Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 30th September 2022
Abbot Paul • September 29, 2022
I’m on my way back to Belmont. I’ve survived the hair raising car trip to the airport, the somewhat chaotic check in, security and immigration hurdles and I’m now sitting in a relatively quiet area, waiting for the lounge to open after fumigation, so I can write this message and say Vespers before boarding the flight to Paris. Everyone is wearing masks, as in all public places in Peru, including churches and supermarkets. All things considered, it’s been dead easy so far and I enjoyed the drive close up to the Pacific Ocean. It’s a bright sunny day, only the second since Spring began on 23rd September. This was written yesterday afternoon about 4 o’clock Peruvian time.
Today we keep the feast of that great ascetic, scholar and translator of the Bible, St Jerome. We remember our own Abbot Jerome, founder of the monastery in Peru, a man of scholarship and prayer. Our Gospel reading comes from Luke, (Lk 10: 13-16), in which Jesus laments for two towns that would not open their hearts to his teaching, or even to his miracles. “Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida!” Had such things been said and done in Tyre and Sidon, their inhabitants would have believed and been converted. The same goes for Capernaum, another town of unrepentant sinners! He says to his disciples, “Anyone who listens to you listens to me; anyone who rejects you rejects me, and those who reject me reject the one who sent me.” We pray that we may never reject Jesus or his heavenly Father who sent him to us as our Lord and Saviour, Brother and Friend.
Abbot Brendan Reflects on Pope Leo's words to the Benedictines worldwide
July and August 2026: 3 workshops let by Fr Alex Echeandia, Prior of the Monastery of Lurin
9th to 11th January 2026 A weekend for young men to experience the monastic life and join in the prayer and life of the community.
28th November at 6.45pm You are welcome to join an informal service for healing prayer on the last Friday of November. No need to book.
Sat 13th December, 10.00am-12.30am We are delighted that the acclaimed Cistercian writer, Fr Michael Casey will be with us in December.
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th December 2025. Our first Advent retreat in our newly opened guesthouse
Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
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Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.