Events July - 2010
| DOUAI ABBEY |
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| View the progress of the monastic library being built. |
The annual New Year's Eve concert took place at 3.30pm in the Abbey Church given by the Rodolphus Choir.Dec 29
Prior Bernard went to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, for knee surgery.Dec 24 - 25
The Christmas service were well attended. Click to see the list of music sung.Dec 20 - 22
Fourteen Jesuit scholastics from Hopkins House, Balham, London, came for a short retreat.Dec 19
The Douai Singers sang at Mass and at the Advent Service of Music & Reflections, which this year took place in the afternoon rather than the evening. The frozen snow, still lying, kept the number of the congregation down at both services. Click to see the list of music sung.Dec 17 - 19
In spite of the weather fifteen people arrived for the Pastoral Programme Pre- Christmas Retreat, led by Fr Nicholas.Dec 16
There were a few who didn't make it.
Our parish branch of the Society of St Vincent de Paul organised a pre-Christmas lunch and party for elderly people from the nieghbourhood in the Guest Refectory and Conference Centre. Children from St Finian's School, Cold Ash, came to sing carols.Dec 15
Our neighbours, Elstree School, held their Carol Service in the Abbey Church.Dec 14
Br Anselm had his first perseverence: he has completed the first quarter of his notitiate.Dec 13
Pupils from Aldermaston, Basildon, Brimpton, Bucklebury, Compton, Curridge, Downsway, Hampstead Norreys, Hermitage, St Finian's, Sulhampstead & Ufton, Theale and Woolhampton Primary Schools took part in the annual Carol Service which our parish organises for neighbourhood schools, in the Abbey Church.Dec 12
Pupils from the neighbouring Kennet School gave a concert of Christmas music in the Abbey Church in aid of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.Dec 10 - 12
The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter are holding an Advent retreat in the Guesthouse, Cottages, Parish Church and Conference Centre, led by Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP. There are thirty participants.Dec 8
There have been heavy frosts recently: the little red maple and the apple tree behind look as if they are in blossom!Dec 6 - 10
In spite of the weather those booked for the Pastoral Programme Silent Retreat were able to get here.Dec 4
A Pastoral Programme Day of Recollection for laity involved in ministry was led by Fr Benjamin in the Conference Centre.Dec 3 - 5Mortimer Anglican Parish held a Day of Recollection in the Guesthouse.
A meeting of the National Oblates Coordinators was postponed owing to snow to the west of us.
The Pastoral Programme Advent retreat, Come, Lord Jesus! was led by Fr Gervase. It was fully booked and only one person was prevented from coming by the weather.
The first snow of the winter, just a light dusting.Nov 28 First Sunday of AdventFr Nicholas returned home from hospital and has taken up residence in the Infirmary.
The Douai Singers sang at Mass.Nov 27Some Knights of Malta came for a Day of Recollection given by Fr Abbot.
Members of Christchurch, Tadley came for a Quiet Day.Nov 24The Cecilia Consort gave a concert in the Abbey Church.
Fr Abbot attended the launch of the National Review of Religious Archives at Westminster, organised by the Public Records Office.Nov 19 - 20 Patronal Festival of St Edmund
Click to view Fr Hugh's article on St Edmund.Nov 19 - 21The Anglican Benedictine community, until recently at Elmore and now at Salisbury, came as usual for first Vespers and Supper, but this time stayed the night and so joined us for Matins, Mass and lunch.
Fr Oliver is giving a retreat for past pupils of Douai School and their wives. The guesthouse is full, there are 25 taking part.Nov 15 - 19
A group of Vincentians came to make a retreat in the Guesthouse.Nov 13
Fr Abbot is lecturing at an Oxford University Dayschool, organised in conjunction with the Pastoral Programme in the Conference Centre. The topic is 'The Papacy: the Bishops of Rome from Peter to the High Middle Ages'.Nov 12Encoro gave a concert in the Abbey Church in the evening.
The clergy of the Berkshire Archdeaconry met in the Conference Centre this morning.Nov 10 - 11
The novice mistresses and masters of the English Benedictine Congregation are holding their annual meeting in the Library.Nov 9Fr Nicholas has moved from the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, to the West Berkshire Hospital, Thatcham, to continue his post-operation recuperation.
The National Education Trust held a meeting in the Conference Centre.Nov 8
A meeting of the South East region of archivists is meeting in the Conference Centre.Nov 7 - 23
A Rwanda children's choir is staying in the cottages, while giving a concert tour in the locality.Nov 7
Fr Oliver presided at a Mass for deceased members of CAFOD in the Abbey Church.Nov 5 - 7
Fr Gervase gave a Pastoral Programme retreat 'To God through Music' which was fully booked.Nov 2 All Souls Day
At the end of Mass all processed to the cemetary for the blessing of the graves.Nov 1
Fr Nicholas went to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading for a replacement hip operation.
The anticipated feast of All Saints. Click for list of music sung at MassOct 30
The Vasari Singers gave a concert in the Abbey Church.Oct 29 - 31
An oblate retreat was held, during which Gillian Davis was recieved as an oblate.Oct 26
An 'Open-door' retreat is taking place in the Conference Centre.Oct 25 - 29
A group from the Parish of St Pius X, Withywood, Bristol, have come on a pilgrimage-retreat. Fr Gervase & Fr Nicholas are leading sessions for them.Oct 23
A Day for Religious in the Archdiocese of Liverpool, was held at St Anne's Ormskirk, Lancs. The topic was 'Wisdom Tradition in Scripture' and it was led by Sr Camilla, a sister of Notre Dame.Oct 21 - 24
Oxford Anglican Cursillo is meeting in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.Oct 20 - 21
The Bishop of Oxford held a meeting with the senior staff of the diocese in the Conference Centre.Oct 18 - 20
The Southern Instuitute of the dioceses of Guildford, Chichester, Winchester and Salisbury, is holding a conference in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre, 'Working with the newly ordained'.Oct 17
Fr Oliver led a service for the Lions club International - District 105D, which covers Berkshire, Hanpshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Channel Islands and parts of Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, in the Abbey Church.Oct 16
Fr Nicholas led a Pastoral Programme Healing Workshop.Oct 11 - 18Br Christopher gave a talk on Benedictine spirituality at Aston Tyrrell Meditation Centre.
Fr Hugh has gone to give an eight-day retreat to the community at Colwich Abbey, Staffs.Oct 10
Fr Abbot unveiled a plaque on the wall of the 18th century Mason's Arms in Warkworth, Northumberland, the pub, where the the rebels at the 1715 Jacobite rising, dined the night before proclamining James Stuart as James III, the rightful king of England. The event was organised by the Northumbrian Jacobite Society.Oct 9
We celebrated, for the first time, the memoria of Bl John Henry Newman, beatified by the Pope in Birmingham last month.Oct 6 - 7The Parish Pastoral Council of our local parish of St Mary, Woolhampton, came for a Day of Recolletion led by Fr Gervase, a former parish priest.
The Dehmel Ensemble, a sextet formed by Sarah Sew gave their first concert in the Abbey Church. Sarah has been to Douai several times before with various groups. The sextet gave a polished performance and we hope they will develop into an estabished group.
Spirituality-in-the-Workplace Network held its 10th anniversary meeting in the Conference Centre and Guesthouse.Oct 4 - 7
Fr Oliver, the cellarer, attended the Provincial Bursars' Meeting at Hoddesdon, Herts.Oct 5
The latest edition, no 92, of the Bulletin of the Alliance for International Monasticism entitled Monasteries and Finance was published today. Copies can be obtained from AIM, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, RG7 5TQ, for an annual subscription of £15, cheques payable to 'Douai Abbey'.Oct 5 - 7
Fr Abbot has gone to visit our monastic cell at Douai, France.Oct 4
Fr Abbot gave a paper to the Winchester Catholic Historical Society.Oct 1
Fr Abbot gave a paper in Shrewsbury on 'Printers in the North West'.Oct 1 - 3Fr Dermot led a 'Spirituality in the Workplace' Workshop at London Colney, Herts.
Vincent Manning and Br Christopher led a Pastoral Programme retreat All will be well, on the spirituality of Julian of Norwich.
Br Christopher and Fr Gervase are leading a Pastoral Programme individually guided retreat, Quo vadis?Sept 27
The first session of a Spiritual Direction training course, organised by the Anglican Diocese of Oxford, was held in the Bl Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre. It will be held monthly for a year.Sept 26
The Douai singers sang at Mass this morning.Sept 25Dr Nancy Reeves led a Pastoral Programme Day of Recollection, The Gifts of the Eucharist.
The Reading Phoenix Choir gave a concert in the Abbey Church, the first time under their newly appointed conductor, Davod Cowen. Founded in 1969, all their concerts had been conducted by their founder, Norman Morris, until he died last year. Their excellent standard has been maintained. The concert was in aid of the Children's Hospice, Naomi House and Jacksplace, Sutton Scotney, Hampshire.Sept 22Dr Nancy Reeves from Victoria, Canada, is here for her fourth visit and is giving a Pastoral Programme Workshop: How God heals and how we can help. There are 30 paricipants.
The hay in the meadow was cut last week and gathered into bales today. The work was done by a neighbouring farmer, whilst Br Damian and Br Gabriel prepare part of the field for the sowing of wild flower seeds.Sept 19 - 22
A Bridge Pastoral Foundation Conference is taking place in the Conference Centre and Guesthouse.Sept 19
Br Christopher and Fr Hugh attended the beatification of Bl John Henry Newman by Pope Benedict XVI in Crofton Park, Birmingham.Sept 18 - Oct 1
The parishes of St Elizabeth, Scarisbrick, & St Anne, Ormskirk, Lancs, celebrated a parish mission led by Fr Tim Buckley CSSR.Sept 18
The Guild of St John and St Mary Magdalen, Cambridge, are holding a Retreat Day in the Hugh Faringdon Conference Centre.Sept 17 - 19Br Gabriel has begun restoring the rock garden, which has been neglected during the building works. It is now part of the library garden.
A meditation retreat is taking place in the Benet Biscop wing of the Guesthouse.Sept 17
Fr Abbot attended the address of Pope Benedict XVI to both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall.Sept 16 - 18
Fr Dermot led two workshops at the FCJ Centre for Spirituality, Brussels, Belgium.Sept 15
Pupils of St Edward's Catholic School, Southampton, had a day session in the Conference Centre.Sept 14
Postulant Christopher Strudley was clothed as a novice in chapter this evening, being given the name Br Anselm. Edmund Wee who had also been a postulant has decided not to pursue a monastic vocation at the present.Sept 14 - 16
The Anglican Diocese of Oxford held a training session for the new incumbents in the Guesthouse.Sept 12
The Library was formally opened this afternoon by the Most Revd Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury.Sept 10 - 11
Fr Nicholas is giving a Pastoral Programme retreat 'Healing Grief'.Sept 6A Juventutem international gathering of young Catholic adults is taking place in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.
Fr Dermot attended a conference of the British Association for the Study of Religions at Birmingham Univeristy.Sept 4
Concerto delle Donne gave a beautifully sung concert in the Abbey Church, the first half of which consisted of Charpentier's Messe pour Le Port Royal, the convent of Benedictine nuns ajoining our monastery in Paris. It is a Mass for the feast of St Francis. Two years ago they gave a concert of the Vespers music written for the same nuns.Sept 2
The Douai Abbey Newsletter for September is now published.Sept 1 - 2
Fr Abbot has taken Frs Alban and Paul to Ampleforth Abbey to attend the EBC History Symposium.Sept 1
New appointments today: Fr Alexander moves from Studley parish to Stratford-on-Avon, Fr Benedict from Woolhampton parish to Studley, Fr Dermot becomes parish priest of Woolhampton, and Fr Austin moves from Stratford-on-Avon to become priest in charge of Andover, Hants, a parish of the Diocese of Portsmouth. Fr Abbot will take on the role of infirmarian in succession to Fr Dermot.
The AGM of the Douai Society took place in the Conference Centre, and was followed by dinner with the monastic community. Thirty seven members and spouses attended.August 14
Family members of the community came for Mass at Midday and dinner. There were 46 attending, several families stayed for the weekend.August 19 - 21
Fr Abbot, in his capacity as librarian, made several visits to Elmore Abbey, the Anglican Benedictine monastery which is downsizing and relocating from Speen to Salisbury. The library is being dispersed and we have been offered many of the books.August 22 - 27
Fr Hugh has gone to give a retreat to the Norbertines at Chelmsford, Essex.August 22
All four remaining members of the Elmore community came to dinner. Afterwards in the calefactory, Fr Abbot made them confraters of our community, as a token of many years friendship between the two communities.August 23
After a break of three weeks, the guesthouse is open again for guests.August 24The massive task of moving books into the library has begun.
Fr Paul, back from Rome for the summer, represented the community at the funeral of Bishop Mervyn Alexander, bishop emeritus of Clifton, at Clifton Cathedral.August 27 - 30
Fr Gervase led a Pastoral Programme Lectio Divina retreat.August 30
Br Simon has gone to Ormskirk parish until Christmas.
The UK Oblates Coordinating Team met in the Guesthouse.July 26 - 30
The annual gathering of Consecrated Women took place in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.July 25
Our friends, Howard Rowntree and Terence Charleston gave a trumpet and organ recital in the Abbey Church. July 24St Mary's parish, Aspey, Herts, came for a Quiet Day in the Conference Centre.July 23 - 25Bernard Kilroy and Pamela Lee directed Pastoral Programme 'Transitions' Retreat with 17 participants in the Guesthouse and Conference Centre.July 22Fr Dermot led a Quiet Day for LASER, a group from the Spirituality-in-the-Workplace network.July 21
While road repair work has been taking place on the road outside the monastery, the contractors have parked their equipment in our car park overnight.
Gardeners, Fr Benjamin and Br Gabriel, plant bushes to landscape the library pond area. The Historic Churches Committee met in the Conference Centre.July 11The Douai singers sang at Mass today to celebrate the feast of St Benedict and the Dedication of the Abbey Church (July 9).July 9 - 11The Berkshire Youth Choir and associate choirs gave a concert in the Abbey Church.
The annual MONOS conference is being held in the Guesthouse & Conference Centre.July 9
Pre-Benedictine Monasticism. The Spirituality behind the man.
- Lecture 1: St Basil the Great between the desert and the city - Professor Andrew Louth
- Lecture 2: Post-modernity and the effects on secular monasticism, Would Benedict be turning in his grave? - Anthony Grimley
- Lecture 3: Cassian and his role in Benedict's Rule - Fr Dermot Tredget OSB
- Lecture 4: Different way of being a monos - insights from the east. - Revd Dr Robin Gibbons
- Lecture 5: Postinia our desert hermitage - Luisa Duffy
- Lecture 6: Humility and Community for Bowerbirds: Benedict and his pre-Benedictine context - Jane Foulcher
- Lecture 7: Celtic Monastricism - a pre-Benedictine way? - Jonthan Wooding
Our neighbour, Elstree School, held their end of year service in the Abbey Church.July 6 - 9The Priestly Fraternity of St Peter held a silent retreat in the Guesthouse and Parish Church. It was preached by Fr S.R.F. Leworthy FSSP.
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