News from Peru

Plans are underway for the Community to move from its current monastery at Tambogrande, in the north of Peru, down to the outskirts of Lima. The new monastery is being built under the supervision of Fr Leo.

The old monastery is being sold, and before they move into the new monastery most of the brethren will stay for a couple of months in Belmont. It will be a good opportunity for the two communities to get to know each other better.

When Fr Simon, the current Prior, heads off to Washington, Br Mario, the current Subprior will take charge. From Belmont Fr David is still resident in the Community and Fr Joseph still works as Parish Priest at the local parish of San Lorenzo, which he will continue even when the community moves.

Br Alex, above, is currently staying at Belmont before heading off to Rome on 20th March to take part in the Monastic Formators' Programme. This is a course of the Benedictine Confederation of which Fr Brendan is the Director.

Br Alex will join 28 participants gathered from all over the world to study the monastic tradition and look at the challenges of living the monastic life in today's world. Some of the world's best monastic teachers contribute to the Programme, recognizing the importance of formation in our monastic communities.

During the course there are breaks in the study to some of the pilgrim sites of Rome and the places associated with St Benedict: Norcia, where he was born, Subiaco where he began his monastic life, and Monte Cassino where he wrote his Rule.