We had our police escort out of the city also, with as much speed and noise as before. We went on steadily until we reached Providence. It was quite dark by this time, about 7 o’clock, and we were really hoping for an escort through here. But it was very quiet after all. At Wrentham the “selectmen” of the town met us and escorted us into the convent about three or four miles further on. We were stopped at the end of the road by a bearded lay brother (our pleasure at this sight was visible!) who, we learned later, was instructed to keep us there, while a car went on to tell them we were coming and to start the bells. Police, by the way, were in evidence, keeping the road open, but there was little traffic now. So up we travelled, and our first impression was a blaze of light—you see, there are a lot of windows on the front, and of course, all the lights were on, fluorescent lighting too, which made it all rather bright. There was a small crowd on the two or three steps, and so we alighted in turn. Dear Dom Edmund was there to meet each one. Dom James Fox, Abbot of Gethsemani, was there, and Dom Eugene, abbot of New Melleray, and quite a few monks from the Valley, who took our cloaks from us as soon as we reached them. We needed no encouragement for this and they simply disappeared out of our hands, the seculars standing about being obviously eager to help. One simple soul gazed at us and murmured, “God bless them!”
A brief speech of thanks by Msgr. Spillaine and a few momentous words by Dom Celsus ended the little meeting; but of course, the reporters wanted pictures again. So we were taken with the three abbots, but Dom Edmund had escaped—we learned later that he always does that when speeches are beginning. Dom James was in the center, by the way, who impressed us with his happy boyishness, and mildly protested “They’ll all think I’m Dom Edmund.” The picture was taken that way anyhow.
We entered the convent immediately, and the first thing we saw was ourselves…in a huge mirror in the parlor. We managed to pass that shock, admired a Chinese painting of the Annunciation, and came out into the cloister. They are beautiful, plain brick, with glass sliding doors on the garth side, and both these go together quite naturally. We went immediately to the little pink chapel (the bell ropes were just outside the grill door and were being enthusiastically “worked” by two girls, immediately typed as future postulants—even that sight didn’t shake us), where Benediction was given, Dom Edmund officiating, and the monks singing. We did nothing—here was our Eucharistic Lord again, as in Ireland and mid-ocean, and moreover, a new home for Him and for us. We learned later that Rev. Father had said Mass that morning at 4:30 in the little chapel, for the first time and brought Jesus to stay. A safe landing was the intention.
Immediately after Benediction we were taken to the refectory where a really sumptuous repast was served us by a community of nuns who wanted to do their little bit, and they certainly did. Sr. Andree and Sr. Carol had relatives there and between the supper and their wish to join their Mamas, they compromised but the relatives won out, of course.
It was well after 10 PM when we finally got to bed in our new dormitory. But first we had to go all through our trunks for blankets and there was quiet confusion from the procure to the dormitory. We were told that one of the monks, Fr. Paul, our faithful “servant,” would wake us the next morning with the church bell. (He, by the way, had to give up his nice comfortable cell in the dormitory and betake himself to the boiler-boom). The little scaffolding to which the bells are attached, is built on to the side of the dormitory wall. No need for further explanation. The hour was to be 7:00 a.m., which made us feel very special indeed, but we certainly needed the rest, after a week of travel, especially the last very full day.