New prior, new car, & more
7 June 2021
» On 1 June Fr Benjamin succeeded Fr Alban as claustral prior of the community at Douai. He succeeds Fr Alban who is preparing to take over as university chaplain at Cambridge. Ad multos annos!
» Last week a group of permanent deacons stayed at Douai for a retreat, which was led by Archbishop Kevin Macdonald.
» At the end of last week Fr Abbot stayed at Ormskirk for two nights, catching up with Frs Godric, Boniface and Hugh. On the Friday he met with Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP of Liverpool.
» The abbot's visit to the north west allowed Fr Hugh to deliver to him the restored Scarisbrick crozier. This crozier, strongly reminiscent of a crozier from Anchin Abbey, just outside the town of Douai in Flanders. IIt is likely that Benedict Scarisbrick OSB had it made aftr he was appointed bishop of Port Louis in Mauritius. It arrived back at Douai in tie for Fr Abbot to use it at the Mass for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.
» Fr Oliver is perhaps our greenest monk. So he has acquired for the community an electric car, a Renault Zoe. This has required the installation of a charging point at the monastery, and some learning for the monks who will be driving it. Since so many of the community car trips are local the Zoe will be used for these shorter trips saving on petrol costs and reducing our carbon footprint.
