| DOUAI ABBEY |
No 9 - WINTER 1999/2000
STAINED GLASS IN THE ABBEY CHURCH
Windows blessed on St Edmund's DayDURING Mass on St Edmund's Day, November 20, Fr Abbot blessed the twelve new stained glass windows in the narthex and the nave which had been completed by Henry Haig A.R.C.A. A large congregation was present including the donors of the windows and former pupils of Douai School. The Douai Singers sang under the direction of their conductor, Dr John Rowntree.
The windows in the narthex are, on the north side, a statement of gratitude to all who have contributed to the building of the Church. In this window various elements of both sections of the Abbey Church are depicted, showing it is intended to commemorate those who helped build both the 1933 portion, and the 1993 completion. The window on the south side of the narthex is a memorial to former pupils of Douai School killed in the two World Wars. From the hideous destruction of war there is always hope of redemption and eternal life in Christ. The artist explained that part of his inspiration for this window came from a visit to Verdun a few years ago.
The pair of windows on the west wall of the nave are reflections upon the breaking and pouring of love enacted at the Eucharist.
The groups of four windows on the north and south walls of the nave are reflections upon many journies from utter darkness and shadow to the Kingdom of God's light. The windows nearest the west comprise quite dark tones, whilst those at the east are very light. There is a strong horizontal movement though the windows, reflecting the horizontal thrust of the roof beams, so that the eye is drawn towards the altar.
The installation of stained glass was part of the original concept of the architect, Michael Blee, but lack of money prevented its completion earlier.
Organ Case Completed The same week that the windows were installed the pedal organ case was completed. This enables the pedal pipes to blend better and gives them a warmer tone.
With these two works the Abbey Church is substantially complete.
Car Park THE Car Park for the Abbey Church and Conference Centre has been completed and the roadways and paths have had black topping. It only remains to put on a final surface in the spring, and then for landscaping and tree planting.
The oratory ought to be what it is called... if at times someone chooses to pray privately, he may simply go in and pray. From the Rule of St Benedict ch 52.
TWO NOVICES CLOTHED
Ceremony at the end of the RetreatON August 27, at the end of the Community Retreat Abbot Geoffrey clothed Andrew Grattan and Christopher Greener as novices at a ceremony in the Abbey Church which was attended by both families.
In his address Abbot Geoffrey Scott said, "In the monastic tradition, the father signalled his handing on of monastic wisdom through putting the habit over the shoulders of the new monk, an action identical to that of the prophets in the Old Testament in relation to their own disciples. And the habit brings with it also membership of a confraternity, being perhaps the most potent sign of koinonia. As we clothe our two novices today, we remember our obligation to hand on the traditions of the fathers and to dwell in unity with each other.
One of the glories in our former church at Cowpen, Northumberland, is a carved seventeenth century pulpit, brought from Flanders by Marlow Sidney, the church's founder. Around its base are to be found carvings of the crucifixion and the clothing of a novice. I often wondered when I passed that pulpit whether there was any reason for placing the clothing of a novice in the habit alongside the crucifixion. We know that Our Lord was clothed three times; first in the swaddling clouts when he was wrapped in the manger by his Mother, secondly in the seamless vest, traditionally made by his Mother, and thirdly, when he was wrapped in the shroud and laid in the tomb by those who stood at the foot of the cross. These three garments were all in turn discarded, for none was able to represent the figure of Christ in its totality. For us to comprehend that, we need to look at the transparent form of a transfigured Christ, in a habit whose whiteness no bleacher on earth could equal, a form superimposed over the crucifix.
When postulants take off their personal lay clothes, it is a fugure of the crucified Jesus that they should bear in mind, and when they don the English Benedictine habit, they should have before them the image of the transfigured and risen Lord. The monastic clothing ceremony is a reminder of our baptism when we stripped off the old man and put on Christ. Through wearing the habit, the monk is made aware that he no longer belongs to himself; he has become God's property because that monastic habit represents Christ himself; and through his patience and perseverance in the novitiate and beyond. the monk applies himself to participating in the passion of Christ."
Andrew Grattan was born at Ascot, Berks, in 1972 and as child was a parishoner at our local parish of St Mary, Woolhampton. He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford. During the gap-year before university he studied Latin Language and Literature at the Gregorian University, Rome. His main university studies were at Kings College, London, where he gained first class honours in English, and first prize in the AKC Associate of Kings College, London examination in Theology in 1994 and 1995. Following this he pursued postgraduate studies in theology.
Christopher John Greener was born in Oxford, on St Benedict's Day in July 1969. He was baptised at Thame and brought up in Wantage, where he attended King Alfred's West Secondary School. He said, "Just like my patron saint, St Christopher, I too came to serve Christ only after serving his opposite number and then realising where true strength resided". Since following Christ he studied at Cheltenham College of Higher Education, 1995-8 where he gained a degree in History. He anticipates that his novitiate at Douai Abbey "will be a fruitful as well as joyful experience".
In September Peter Hill came to join us as a postulant, and we hope he will be clothed in January.
VOCATIONS CONFERENCE AT ARS
DURING November Prior Dermot Tredget OSB attended the annual conference of the Diocesan Vocations Service of England and Wales which was held at Ars in France. The conference which was attended by some thirty vocations promoters took place in the Foyer Sacerdotal Jean-Paul II, a building which also houses a seminary for a hundred priesthood students.
The keynote address was given by Fr Rainer Birkenmaier, Secretary for Vocations to the European Bishops Conference. Birkenmaier took as his basic premise that the church is on pilgrimage, from promise to fulfilment, from the familiar to the unknown. Every pilgrimage involves leaving familiar shores and voyaging into the unknown. On this journey we have need of apostles and prophets, apostles to guarentee our connection with the source and tradition, prophets to look ahead and lead us to new shores. The present age is a period of rapid change, the church has been too scared, and has held on to the old shores instead of searching for new shores. A vocation pastoral must not hold on to the past but must look to the future.
The future is a missionary lay Christianity, the priest and deacon must be servants of the missionary church, providing spiritual leadership and encouragement. All have a vocation to God, to the church and to a specific community or service. The whole church has the duty of helping each member discern vocation, enabling them to respond, and trusting them with their vocation.
SPIRITUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE
AFTER the Vocations Conference at Ars, Fr Dermot spent four days at the Monastery of Notre Dame de Ganagobie in Provence. Located 800 metres above sea level the monastery overlooks the Durance Valley with the Alps in the distance. The abbey church and the cloisters date largely from the twelth century, the monastic buildings from the twelth to the seventeenth centuries. The community was suppressed at the Revolution and the buildings fell into decay. In 1891 they were given to the community of Ste-Marie-Madeleine, which Dom Guéranger had founded in 1865 at Marseille, but the community did not take up residence until 1987 when it moved from Hautecombe in Savoy.
During his stay Fr Dermot met with Fr Hugues Minguet OSB, the Director of the Abbey's Centre Enterprise . Ganagobie run a series of residential seminars and workshops for business people and MBA students mainly focusing on ethical issues. It also promotes research into work-related issues such as ethics, stress and team-building.
This complements Fr Dermot's work at Douai on Spirituality in the Workplace. The series of retreat/workshops being given as part of the Pastoral Programme are being well attended, and very well received. The Finacial Times published an article about them in October, and they have also been mentioned in The Daily Telegraph as well as in specialist business publications.
SING FOR THE HOMELESS
Over £12,000 raisedON the eve of the first Sunday of Advent 500 volunteer singers paid to perform the first three parts of Bach's Christmas Oratorio in the Abbey Church under the baton of Sir David Willcocks. In addition over 200 people paid to listen. As Abbot Geoffrey said in his address of welcome, a custom has now been established of holding a 'Sing for the Homeless' concert every two years. It was a great experience to hear this majestic work in the Abbey.
All the performers gave their services free, so through sale of tickets and programmes and a retiring collection over £12,000 was raised for the 'Cardinal Hume Centre'.
Between the first and second parts the Chairman of the Trust spoke about the work of the Centre. It provides short term hostel accommodation for homeless people between the ages of 18 and 25, as well as counselling and medical services and help for those who are trying to give up drug taking. Many of those who come to the shelter are victims of broken families or refugees.Through teaching living skills and helping people find work ninety percent of the people who stay at the Centre are enabled to keep off the streets permanently.
Another Organ CD A CD recording of the Soler Concertos for two organs has been made on the two organs in the Abbey Church. It was featured on BBC South Today, and is available from the Abbey Bookshop price £13.00 plus 50p postage.
News from the Parishes PROJECT 2000 AT ORMSKIRK
AT the beginning of November the parish of St Anne, Ormskirk, launched a major scheme to raise £500,000 for the renovation of the Church. It will include new heating and lighting, complete redecoration, as well as essential external works to the roof and walls. The major work will be the construction of a new building attached to the church, St Oswald's Centre which will provide a meeting room for 150, together with washroom facilities and a kitchen. Also included in the scheme is the moving of a screen below the choir loft at the back of the church, and the re-ordering of the foyer to provide an area big enough for displays and to provide a place for chatting after service, as well as giving better access to the church shop.
The scheme is designed to be spread over five years to allow necessary funds to be raised and to allow for the benefits of covenanting donations. It is however hoped that a major part of the work will be completed next year to celebrate the church's 150th anniversary. To facilitate the raising of funds and encouraging sponsors a handsome illustrated brochure has been produced.
The church is one of only three remaining which were built by the firm of Hadfield & Co. The Catholic community dates from 1732 when Father Bulmer established a house with a chapel, which was destroyed by fire in 1747 after the Jacobite rebellion. Father Bulmer bought a parcel of land in 1765, known as St Oswald's Croft. The mission was under the patronage of St Oswald, and on this land Fr George Crook opened a new chapel in 1795. The Catholic population grew rapidly, especially after the influx of Irish emigrating from the famine between 1845 and 1848, so that a building fund was set up in 1848 to build the present church. This cost £4,000 and was opened on August 8, 1850. It was dedicated to St Anne.
STUDLEY
Presbytery RefurbishedTHE presbytery has had a complete refurbishment over the past few months. Fr Paul Gunter OSB, the Parish Priest was able to move in in November. A Parish Office has been set up and a large room has been arranged to be used for parish meetings.
Prayer Seminars The Parish Room was inaugurated just before Advent with the first of a series of Prayer Semi. In the approach to the Millennium these were the Life of the Spirit Seminars. There will a variety of leaders. Seminars on other forms of prayer will follow.
NEWBURY
Wash Common
SINCE September Fr Godric Timney OSB has been Priest- in-Charge of St Francis de Sales Parish, Wash Common, Newbury. This parish belongs to the Diocese of Portsmouth, but has been administered by Douai before, when Fr Austin Gurr OSB was there from 1990 to 1992. Fr Antony Hayne has been incardinated into the diocese of Hallam since September. He continues as Parish Priest in Rotherham. We wish him well.
Fr Matthew Hulley OSB who is the oldest member of the community at 88, has recently been given a new lease of life with the provision of a electric carriage. He is now able to drive himself to the refectory, and to the church for special occasions such as the St Edmund's Day celebration. Doubtless in the summer we shall see him enjoying a drive through the grounds.
Fr Peter Bowe OSB has suffered two close bereavments recently, first of an aunt in Northern Ireland, and then shortly after by the sudden death of his brother-in-law in Vancouver, Canada. We ask your charitable prayers for both of them.
Fr Edmund Power OSB, Prior of St-Anselmo, Rome, visited India in September to give a retreat to priests at Port Blair, Andamans, and a Day of Recollection to Sisters in Madras. He has written a fascinating description of his impressions of India.
VISIT OF KATHLEEN NORRIS KATHLEEN Norris the well known Benedictine Oblate and author was due to visit Douai in February in connection with the publication in England by Lion of her latest book, Amazing Grace, but unfortunately her husband is again critically ill and she is unable to come. She had been due to come last year when the same house published the English edition of The Cloister Walk, but her husband's illness prevented her then. Kathleen Norris lives in North Dakota and is an oblate of Assumption Abbey. We ask prayers for her and her husband.
Douai Abbey Newsletter is published at Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks, RG7 5TQ. Phone: 0118 971 5300 Fax: 0118 971 5203 E-mail douaiabby@aol.com
03.12.99. Registered charity no 236962
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