October 4 - Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - Blessing of Animals, 2:00 PM (Pacific Time); Meet @ the lawn area near parking lot near monastery chapel (see signs).
Co-sponsored with St. Mary's Parish, Cottonwood. Bring your well-behaved, leashed dogs for this blessing of the animals at the Center for Benedictine Life. Before and after the blessing, you are welcome to walk your dog in the park area at the front of the monastery. (This is the area with the mown grass lawn just south of the parking area.) It is requested that dogs not be walked in other areas around the monastery. Owners are asked to pick up after their dogs (plastic bags and trash bins will be provided), and keep their dogs leashed at all times. This event is free and open to the public. No registration required.
For more information on all events and to register, please visit: https://stgertrudes.org/season-of-creation/