Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 8th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 7, 2023
Today we keep the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, the ancient belief of the Church that Mary was conceived without sin, pure and spotless, as the Advent carols sing, because she was conceived and born to be the Mother of God, the Theotokos, she who conceived the Word Incarnate and shared with him her lifeblood, thereby giving him the gift of human life.
You might be wondering if l am writing this message on an airplane, but I’m not, in fact, I’m in a hotel in Amsterdam! Due to extreme weather conditions, the flight from Birmingham was over four hours late, so missing the connection to Lima. KLM kindly looked after me in every possible way and rebooked me to fly to Lima on Friday. I must say, it’s been a very tiring day and I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep. Normal service will resume as soon as possible.
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
