Visit of Archbishop Mark and Blessing of the Grotto
October 20, 2022
On the eve of our patronal feast of St Michael and All Angels, our new Archbishop, Mark O’Toole stayed with us overnight at Belmont and joined us for Vespers.
After Vespers the Community gathered around the newly redecorated grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the monastery gardens. This was the work of Br Alvidas, assisted by his fellow postulant Br Craig. The grotto had been repainted with a few finishing touches like the stars on the ceiling and flowers painted at the side. Archbishop Mark blessed the grotto.
Afterwards we welcomed the Archbishop to Belmont with a glass of bubbly, and the Prior, Fr Michael spoke for us all in assuring him of our prayers as he leads not one diocese but two, the Archdiocese of Cardiff and the Diocese of Menevia.
Below are some pictures of the occasion.
At a solemn Mass, the feast of St Basil and St Gregory, Br Alban makes his promises as a claustral oblate.
Belmont Abbey Organ is the second largest organ in the County of Herefordshire. It has 3 manuals (keyboards) and 54 stops and is second only to the organ of Hereford Cathedral (4 Manuals and 67 stops) - Belmont has the largest organ in our Catholic Diocese.