On February 11th, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, both Mary and the Holy Spirit were palpably present as we elected our new abbess, Mother Sofia Millican, a citizen of the United Kingdom who spent most of her childhood in Wales. When she was an undergraduate at Harvard University she attended a Monastic Weekend at our monastery, an experience which led her comparatively quickly and directly to entrance as a postulant, October 15, 2007. She made her Solemn Vows the Sunday after Easter, 2014, and at the time of her election was sub-prioress, web master and production manager of Trappistine Quality Candy. Her joyful yes to God and to the community over the years and particularly on the day of her election is a source of great joy and hope for us as well.