Chronicle Jan - June 2006

Cranes over Douai in the morning sunlight.

The electricians have completed the re-wiring of the monastery, which they have been doing since Feburary 6. The wiring had been installed when the monastery was built in 1966, so now we hope we shall be safe for the next forty years.

Br Placid travelled from Minster to Maison St-Benoir our foundation in Douai where he will live for a month.

Fr Alban and Dr John Rowntree went to a Conference at Mount St Bernard Abbey on plainchant. Sr Margaret of Stanbrook travelled with them.
Br Placid went to a Meeting at Minster Abbey for junior monastics, driven by two nuns from Stanbrook Abbey.

The Newbury Choral Society and London Concertante, conducted by Leo Hussain, gave a concert in the Abbey Church. There were two items, Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss, the soloist being Elizabeth Atherton, and A Child of Our Time by Michael Tippett. There was a large appreciative audience.

Fr Nicholas gave a Pastoral Programme retreat "Healing Grief".

Fr Dermot gave a talk to Agora, Bristol on Integrating Work with a Spiritual Practice.

Fr Dermot led Business Ethics workshops for sixth form theology students at Canford School, Dorset.

Fr Alban gave a talk at a Conference on Bishop Ullathorne held at Oscott College, entitled "Rabbits & Hedgehogs - Monks, Bishops and the English Mission".

Fr Gervase gave a paper at a Conference for European Benedictine Nuns who had been solemnly professed in the last ten years at Turvey Abbey on 'Good Zeal'.

The leadership team of the European Province of the Holy Child Jesus Sisters met in the guesthouse and Conference Centre.

Frs Alban, Gervase and Dr John Rowntree attended the Academy of St Cecilia at Southward Cathedral on Plainchant in contemporary liturgy. Dr Rowntree was elected a fellow of the Academy.

A group of new graduates attended a University of Reading Chaplaincy Retreat in the Conference Centre.

A Pastoral Programme Silent Retreat took place in the Guesthouse.

In the evening the Southbank Sinfonia gave a concert in the Abbey Church. The first item was The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams in which the soloist was Rachel Rowntree, daughter of our organist. Rachel has played and sung with the Douai Abbey Singers since the age of ten. The other items were Simple Symphony Benjamin Britten, Pavanne Faure and Oboe Concerto Vaughan Williams. There was a large audience.

Fr Romuald led a Pastoral Programme Day of Recollection for those engaged in parish ministry. About 35 took part.

Fr Dermot attended the Commission for Sant'Anselmo in his capacity as member of the advisory finance committee.

Fr Paul was awarded a Doctorate of Sacred Liturgy (SLD) magna cum laude by the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at Sant'Anselmo, Rome. His thesis was entitled Edmund Bishop and the genius of the Roman Rite.

The regional leadership team of the Daughters of Mary & Joseph came for a discernment meeting, facilitated by Fr Dermot.

The music at Mass today was Missa Lux et Origo alternatim by David Bednall, Offertory Confirma hoc & Communion Factus est repente from the Gradualia by William Byrd.

Br Simon is leading a small Pastoral Programme Pentecost Retreat.

Fr Dermot gave a paper at the symposium on Church, Society and Monasticism at the Pontifical Atheneaeum of Sant' Anselmo, Rome entitled Redeeming leisure in the Rule of Benedict.

Fr Abbot and the bursar, Fr Oliver, have gone to visit our foundation in Douai, France.

Members of the Community led a pre-ordination retreat for nine dicaonate students for the southern disoceses from Wonersh Seminary.

Members of the Community led a pre-ordination retreat for seven dicaonate students for the Liverpool disocese from Upholland College.

A Pastoral Programme individually guided retreat was led by Brs Christopher & Gervase

Members of the Community led a pre-ordination retreat for twelve dicaonate students for the southern disoceses from Wonersh Seminary.

Fr Nicholas led a Pastoral Programme Healing Workshop in the Conference Centre.
Fr Dermot attended a conference at Heythrop College, University of London on Values in Paublic Life.

The Kennet Valley Deanery held their Confirmation Service in the Abbey Church at which Bishop Crispian Hollis presided.

The National Conference of Priests steering committee hald a planning meeting in the Conference Centre: Fr Godric is the chairman.

Prior Boniface gave a Retreat for the Bernadine Oblates at St Bernard's Convent, Slough.

A Univerity of Reading Dayschool Lighting up the Mind: Creative Writing directed by David Grubb was held in the Conference Centre.

A Newbury Spring Festival concert was held in the Abbey Church given by the Soweto Gospel Choir.

The latest issue of Beekeepers Quarterly contains a feature article on Monastic Beekeeping, which has a piece by Br Christopher on our Douai Abbey bees.

Fr Oliver, our bursar, attended the English Benedictine Bursars' Meeting at Downside Abbey, Somerset.

At Conventual Mass, at 11.30am, Br Hugh Somerville-Knapman made Solemn profession. Afterwards there was a celebratory buffet lunch for the guests and community.

Fr Dermot took part in Implicit Religion Conference at Denton Hall in Yorkshire where he gave a paper How can the Rule of Benedict help us understand the true purpose of leisure and work in the 21st century?

Fr Abbot attended the book launch of A Monk's Alphabet by Jeremy Driscoll OSB, monk of Mount Angel ,Oregon, at the Garrick Club in London. The book is published by Darton, Longman & Todd.

Fr Dermot facilitated support groups for RAF and Army Chaplains preparing for active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan on Sustaining a Spiritual Practuce under fire.

The latest Douai Oblate Newsletter No 26 is now available.

April 28 - May 1

Fr Gervase led a Pastoral Programme Lectio Divina Retreat in the Guesthouse.

The West Berkshire Civic Service for St George's Day was held in the Abbey Church.

Fr Abbot, Fr Alban & Br Placid attended the EBC Liturgy and History Conferences at Downside Abbey, Somerset.

The staff of St John's Church of England Primary School, Reading, came for a inservice training day in the Conference Centre.
A cell group of six Anglican ordinands and clergy from Westcott College, Cambridge, came to stay for a retreat in the Guesthouse for a few days.

The Douai Abbey Singers sang the Gloria from Missa Quarta by Bardos. The rest of the ordinary was the alternatim setting of Plainchant Mass I by David Bednall. The motets were Regina Caeli by Victoria and Haec Dies by Palestrina.

A large congregation gathered for the celebration of the Easter Vigil

In the evening the usual service of Music & Reflections was celebrated. The service opened with a Processional Miserere mei Deus, the earliest extant native South American polyphony from a Lima Cathedral manuscript dated 1611. It was accompanied by drum beat. The office hymn was The regal dark mysterious cross and the other musical items were Christus factus est by Bruckner, Good Friday Lamentations by Victoria, Stabat Mater by Charpentier and a Choral & Final Chorus from Bach's St John's Passion. The Douai Abbey Singers were directed by Dr John Rowntree. The reflections were given by Fr Dermot, Br Simon and Fr Nicholas.

The music at the Liturgy included Popule meus & O vos omnes by Victoria.

The Easter Triduum retreat opened this evening, it is being led by Prior Boniface.

At the Liturgy the music included the Kyrie & Agnus from Byrd's Mass for three voices, Ubi caritas by Durufle, & alteratim Pange lingua by Palestrina.

The Procession of palms began in the Parish Church of St Mary as usual and went to the Abbey Church. The music included Hosanna Filio David by Victoria, Caligaverunt me by Lassus and In monte Oliveti by Croce. A number of our oblates here on retreat were able to participate.

The London Oriana Choir with the Kensington Symphony Orchestra gave a performance of Handel's Messiah in the Abbey Church.
Fr Dermot gave a talk on The Spiritual Dimension of Work for St Mary's parish Burghfield in the Conference Centre.

A lot of felling has taken place in Greyfields Wood during the winter.

Two curious trees seen before the leaves come.

Br Christopher led a Pastoral Programme Interfaith Workshop in the Conference Centre on Nostra Aetate - 40 Years on.

March 31 - April 2

A Pastoral Programme retreat on Conflict Managment, the Benedictine Way led by Dr Fodhla McGrane was held in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.

Br Christopher attended the Bishops' Conference Interfaith Meeting at Oxford.

In the evening the Arion Orchestra, conducted by Brien Stait gave a concert in the Abbey Church. The programme consisted of Haydn's Symphony no 42, Mozart's Horn concerto no 2 & Concert Rondo for horn & orchestra, Malcolm Arnold's Sinfonietta no 1 and Schostakowitsch's Chamber Symphony op 110a. This work, which was explained by the conductor, was written in 1960 after the composer visited Dresden which was still bearing the scars of the saturation bombing of February 1945 . It 'reflects the suffering of the inevitable innocent victims of war and is a devastating mirror held up for humankind to view itself'.

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Lieutenancy of England & Wales held a Day of Spiritual Renewal led by Fr Abbot here. The had Mass in the Abbey Church and Exposition in St Mary's. The pictures below show them processing into the Abbey Church.

Br Placid gave a lecture on Scripture in the Rule of St Benedict at the University of Bristol.

Frs Francis and John led a Pastoral Programme Day of Recollection for Ministers of the Eucharist, Readers and Cantors in the Conference Centre. The event had been fully booked for several weeks.
Fr Gervase led a study day for Readers in the parish of Paulsgrove, Hants.
Fr Dermot attended a postgraduate forum of the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics at Mansfield College, Oxford.

Fr Oliver gave a Pastoral Programme retreat on the The Passion in Poetry & Art.

The local Anglican Deaneries of Bradfield and Newbury held their farewell gather for the retiring Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries in the Abbey Church. About 300 attended.

The Bishop of Portsmouth, Crispian Hollis, held at study day with his clergy on the proposed re-organisation of the diocese. About 70 attended.

The new cloister to the Abbey Church cam into use today, albeit with temporary floor, ceiling and neither lights nor heating.

Recently published Douai Abbey Newsletter 25, March 2006 and 168 2006.
Paper copies will be available by Easter.

Basingstoke Choral Society gave a concert of French music in the Abbey Church.

Fr Dermot gave two talks to the Black Country Urban Industrial Mission on the Rule of Benedict and the Spirituality of Work.

Our local Bradfield Anglican Deanery held a Quiet Day in the Conference Centre.

At Mass today the Douai Singers sang part of Byrd's Mass for four voices Soriano's Ave Regina Caelorum and Saints Saens' Ave Verum .

Prior Boniface Moran led a Day of Recollection for the Reading SVP Conference.

Subprior Romuald Simpson gave the Pastoral Programme Lent Retreat: there were 15 participants, the maximum our guest house holds at present.

Choros conducted by Janet Lince gave a concert in the Abbey Church. Motets by Bach and Brahms were sung alterating with movements from Bach's cello sonatas played by Chris Grist.

This weekend a group of young business people associated with the church of St Mary Moorfield in the City of London came with the parish priest, Fr Peter Newby, for a retreat, as they have done for the past four years.

For the past three weeks we have housed a fine wood carved statue of St Benedict, depicted in an English Benedictine habit, by the Tyrolese artist Ferdinand Stufflesser. It had originally been in the now demolished church of St Augustine, Liverpool. Since that church closed it had been in the presbytery at Ormskirk. It has now gone to our French foundation Maison St Benoit in Douai.

Fr Nicholas led a Pastoral Programme workshop 'Healing Families' in the Conference Centre.

Alongside the new building project, the existing monastery is being refurbished. Complete renewal of all electric wiring is part of the necessary work. That will involve putting new skirting boards in every room. The cloister has been turned into a temporary workshop, where the lengths of skirting board are being painted and cut to size. Several of the community are engaged in this work, see the picture at the top of this page.

A group of 20 young people from London, members of Notre Dame de Vie came for a weekend retreat in the Guesthouse.

At Mass today the Douai Singers sang a Mass setting new to our repertoire, Palestrina's Missa Iste Confessor. At the Presentation of the gifts Lassus's Benedictus es and at Communion Byrd's Cibavit eos were sung.

There was a capacity audience for a University of Reading Dayschool on Benedictine Spirituality, given in our Conference Centre by Frs Dermot, Christopher and Gervase.

Most of the community gathered for the annual Conventual Chapter. The portrait of Abbot Leonard Vickers, 1989-90 had arrived the previous day and was displayed for the chapter.

The Choir of Leeds Cathedral sang at Mass today: Missa Brevis in F by Mozart, Christus Resurgens by Byrd & O for a closer walk with God by Stanford.

The West Berkshire Music Centre, part of the Berkshire Young Musicians Trust held their bi-annual concert in the Abbey Church. Several talented groups of young musicians from our neighbourhood gave performances.

The abbot, Frs Alban, John & Nicholas have travelled to France for the official opening of Maison St-Benoit on Sunday. Click to see photos and an account of the event.

A Pastoral Programme Silent Retreat was held in the guesthouse.
Fr Dermot taught the Spirituality-in-the-Workplace module for the part time ordinands at Cuddesdon-Ripon College, Oxford.

Br Hugh has gone to Maison St-Benoit, Douai, France, to help prepare for the grand opening of the monastery on February 5.

At Conventual Mass at 7.45am Br Simon Hill was solemnly professed.

Fr Gervase preached the sermon at the Ecumenical Service during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at St Michael's church, Sonning Common, Oxon.

The Clerks of Christ Church gave a concert in the Abbey Church, consisting mainly of works by Tallis from Cantiones Sacrae.

A leadership team from All Saints parish, Bracnel, held a day of reflection in the Conference Centre and Parish Church.

A NLP weekend workshop on Spiritual Support was held in the Conference Centre and guesthouse.

Fr Bernard has gone to Masion St Benoit our foundation in Douai, France, for a few weeks to help with construction work in the house.

The Waverley Group met in the guesthouse for a period of reflection. Br Christopher led one of the sessions.

Fr Dermot travelled to give a conference at Christ the King Priory, Cockfosters, London, and then north to the University of Lancaster to giave a seminar on Spirituality-in-the-Workplace.

Staff from Living Stones, a Christian Bookshop in Fleet, Hants, held a day of reflection in the Conference Centre.
Family members of the monastic community came for Mass and lunch.

Fr Dermot directed a Spirituality-in-the-Workplace workshop for ordinands from Ripon Cuddesdon College, Oxford, in the Conference Centre.

The Waverley Group held a workshop in the Conference Centre.

Fr Dermot has gone to Mount St Bernard Abbey, Leicestershire, to lead a Spirituality-in-the-Workplace workshop for Monos.

At Mass today, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the music was Missa: O magnum mysterium by Victoria, Tribus miraculis by Marenzio, Benedictus by Taverner and The Lord bless you by Rutter.
Six of the community visted Elmore for Vespers and Supper.

Two nuns from Holy Trinity Monastery, East Hendred, came to Mass and lunch.

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