Life Under Lockdown Part 3
We have now gone through most of Lent and then Eastertide in lockdown, but at last there is some light at the end of the tunnel with the announcement that the churches can open again on 15th June. We are awaiting information from the Bishops on how this is to be done. Still, sadly, we will not be able to share our liturgy, the heart of what we do as a community with our guests. We have to be patient for a little longer
But the good news is that everyone at Belmont is well, as are our monks on the parishes. Sadly Fr Alex, the Prior of our monastery at Lurin was hit by the virus in a bad way, but fortunately he has made an excellent recovery.
Like many we have been using the internet a little more of late, as ways of connecting. Last night the community gathered for a conference with the Australian Fr Michael Casey OCSO, who is a leading monastic author to help us reflect on how to respond to this crisis as monks and nuns. The agreed mutually convenient time was 9.00pm, which was late for many, but Fr Michael had to give his talk at 6.00am from his Cistercian monastery near Melbourne. We connected with monasteries in the United States as well as with our brethren in Peru. The internet has its limits, but this was a great way of connecting with the other communities in our Congregation in a way which we would not have thought of doing. Some good comes come out of a crisis!
Likewise back at home I was able to take part in an Ecumenical prayer service for Pentecost, where leaders of different churches were represented. We were recorded separately outside Hereford Cathedral, but digitally put together, so we did not meet! A bit like all our interactions at the moment.
It was only my second time out since March, the other was to a funeral in a country churchyard. This coming Saturday, 13th June we will hold our first online retreat.
As we have watched the trees turn green, so now the church is green again - back to 'ordinary time' of the Church's year. But of course there is nothing ordinary about the present moment.
Keep safe and well, everyone,

Fr Brendan
