Events July - Dec
2009

The annual New Year's Eve Concert was given by Commotio in the Abbey Church. There was a large audience.Click to see the programme.

Fog, ice and snow prevented many from coming to the Christmas Liturgies this year, the numbers attending were less than half compared with last year. Click to see the music list.

Recently published Douai Abbey Newsletter 36 December 2009

More heavy snow - the scenes that greeted us this morning.

An international group of Sixteen Jesuit Scholastics from Brixton are making a private retreat in the guesthouse, some of whom from India have never seen snow before.

The Advent Service of Music & Reflection took place at 8pm. Snow and frost keep attendance low, about 60. Click to see Order of Service, the texts of the reflections will be published shortly. Click for the Mass music list.

Fr Romuald led a Pastoral Programme pre-Christmas retreat, 'Light of the World'.

A lot more snow.

The first snow of the winter; it did not lie for long.

Elstree School, our near neighbour, held their Carol Service in the Abbey Church this afternoon.

The Fraternity of St Peter are holding their Advent retreat in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre. They are using the parish church for their services.

The annual Carol Service our parish organises for the Primary Schools of the neighbourhood filled the Abbey Church with children this afternoon. The following schools took part

• Aldermaston Church of England Primary School
• Basildon Primary School
• Beenham Primary School
• Brimpton Church of England Primary School
• Bucklebury Church of England Primary School
• Compton Church of England Primary School
• Curridge Primary School
• Downsway Primary School
• Englefield Church of England Primary School
• Hampstead Norreys Church of England Primary School
• Hermitage Primary School
• Mortimer St Mary's Church of England Primary School
• St Finian's Roman Catholic Primary School
• Sulhampstead & Ufton Church of England Primary School
• Theale Church of England Primary School
• Woolhampton Church of England Primary School

The first of the Carol Services organised by local schools was held this morning, that of Oratory Prep School.

Sr Miriam and Sr Judith of Turvey gave the second Oblates retreat on 'Exploring Sr Benedict's teaching on humility'.

Fr Abbot presided and preached at a Mass to celebrate the golden jubilee of Christ the King church, Reading, in commemoration of the fact that Abbot Sylvester Mooney had presided at the opening of the church fifty years ago, deputising for Archbishop King of Portsmouth, who was ill at the time.

Br Simon led a Pastoral Programme Dayschool 'Coping with the Recession: the Christian Response'. There were only a few attendees.

Fr Dermot is giving a talk at the Faith in Leadership Conference at Tavistock Clinic, London.

Br Christopher received his MA in Christian Spirituality at the University of London. In the photo he is talking with some of the Heythrop College faculty, Eddie Simmonds, David Lonsdale and Gemma Simmonds CJ.

Fr Abbot met Fr Larry Brown OSB of Clear Creek Monastery, Oklahoma, at Heathrow Airport. Fr Larry will stay a few days with us before going to join Fr Peter at Maison St-Benoît, Douai, France.

At last winter weather; frost instead of wind and rain.

Seven students from the School of Evangelism,at St Patrick's Church, Soho, London, have come for a retreat, with sessions led by various monks.

A group from Salisbury Cathedral who are studying the Rule of St Benedict came for a day with us.

Click for list of the music at Mass.

Fr Gervase led an Advent Retreat Day for the Knights of Malta.

St George's Anglican parish, Newbury, held a Quiet Day in the Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre.

Churches-Together-in-Basingstoke held a meeting in the Alban Roe Conference Room.

Fr Oliver led a Pastoral Programme Advent Retreat 'Come! Lord Jesus.'

Recently a number of trees in the Monastery Garden have been felled, which were too close together or too close to the monastery. This will create new vistas.

Fr Dermot has flown to Bombay, India, to give a talk at the Second World Leaders Forum in Mumbai.

Tamesis Chamber Choir directed by Louise Rapple, gave a concert, B is for Blessed, in the Abbey Church. The programme was

• Beatus Vir- Claudio Monteverdi
• Magnificat - attributed to Dietrich Buxtehude
• Prelude & Fugue in C BWV 545 - J.S.Bach (played by John Cobb)
• Ave Maria, Virga Jesse, Christus factus est, Os Justi, Locus iste - Anton Bruckner
• Komm, Jesu, Komm - J.S.Bach
• Bogoroditsye Dyevo - Sergei Rachmaninov
• St Bride assisted by angels - Judith Bingham (played by Christopher Cipkin)
• Hymn to St Cecilia - Benjamin Britten
• How lovely are thy dwellings - Johannes Brahms
• Steal Away - trad. arr. David Blackwell

Members of St Mary's Parish, Ascot, are having a Day of Recollection in the St Alban Roe Conference Room.

Fr Nicholas led a Pastoral Programme Healing Workshop in the Bl Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre.

Sundial are holding a weekend seminar in the Guesthouse and Bl Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre.

Patronal Festival of St Edmund, click to read Fr Abbot's homily.

Members of the faculty of St Benedict's School, Ealing, held a meeting in the Conference Centre.

Three members of the Elmore Abbey community came for 1st Vespers of our patronal festival, St Edmund, Supper and Compline.

The 45th meeting of the Historic Churches Committee for the southern disoceses met in Bl Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre.

There has been a lot of rain recently and extremely strong winds. A soakaway outside the monastery has collapsed and a large hold has appeared, the manhole cover having fallen at least 2 metres. Wotk has begun on repairing the saokaway and filling in the hole.

A page of Photographs of the Meeting of Monastic Musicians held here in September has just been created.

Some students from the University of Reading are here on retreat.

Fr Abbot preached a sermon at his old college, St Edmund's, Cambridge.

Fr Gervase attended a meeting of Oblate Directors at Ealing Abbey.

Br Christopher is leading a pilgrimage to Rome.

Contractors are re-surfacing the roof of the cloister link between the north and south blocks of the St Benet Biscop building. New insulation is being fitted.

Pangbourne Choral Society & Southern Sinfonia gave a concert in the Abbey Church, consisting of Mozart's Requiem Purcell's Funeral Music for Queen Mary and two of Handel's Coronation Anthems, Zadok the Priest & The King shall Rejoice.

Br Simon led a Pastoral Programme Day of Recollection for Ministers of Communion and Readers. There were 27 participants.

The guesthouse is almost full this weekend with participants in a Meditation Retreat.

Fr Dermot travelled to Durham and back in the day by train, in order to attend a meeting of the British Assoication for the Study of Religion.

The community processed to the monastic cemetary after Mass to pray for the dead.

Catholic Gentry in English Society: The Throckmortons of Coughton from Reformation to Emancipation, co-edited by Fr Abbot has been published by Ashgate Publishing. Abbot Geoffrey Scott has also written one of the chapters The Throckmortons at Home and Abroad 1680 - 1800 and Fr Alban Hood has written another chapter The Throckmortons Come of Age; Political and SocialAlignments, 1826 - 1862. The book is one of the series Catholic Christendom, 1300 - 1700.

Click for list of the music at Mass.

Christchurch parish, Tadley, held a quiet day in the Conference Centre.

An Oblates retreat led by Sr Mirima and Sr Judith of Turvey was held in the Conference Centre and Guesthouse.

Fr Gervase taught a Pastoral Programme Dayschool on 'St Paul's Epistle to the Romans', there were 28 participants.

Fr Abbot gave a talk to the 'Friends of Reading Abbey'on 19th Century Monastic Architecture' in Reading Townhall.

Six Knights of St Columba and their ladies, from Ormskirk, Lancs, are spending the weekend in the Guesthouse.

The Diocese of Oxford group for training for ministry and evengelism met in the Conference Centre.

The Cecilia Consort gave a concert in the Abbey Church devoted entirely to music by Patrick Hawes, who conducted. Included was the first performance of an organ toccata played by Roger Sayer.

Fr Dermot led a Spirituality Day at Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral.

Fr Nicholas led a Pastoral Programme Healing Workshop in the Faringdon Conference Centre.

Fr Gervase spoke on Lectio Divina at a meeting organised by the Adult Education Department of the Diocese of Brentwood, at Brentwood Cathedral Conference Centre.

The cutting down of the box hedge in the monastery garden is now complete.

A Zen retreat is taking place in the Guesthouse & Conference Centre.

Fr Abbot attended Vespers at the Oratory school to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Cardinal Newman's conversion.

Fr Gervase, Oblate Director, visited the Julian Chapter meeting at Costessey, Norfolk.

Bishop Crispian and a group of priests and deacons from the diocese of Portsmouth had their retreat in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre, given by Bishop Mahon OP of Nottingham.

A third group of pupils from Donhead Primary School, Wimbledon, were here for a visit, led by Fr Benjamin.

Encoro, conducted by Sarah Tennant-Flowers, with Richard Durrant (guitar), gave a concert, Whispering Shores, in the Abbey Church.

The EBC regimen met in the Conference Centre.

The Abbot President brought three members of the Manquehue Apostolic Movement from Chile, who are spending six months at Downside teaching Lectio Divina, for a visit.

Fr Dermot led a Spirituality-in-the Workplace workshop in the Guesthouse Conference Room

Twenty six members of the Third Order of the Anglican Society of St Francis are here for their annual retreat and renewal of vows.

Today we picked over 15lbs of grapes from our vine, which grows on an outhouse: the first time ever we have had a crop!

Part of the hedge in the monastery garden is being cut down, which will open up the vista.

Spirituality-in-the-Workplace Network is meeing in the Conference Centre and Guesthouse.

Fr Abbot attended the 50th anniversary of the opening of St Michael's church, Tadley. Now a separate parish, Tadley had been part of the monastic Woolhamtpon parish. A Mass centre was established during the 1939-45 war, when Aldermaston Common was an American air base. The Mass centre continued afterwards for the construction workers building the Aldermaston atomic research station. St Michael's church replaced the Mass centre, and was under the care of Fr Michael Young OSB for many years.

The community celebrated the 60th anniversary of Profession of Frs Leo & Romuald. It was also Fr Augustine's 70th anniversary of Profession. Fr Augustine currently resides in retirement in Redwich.

The Diocese of Oxford Consultation for Women in Associate Ministry took place in the Conference Centre.

A large team from the BBC TV occupied the Abbey Church and St Mary's Church all day to record performances of music by Palestrina, Gorecki, Bruckner and MacMillan as part of a series illustrating the history of Sacred Music which will be broadcast next Eastertime. The choir was The Sixteen conducted by Harry Christophers. The presenter was the actor Simon Russel Beale. The composer, James MacMillan, was interviewed and also produced a short Introit which was sung and recorded by a schola from the community.

Click for list of the music at Mass .

Richard Lester gave an organ recital in the Abbey Church using both organs. He played music by Luzzaschi, Frescobaldi, Froberger, Sweelinck and Handel. About seventy people attended.

Twelve people are taking part in a Pastoral Programme 'Healing workshop' led by Fr Nicholas.

A TV crew filmed the guesthouse and interviewed some of the people taking part in the retreat, for a programme on alternative leisure choices for the BBC World Service.

Eighteen people are taking part in a Pastoral Programme retreat 'To God through Music' led by Fr Gervase.

The Student Christian Movement are holding a 'think tank' in the Cottages.

Fr Dermot flew to Munich to give a paper at the Catholic Social Teaching Conference, at Catholic University, Eichstatt-Ingolstadt.

Regenerate, a gathering of Clergy and Pastoral Leaders in the Reading Area met in the Conference Centre.

An Oblate retreat took place in the Guesthouse.

Fr Nicholas is leading a Pastoral Programme retreat 'Healing Grief'.

Young Catholics are holding a retreat here also, organised by the Confraternity of St Peter. They held an extraordinary rite sung Mass, and a procession through the monastery garden.

Pupils from Donhead, the Jesuit prep school in Wimbledon, came for a visit. Fr Benjamin gave them a talk and conducted tour. They were present at Midday Prayer and had a picnic lunch in the guest refectory.

Recently published Douai Abbey Newsletter 35 September 2009 and The Douai Magazine 171 2009.

Fr Dermot led a MONOS workshop on A Benedictine Spirituality of Work at Launde Abbey, Leicestershire.

Our confrere, Edmund, abbot of St Paul's-without-the-Walls Abbey in Rome was installed as an honorary canon of St Paul's Cathedral, London, before Evensong. The text of the Bishop of London's sermon is here.

The Monastic Musicians annual meeting was held here, the first time we have hosted it since 1991. The keynote speaker was Michelle Moran, who was a lay auditor at The Bishops' synod on 'The Word' in Rome last year, and gave a report of it. The musical tutors were David Bednall of Bristol Cathedral and Martin Baker, Master of the Music at Westminster Cathedral. Click to see photographs.

Fr Abbot has gone to Paris to conduct the Catholic Archivists around the Parisian archives and will then go to Douai for the celebration of Our Lady's 'cordon' in Valenciennes.

The Ella Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nick Beach, gave a fine performance of Bruckner's Seventh symphony in the Abbey Church this evening. This was the biggest orchestra we have had in the church, and the largest scale work performed here.

The English Benedictine History symposium on Augustine Baker was held in the Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre and was well attended.

Aug 28 - 31

Br Christopher & Fr Gervase are leading a Pastoral Programme individually guided retreat this weekend.

Fr Peter has gone to Lourdes with the Douai (France) parish group in the Cambrai diocesan pilgrimage.

Community 'Families Day': forty-five monks' family members came for Mass and lunch.

The harvesting of our plum crop, a bumper one this year, has begun. Fr Prior is up in the tree, and Fr Dermot at a lower level.

Fr Abbot has taken the novices on a monastic tour of the north of England, visiting Stanbrook Abbey at Wass, Ampleforth, Fountains, Mount Grace, Rievaux, Durham, Lindisfarne and taking a boat to visit St Cuthbert's hermitage on the Farne Island.

A group from the Anglican parish of St Mary, Apsley, Hertforshire, came for a Conference in the Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre.

A pack of Scouts from Douai, France, are camping in the wood at the end of the Park. They are doing various jobs including painting the exterior of the Cottages.

July 30

A group of army chaplains met in the Alban Roe Conference Room.

A Salvation Army contingent came for a day of reflection.

Fr Abbot is attended the meeting of the Ecclesiastical History Society at Liverpool Hope University.

The annual gathering of Consecrated Women (Consecrated Virgins & Consecrated Widows) is being held in the
Guesthouse and Conference Centre.

Fr Abbot attended the installation of Caon David Meara as Archdeacon of London in St Paul's Cathedral.

A large number of painted lady butterflies are working on a patch of thistles in the meadow.

Twenty-nine of the pupils who were members of the school when it closed in 1999, returned for a commemorative service in the Abbey Church, and a football match. They stayed in the cottages.

A Pastoral Programme retreat Transitions led by Bernard Kilroy & Pam Lee is taking place; only a few participants this year.

A wasps nest, the size of a football, was discovered in a bush near the monastery entrance.

Fr Abbot attended the Catholic Archives Association meeting at Durham.

Revd Canon Alwyn Petersen, Canon Theologian at Worcester Cathedral, gave a talk to the community on St Antony of Egypt.

Sister Elizabeth Rees OCV & Fr Benedict are directing a Pastoral Programme individually guided retreat.

Fr Nicholas led a Pastoral Programme workshop, Healing Families.

An oblate retreat was held in the Guesthouse.

Click for list of the music at Mass.

The Douai Society, the alumni of the former Douai School, gathered for their annual Mass, AGM and dinner.

The 113th General Chapter of the English Benedictine Congregation ended today, with a festal lunch.
Abbot Richard Yeo was re-elected as Abbot President.

Photo by David Hatfull Front Row: Abbot Thomas Ferkin, St Louis, Abbot Paul Stonham, Belmont, Abbot Cuthbert Madden, Ampleforth, Abbot Geoffrey Scott, Douai, Abbot President Richard Yeo, Abbot Aiden Bellinger, Downside, Abbess Andrea Savage, Stanbrook, Abbess Gertude Baker, Colwich, Middle row: D David Foster delegate Downside, D Laurentia Johns, delegate Stanbrook, Prior Simon McGurk, administrator Washington, D Christopher Godden, delegate Curzon Park, Abbot Christopher Jamison, Worth, D Francis Straw, Inspector of Accounts, Abbot David Charlesworth, Buckfast, Abbess Paula Fairlie, Curzon Park , Abbot Martin Shiperlee, Ealing, D Boniface Moran, delegate Douai, Abbot Caedmon Holmes, Portsmouth, D Anne Bromwich delegate Colwich; D Francis Davidson, delegate Ampleforth, Back row: D Mark Barrett delegate Worth, D Bede Price, delegate St Louis, Abbot Edmund Power, Procurator in Curia, D Peter Burns, delegate Ealing, D Henry Wansbrough, Master of Studies, D Michael Evans, delegate Belmont, D Brendan Thomas, Secretary, D Pascal Scotti, delegate Portsmouth, D James Wiseman, delegate Washington.

Members of the Chapter processing into choir with the Douai community.	At Vespers

Anniversary of the Dedication of the Abbey Church; pontifical Mass and Vespers.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, recently installed, archbishop of Westminster and Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth, came for Vespers and Supper with the General Chapter.

The 113th General Chapter of the English Benedictine Congregation was held in the Guesthouse. This a four yearly meeting of the superiors and delegates from each of the the monasteries of monks and nuns belonging to the English Congregation. It takes place in a different monastery each time.

The third annual MONOS conference was held in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre. The keynote speaker was Fr Terrence Kardong OSB of Assumption Abbey, Richardton, North Dakota. Other speakers included Esther De Waal, Andreas Andreopoulos of University of Wales, Lampeter and Paula Pearce SFO.

Fr Terrence Kardong OSB	Andreas Andrepoulos	Esther de Waal
Paula Pearce SFO	During one of the presentations	Relaxing between sessions.

Photos: Michael Woodward

A large pantechnichon, arriving to unload furniture from Cork, Ireland, for a householder moving into Abbey Gardens, was too large to enter the estate, and had to park in the Abbey Car Park and unload its contents into a smaller van to reach the house.

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