Bruce Witzel, Port Alice, BC

The Brandt Hermitage and the Brandt Oyster River Hermitage Society (BORHS) is evolving, slowly though surely.

The forest and hermitage land transfer is still a work in process. The beautiful sanctuary area next to the Oyster River was intended by Charles Brandt to be preserved long-term, both as a nature park and as an active hermitage – a peaceful centre for prayer and contemplation with consideration for the spiritual foundations of ecology and nature as a Sacred Commons. The flora and fauna will remain protected under its covenant with the Comox Valley Land Trust.

Karen Nicol is the Benedictine Oblate who is currently a “contemplative in residence.” After a summer hiatus, her monthly meditative hermitage reflection “Give Me a Word” (a salutation of the early Desert Father and Mothers) will begin again in September. She has begun to offer other women one-on-one retreats at the hermitage. If you are looking for such an opportunity you could contact her at 250 337-8525 or the hermitageatoyster@icloud.com.

Karen also continues to archive the extensive documents, videos and the large library of Father Brandt. In this light we are grateful to the Comox Valley Regional District who awarded us a substantial 1 year grant for the amount of $23,200. This will assist in many ways, including to create a new comprehensive BORHS website. In this key development we are being helped with the heart and expertise of web designer Michael Shingen Price, who was a friend of Charles.

We are pleased to announce a new director for our society. Jason Brown has a background in theology and forestry. He is an instructor and researcher of Simon Fraser University’s Department of Humanities and the School of Resource and Environmental Studies. Arlene Bell has now become our treasurer. She was a close friend of Charles, and her husband Mike, was once a fellow monk with Thomas Berry.

We have recently added a few more videos on-line you can link to here Charles A.E. Brandt – The Great Work YouTube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MoiyRVfvUI&list=PLo033HHf5NboDQYEQLP-nMZaoMWbxej-6. The Brandt Series of the Through The Luminary Lens has a new post The Bear – a short story by Charles Brandt. (https://throughtheluminarylens.wordpress.com/2022/06/15/the-bear-a-short-story-by-charles-brandt/) Feel free to share them. We will have these types of stories, videos and much more on our website when it is up and running.

The hermitage meditation group is meeting regularly at the hermitage, 2364 Catherwood Road, on the second Saturday of each month, 10 am. If you are interested contact George Wahl at 250 702-0813.

“Where does contemplation lead one? Since it finds the Ground of Love in all reality, it leads to one’s sisters and brothers — it creates social consciousness, it leads to a deeper unity and love with and for the earth. Contemplation leads to transformation.”
— Charles Brandt

Finally, the interment of Father Brandt’s ashes was held September 10, 2022, 10.30 AM, at the hermitage. A few of Charles relatives from the United States as well as others attended. A granite stone with a wooden cross and brass epitaph will be an everlasting commemoration for our dear friend Charles Brandt. We will also dedicate a bench that overlooks his beloved Oyster River.

Namaste. Peace be with you.

Bruce Witzel,
On behalf of the Brandt Oyster River Hermitage Society.