Events Jan - June 2010

We hosted the annual Benedictine Juniors' Meeting. The theme was Benedict's Further Reading? RB 73. Talks were given by Fr Dermot, Fr Alban and Dame Laurentia Johns of Stanbrook on St Basil and John Cassian. Juniors from Belmont, Douai, Downside, Pluscarden, Stanbrook and Worth attended.

The Bishop of Oxford and his senior staff met in the Guesthouse.

Neighbourhood primary schools held their Y6 leavers celebration and service in the grounds and Abbey Church. The following schools took part:

• Bucklebury CE Primary School
• Francis Baily Primary School
• Parsons Down Jumior School
• Spurcroft Primary School
• St Finian's RC Primary School
• Thatcham Park CE Primary School
• Whitelands Park Primary School
• Woolhampton CE Primary School
• Kennet Secondary School Y9 link students
• Trinity Secondary School

The Community Retreat is taking place, directed by Bishop Mark Jabelé OSB, emeritus bishop of Menevia amd former abbot of Belmont.

A Pastoral Programme silent retreat was held this weekend.

Fr Dermot flew to Rome for the annual audit of accounts at Collegio Sant'Anselmo.

The Anglican Reading Deanery held a quiet day in the Conference Centre.

The Anglican Diocese of Oxford held a training session for new incumbents in the Conference Centre and Guesthouse.

The Douai singers sang at Mass today.

A Salvation Group were here for a Quiet Day.

A well attended concert was given in the Abbey Church by Chorus.

An Oblates Retreat was led by Fr Gervase.

A group of Methodists are holding a retreat in the Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre.

Bowen Therapy are also holding a workshop in the Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre.

Pupils from St Mary's School, Ascot, came for a day of retreat in St Mary's Church.

The procession concluded the Mass, and went to the Parish Church of St Mary.

Pupils from Winchester School came for a Confirmation Mass in the Abbey Church.

A Pastoral Programme retreat 'Loneliness' was led by Fodhla McGrane and Fr Gervase.

A group of army chaplains came for a Quiet Day led by Fr Alban.

Twelve men from Wonersh Seminary are having a pre-diaconate ordination retreat in the Guesthouse.

Teams of Our Lady are holding a retreat in the Cottage.

A Wisdom Meditation Group (formerly Sundial) met in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.

The sheep were shorn today.

	The task begins.	Getting there.
Waiting for the shearer to arrive
The result 1.	The result 2.

Fr Peter has brought twelve people from Douai, France, for a retreat, given in French by Frs Nicholas,Oliver and Gervase. Visits to Winchester,Dorchester, Oxon, & Ewelme have been included.

Click for list of music sung at Mass.

This weekend we are hosting two residential events, Coach House Workshop and Community Building in Britain.

A second Newbury Spring Festival Concert took place in the Abbey Church, given by the European Union Chamber Orchestra.

A chipping machine has been hired to chip the felled trees in the monastery garden. The chips are used to prevent the growth of undergrowth beneath the trees.

Fr Oliver and Bernat Caposi, an Hungarian who is staying here to perfect his English, are 'feeding' the machine which chips the wood very quickly.	Fr Prior Bernard comes to inspect the work.	Fr Prior watching the machine.

Work has begun on repairing the windows in the 1926 Faringdon guest wing.

Fr Hugh gave a presentation to the Bishop of Brentwood and his Council on the forthcoming revision of the missal.

A silent Zen retreat is taking place in the guesthouse.

The Diocese of Oxford held a 'New Post Consultation' in the Conference Centre and Guesthouse.

A Newbury Spring Festival Concert took place in a packed Abbey Church, given by the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford.

The Douai Singers sang at Mass, click for music list.

Fr Alban flew to Scotland to attend the Plainchant Workshop being held at Pluscarden Abbey.

Frs Abbot, Prior, Oliver and Dermot drove to Studley, Warks, for the funeral of Fr Augustine. It was his wish to be buried in the churchyard there, where he was parish priest from 1987-99.

A Pastoral Programme Lectio Divina retreat, led by Fr Gervase, took place in the Guesthouse.

A second Pastoral Programme retreat on Depression was led by Fodhla McGrane and Fr Nicholas in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.

A group of headteachers from the Anglican Diocese of Oxford held a Quiet Day in the Conference Centre.

The West Berkshire Pastoral Area held a Confirmation service in the Abbey Church.

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

Fr Olivert is attending a monastic bursars' meeting at Buckfast Abbey.

Fr Abbot and Fr Oliver went to St Mary's Convent, Wantage, to receive the gift of a sculptured head of St Benedict, donated to us by the artist, Sr Brigid Mary.

Dr John Rowntree led a Pastoral Programme Plainchant Workshop in the Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre.

The Arion Orchestra gave a concert in the Abbey Church in the evening.

Fr Dermot flew to Edinburgh to lead a Spirituality workshop at Good Shepherd Church.

A group of parishioners from Christchurch and St Luke's Chelsea came for a weekend retreat.

Fr Gervase preached at the Mass of Christian Burial for our oblate, Fr Derek Vidler, at St Simon Stocks' church, Putney.

We lheard today that our confrere, Fr Augustine Stickland, had died in hospital at Redditch. he was in his nintieth year.

The first of two consecutive Maranatha Silent Retreats is being held in the Benet Biscop wing of the Guesthouse.

Fr Alban gave a day on Lectio Divina for the Anglican Diocese of Guildford at St Columba's Retreat House, Woking, Surrey.

An oblate retreat took place in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.

The English Benedictine Congregation annual novices' retreat is being held in the Benet Biscop wing, led by Fr Alban and Sr Julian, novice mistress at Stanbrook. There are seven novices from Curzon Park, Worth, Belmont, St Louis, and Washington.

Fr Gervase travelled to Minster Abbey, Thanet, to lead an Oblates Retreat amd to attend the first Regional Oblates Day.

Douai Abbey Newsletter no 37 is now published .

A group of friends of the monastery decorated the Abbey Church with flowers.

Click to see list of music at Mass.

At the Easter Vigil there was one baptism.

A record number of people attended the service of Music and Reflections in the evening. The reflections were given by The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading, Bishop elect of Chelmsford. Click to see order of service.

The Easter Triduum retreat began this evening, led this year by Fr Oliver.
The Mass of the Last Supper was celebrated at 8pm, followed by watching till Midnight. Click to see music list.

The National Education Trust met in the Conference Centre.

The Morning was fine for the Procession from St Mary's Church to the Abbey Church. Click to see music list.

The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre are having their annual Day of Recollection led by Bishop Richard Moth. This year there 92 taking part.

While machinery is on site, we are taking the opportunity to improve the path at the east end of the church. It was laid around 1970 by co-worker Nick Goodbody and is now in need of refurbishment by Nick's successor, Martin O'Hagan.

Br Christopher & Fr Gervase led a Pastoral Programme IGR Quo vadis?

The Bradfield and Newbury Anglican Deanery clergy are holding a quiet day in the Conference Centre.

At Conventual Mass at 11.30 Br Damian Banks & Br Gabriel Wilson made first profession. Members of their families and some of the oblates were present.

Br Damian reads his profession chart	Br Gabriel signs his profession chart on the altar.
Brs Damian & Gabriel kneel before the altar while the abbot leads prayers for them.	Br Damian is vested with the cowl.

Fr Alban had flown to Austria to give a talk at Lambach Abbey, near Linz, on 'Benedictine & Parish' to an audience of monks and members of the parishes served by the monks.

In the evening a concert was given in the Abbey Church by the Ionian Singers.

The Catholic Women's League from Marlow and district came for a Day of Recollection in the Conference Centre given by Fr Romuald.

Fr Hugh has gone to Chelmsford, Essex, to give a Lent Talk on 'Hell'.

The senior staff of the Anglican Diocese of Ely met in the Guesthouse and Cottage.

The Historic Churches Committee met in the Conference Centre.

The Bracknell Anglican Deanery Chapter met in the Conference Centre and Guesthouse.

A group of Fransalians met in the Guesthouse & Conference Centre.

The Anglican Diocese of Winchester Discipleship & Ministry team met in the Conference Centre.

A Christian-Buddhist group, Satsung met in the Conference Centre & Guesthouse.

The 'Friends of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford', came for the day and had lunch in the guest refectory.

Sixteen oblaates were here for a retreat.

Fr Gervase gave a Retreat Day for the parish of Our Lady & St John, Goring-on-Thames, in the Conference Centre.

Fr Hugh led a Pastoral Programme Day of Recollection in the Conference Centre.

Frs Alban & Oliver gave lectures to the Students from St Mary's University, Strawberry Hill in the Guesthouse Conference Room.

Monteverdi's Vespers were performed in an Abbey Church concert.

Teams of Our Lady from Fareham held a retreat in the Guesthouse.

The Anglican diocese of Oxford is holding a training session in the Conference Centre and Guesthouse for clergy appointed for the first time to positions of responsibility.

A performance entitled 'Step into the Picture' was given in the Abbey Church this afternoon. The production was inspired by the paintings of Paul Forsey telling the life of Christ, which were exhibited in the Abbey Church in 2002, and have been made into a book 'The Life of Jesus through the eyes of an artist' published by BRF. It was created and conducted by June Boyce-Tillman of the University of Winchester, and involved Southern Sinfonia,and children from St Nicholas Church of England School, St John the Evangelist School, Fair Oak Junior School and the Winchcombe School. The music was composed or arranged by Martin Reilly, Composer in Residence to Southern Sinfonia. It included music by Hildegarde of Bingen. The metal props were constucted by Camelia Botnar Foundation, which trains disadvantaged young people to become craftsmen.

Fr Alban Hood returned from Rome where he has been following an intensive course on the Rule of St Benedict given by Sr Dr Aquinata Bockmann OSB at the Casa Sancto Spiritu the Generalate of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.

---

FEBRUARY 2010

---

Feb 26 - 28

Fr Abbot led a Pastoral Programme Lent Retreat, which had been fully booked for several weeks beforehand.

A small group of Parishioners from St Mary Moorfields Church in the City of London were here for a retreat led by their parish priest.

Feb 21 1st Sunday of Lent

Click to see Mass music list. .

Fr Gervase gave the first of five Lent Talks on the Psalms to an ecumenical group at St George's church, Wash Common, Newbury.

Feb 19 - 21

Dr Fodhla McGrane led a Pastoral Programme retreat Managing Conflict - the Benedictine Way

Feb 18

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Fr Leo; afterwards his remains were cremated at West Berkshire Crematorim, for later burial in his parents' grave in Lancashire. He is the first of our monks to have requested cremation.

Feb 15 - 19

Br Christopher and Fr Gervase led a small Pastoral Programme retreat Pancakes & Ashes during Carnival and the first days of Lent.

Feb 14

The Batholomew Consort gace a superb concert in the Abbey Church this evening.

Three more lambs were born today.

Feb 13

Fr Dermot led a study day for Colchester Anglican Deanery.

Feb 10

Fr Leo Arkwright died this morning in the monastic infirmary.

Feb 9 - 12

Br Christopher and Fr Gervase attended a meeting of Monastic Guestmasters and Guestmistresses at Buckfast Abbey, Devon.

Feb 6

Frs Nicholas & Benjamin led a Pastoral Programme Healing Workshop.

Feb 4 - 6

The finance Committee of St Benedict's School, Ealing Abbey, met in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.

Feb 4

The Thomas Merton Society met in the Conference Centre.

Feb 2 - 3

A Church of England youth retreat was held in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.

---

JANUARY 2010

---

Jan 29 - 31

Fr Dermot led a Workshop for the English Speaking Catholic Community in Brussels.

A meditation group met in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre, and also St John's Seminary, Wonersh, held a Celibacy Workshop.

Jan 29

The Waverley Group met in the Conference Centre.
The first lambs of the season were born.

Jan 28

A workshop for new and acting Headteachers was held in the Conference Centre.

Jan 22 - 24

A group of Methodists from Biscester are having a retreat in the Guest House and Conference Centre.

Fr Hugh is giving a Day of Recollection in Chelmsford, Essex.

Jan 16

Wycliffe Baptist Church, Reading, held a Study Day in the Faringdon Conference Centre.

Jan 15 - 17

A group from St Martins-in-the-Fields Church, London, are here for a weekend led by Fr Dermot.

Jan 15

Article by Fr Paul.

Jan 12

The winter cleaning session of the Abbey Church took place today.

Click to see more photographs of the snow and ice.

Jan 11

A 424 page Codex Pauli was presnted to the Pope by Abbot Edmund Power of St-Pauls-without-the-Walls, Rome.

Jan 10

Snow and ice kept numbers at Mass very low. We cancelled the choir, because the roads were too difficult.

Jan 9

Because of the weather, Br Damian's Simple Profession has been postponed till March 20

We learned today that Marie Endean, who had lived at Woolhampton Lodge, on our grounds since 1939, and a long time friend of the community, had died in Royal Berkshire Hospital, aged 92.

Jan 8

The cold weather continues: we have had to cancel all guests and retreats for the next few days because the roads are impassable.

A display of icicles, snow clearing in front of the abbey church and snow cushions for the benches in the guests' court.

Click for old photographs of the snow in Dec/Jan 1962/3.

Jan 7

Fr Paul gave a lecture at Domus Sanctae Marthae. Rome, on 'The Genius of the Roman Rite in the identity of the priest' as part of a 'Year for Priests Clergy Conference'.

A parish funeral, scheduled for the Abbey Church, had to be held at Thatcham church because our roads are impassable.

More snow scenes.

Jan 6

The heaviest snow fall since 1981, no one has been in or out today. Benjamin Bongard's first task was to help clear snow from the monastery entrance.

	The sheep in the snow, can't find any grass.
The car park above, & the garden right
	Plum tree in the monastery court left and the deserted library building site right.

Jan 5

Benjamin Bongard arrived from Douai, France. He will stay two months to perfect his English, and help us with any work to be done.

Jan 4

Frs Abbot, Prior Bernard, Gervase, Nicholas, Benjamin and Hugh went to Elmore Abbey for Vespers, Supper and Compline. This will probably be our last Christmas visit before that community moves to a new home.

Heavy frost continues.

Jan 2

Fr Alban left for Rome for two months to take part in an intensive course on the Rule of St Benedict, given by Sr Dr Aquinata Bockmann OSB at the Casa Sancto Spiritu the Generalate of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.

Jan 1

A sunny frosty morning to begin the New Year.

---

Go to Previous Months

---

Registered Charity No.236962
revised 10/07/10

Webmaster, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks. RG7 5TQ
e-mail: douaiweb@aol.com