Holiday Lull
The Christmas liturgies passed remarkably well given their relocation to St Mary's, with its significantly smaller capacity. Efforts to warn off the faithful - not something often done in Catholic churches these days - proved successful and the principal Masses of Christmas had just the right number in the congregation. The cosy solemnity was much appreciated, and the choir singing from the choir loft worked very well to universal satisfaction.
Christmas dinner, held immediately after an early Second Vespers of Christmas, was marvellously preprared by Fathers Benjamin and Gregory. At table was a larger number than normal, with some visiting monks from other monasteries as well as our own Fathers Edmund (in from Rome) and Boniface (recovering from a broken arm). The abbot president was also with us, and being no respecters of persons, we drummed Abbot Christopher into carving the turkey.
The monastery is on a holiday hiatus until Epiphany so a number of monks will be having at least a day or two away in this period. The guesthouse will be closed until after Epiphany.
The Douai community wishes all our friends and visitors a blessed and joyful 2019.