Exits and Entrances: The Year in Review 1

Dom Brendan Thomas • December 31, 2020

We could probably all agree that this is one of the worst years in living memory. The sadness and suffering that the coronavirus has brought is not over yet. I think of our health care workers who are stretched and exhausted after a long year, facing this intense new wave.


And yet we going into the New Year with hope given the magnificent work of our scientists producing and testing a vaccine in such a short space of time. Yesterday two of our community went to receive their first jabs, Fr Stephen and Bishop Mark. It is a start.  Let’s hope that the vaccinations can be speeded up for all.

Exits

It is also a poignant year for us at Belmont. Fr David died a year ago today. Little did we expect to lose three more members of our community in such a short space of time. Fr David dedicated a large part of his life to our mission in Peru, on parishes and then in the monastery. He was also a gifted theologian and wrote a couple of books and kept a lively blog. I will miss his creative thinking, and his love of Christian tradition East and West. 

To lose Br Raphael was another great sadness. He had lived a full life and was slowing down, but the virus hastened his end. He was a craftsman and our regular organist. At Christmas he would decorate the Refectory, even into his eighties and produce a bottle of Sloe or Damson Gin that he had been making. He always had a twinkle in his eye and a bon mot to brighten up your day (sometimes on the level of groaning Christmas cracker jokes, sometimes more refined). He was that combination of a free-thinker who was at the same time a traditional Catholic. 

Fr Alistair’s sudden death came as shock to us all. A late vocation, but it was an idea that he had nurtured since his youth when he had spent two years at Taizé in Burgundy. In between he had been a respected teacher and assistant head. He loved his studies at Belmont and Rome and was thoroughly enjoying helping on the Belmont Parish. God has his own purposes, and at least he had celebrated a full liturgical year as a priest before he was taken.

Br Bernard’s death also took us by surprise. Although his health had been declining it seems certain that the coronavirus precipitated his end. His out-going character made him the heart and soul of Belmont. For years he looked after our Oblates, who held him in great affection, and managed the shop. But he was also creative and practical. He brought joy and laughter to the community as well as a great faith and love of religious life. He was a walking encyclopaedia on many aspects of English Monastic history.

A different loss this year was Fr Nicholas, who, after two years as their Prior-Administrator, the community at Downside elected as their Abbot. He is sadly missed by many at Belmont but we are happy that he is able to help another community in its need.

Entrances

Amongst the sadness of loss there are many things we can be thankful for this year.

The monastic life is like an ever-rolling stream, and as it bears its sons away a new generation of monks come to the fore. Despite the restricted circumstances of the lockdown we had the joyous occasion of the priestly ordination of Fr Augustine. His studies in Rome were cut short because of the virus (he completed them with online teaching) but he excelled in his results. Amongst other things he has been helping on the parish, making things covid-secure, and has taken over from Fr Alistair as Retreat Secretary.

On 7th December Br John was clothed in the habit, meaning he has begun his year-long Novitiate. He is already well-used to the monastic life having lived for nine years in an Anglican community. He seems very much at home with us. He has worked a lot in the Kitchen since the covid crisis and is a good reliable cook. For a number of years he had been a manager in the care sector. 

Also in December we have welcomed a new aspirant who has settled in well, and is seeking to try his vocation with us. Please keep them both in your prayers. 


Other Community News

We are also delighted to have Bishop Mark back with us in the resident community, having served the church in West Wales and in London in recent years. He is enjoying a well-deserved retirement, but fully engaged in the life and prayer of Belmont. Yesterday he was busy making marmalade for the community with Br John. But he is happy to do more formal duties. It was good to have a bishop at hand for the ordination of Fr Augustine, when it might otherwise have been restricted!


Our other retired or semi-retired monks are doing well, including Fr Stephen, who although suffering from memory loss is settled in the monastic routine and has a good rapport with Fr Joseph, who keeps active, but misses his time in Peru. 


As Infirmarian Br Dunstan keeps an eye on Fr Stephen and any of us when we are in need. He has also looked after Fr Alexander who spent several months in the infirmary recovering from a serious operation. Thankfully he is much recovered and participating in our daily life again.


We have had less frequent contact this year with our brethren outside the community, given the restrictions, but we have seen them when possible. We have seen more of those local than those further away.  Fr Simon at Weobley, Fr Michael and Fr Andrew in Hereford and Fr Matthew at Abergavenny are nearby, while Fr Richard and Fr Cenydd are at Whitehaven and Fr Thomas is chaplain at the nursing home at the Oulton Abbey Care Home. Fr Patrick has been kept busy as hospital chaplain, and since the summer has been saying Mass regularly at Little Malvern, when permitted.


Fr James looks after the library, and after some ill-health these past years is improving. Fr Jonathan has not been able to welcome guests to the monastery but is occupied with other things including writing and teaching. 


The rest of us in the community are glad to see the end of this challenging year, living in hope for a better 2021 for all of us. 


Keep the community in your prayers including our brethren in Peru who are managing to keep safe and well despite the awful situation there too.

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