4. Since when do Dominican friars take a devotional title, e.g. of the Pillar (presumably meaning Our Lady of the Pillar, Spain)?

All I know is that Fr. Albert formally left the convent after he returned to France last fall. I do not know why, but I understand it was his decision. When I heard that he had been replaced as the friar in charge of the English-speaking Tertiaries, I asked about him and was told that he had indeed left, that he no longer represents the Couvent de la Haye aux Bonshommes in any way and that they no longer have any authority over him, and that this situation is public knowledge.

A few weeks ago, a person told me that he said to that person that he thought the Dominicans of Avrille were too strict. Evidently he has also tried to dissuade at least one person from joining the Third Order.

So, while he is still a Dominican (as far as I know), he is not affiliated with a particular convent. I guess he's just out there on his own. Evidently he is still hanging out with the Society here in the U.S., but I personally do not know where or in what capacity.

I was very sad to hear that he had left the convent, but it really sounds like he has gone over to the Neo-SSPX way of looking at things now.

Communal showers and sleeping arrangements?  That's what you put in under an emergency situation, like at a shelter or in a MASH unit.  Not just weird; plain old nasty!