Part of the Procession from the Monastery Door to the Abbey Church

Cardinal Murphy O'Connor at the approach to the church.

Abbot Primate Notker Wolf preaching

Over 500 people were present, including the Bishop of Portsmouth, Crispian Hollis, representatives of the Douai Oblates, the Douai Society, all the parishes served by Douai throughout the century, the mayor of Douai and the Association Guillaume Allen, priests of the diocese of Portsmouth, local clergy and civic dignitaries.

Part of the Congregation in the Abbey Church.

At the end of the Mass, after the Te Deum had been sung, all processed out of the church to the north lawn,

Part of the procession from the church to the north lawn.

where the foundation stone of the proposed Guest House, Refectories and Library was blessed. Happily the day was warm and sunny without being too hot.

The foundation stone which also commemorates the centenary in Woolhampton, was carved by Philip Whitehead and presented by the Douai Society.

The music at Mass which was chosen to represent each phase of the community's existence was led by the Douai Singers under their director, Dr John Rowntree, and the organist was Terry Charlston.

• Organ Prelude in G minor  J.S. Bach
• During the Processions
  • Prelude to the Te Deum  M-A Charpentier
  • Hymn: Praise to the Holiest  R.R. Terry   harmonisation, descant and trumpet obligato composed for the occasion by Brian Longthorne.
  • Psalm 121: Laetatus sum   Plainchant   sung by the men of the choir with alternatim organ in the French manner.
  • Ecce sacerdos   Edward Elgar
• Introit: Gaudeamus omnes  Plainchant
• Gloria Messe op.36   C-M Widor
• Reading from the Prophet Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
• Responsorial Psalm: Send forth your Spirit, O Lord Fr Romuald Simpson OSB
• Reading from St Paul's letter to the Philippians 3:20 - 4:1
• Sequence: Laeta quies  Plainchant
• Alleluia Fintan O'Carroll
• Gospel from St Luke 3:1-6
• Motet Alleuia, Praise the Lord.   composed for the occasion by Merion Wynn Jones
• Sanctus alternatim Plainchant VIII and D. Bartolucci
• Acclamation & Great Amen  Brian Longthorne
• Agnus Dei  Messe op.36   C-M Widor
• Communion
  • Hymn: Godhead here in hiding   Plainchant
  • Qui manducat  Plainchant
  • Ave Verum   Colin Mawby
• Te Deum   Plainchant
• Organ Voluntary Hymne d'action de grace - 'Te Deum'   J Langlais

The Douai Singers with their director Dr John Rowntree and organist Terry Charleston.

Tea was served for everyone in the monastic refectory and the refectory of the former Douai School.

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created 25/06/03 by GH

Webmaster, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks. RG7 5TQ
e-mail: wilfrid@douaiabbey.org.uk