A Life in Community

The monastic community is the place where we learn the practical business of loving. St Benedict describes it as a "School of the Lord's Service."
We learn to serve Christ especially in those most in need: the old, the sick, the guests and pilgrims that come to the monastery.

The Genius of St Benedict

St Benedict's genius was to take the very best of the ancient monastic tradition and draw up a short Rule offering practical and spiritual guidance for monks. Pope St Gregory the Great tells us that this Rule was known for its "discretion". Indeed what shines through is Benedict's real understanding of human beings, and what he offers is much wisdom and gentle encouragement to those seeking God in the monastic way of life.

Benedict began his own search for God by running away from human company and living as a hermit, but he soon came to see the value of community life. He came to realise that we come to God with and through other people: community is important. We need the encouragement and support of others. We need the guidance and experience of others to help us in our own search of God.

"And so we are going to establish a school of the Lord's service..."

St Benedict calls his monastery a "school of the Lord's service" where the commandments of God are learned and lived. In the first place is the command to love God and one another as Christ has loved us. From the Abbot to the youngest member of the community there has to be mutual love and regard.

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From the Rule of St Benedict

Benedict set before his community a vision inspired by love:

"This zeal, therefore monks must practise with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other, supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behaviour, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. Not one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks they must show the pure love of brothers; to God loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life" (Chapter 72)

St Paul has a similar message to in his Letter to the Romans: Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honour. (Romans 12:9-10

The Belmont Community Today

Community residents

Right Rev Dom Brendan Thomas, Abbot & Parish Priest, St Francis Xavier, Hereford
Rt Rev Dom Mark Jabalé, former Abbot of Belmont & Bishop Emeritus of Menevia
Very Rev Dom Alexander Kenyon, Prior, Junior Master
Dom Peter Madden, Subprior, Sacristan, Master of Ceremonies
Very Rev Michael Evans, Cathedral Prior of Gloucester
Rev Dom Stephen Holdsworth
Rev Dom Joseph Parkinson
Rev Dom James Norris, Librarian, Bookshop Manager
Rev Dom Jonathan Rollinson, Guestmaster, Oblate Master, Refectorian
Dom Dunstan Nelson, Infirmarian, Assistant Novice Master
Rev Dom Augustine Primavesi, Parish Priest of Belmont, Retreats Secretary
Br Meinrad Earley, Junior (under the Novice Master)
Br Gildas Dudonis, Junior (under the Novice Master)
Br Alban Smith, Novice

Parishes

Abbot Paul Stonham, Parish Priest, Leominster & Bromyard
Very Rev Dom Simon McGurk, Parish Priest, Weobley and Kington
Rev Dom Thomas Regan, Parish Priest, St Wulstan's, Little Malvern
Rev Dom Matthew Carney, Parish Priest, Abergavenny & Llanarth
Rev Dom Cenydd Marrison, Parish Priest, St Begh's, Whitehaven
Rev Dom Richard Simons, Parish Administrator, St Begh's, Whitehaven
Rev Dom Andrew Berry, Priest, St Francis Xavier, Hereford
Rev Dom Patrick Lobo, Parish Priest, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Hereford
Rev Dom Augustine Primavesi, Parish Priest, Belmont Abbey, Hereford