Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 9th December 2022
Abbot Paul • December 8, 2022
Yesterday was a long day, beginning just after midnight with the death of one of the nuns, Dame Mary, in her 100th year. What a beautiful feast day on which to leave this world for the next. As a result the timetable changed and so it was a different day from usual. Her funeral will take place during the retreat. However, I did get the opportunity to visit the magnificent shop the nuns have here and see the full range of their extensive production. Kylemore is, of course, a famous tourist destination and rightly so. I noticed a large number of Spanish visitors, for example.
Our Gospel reading today comes from Matthew, (Mt 11: 16-19), in which Jesus, talking about the age in which he lives, compares himself with John the Baptist and the reaction of the people to them both. He comes to the conclusion that they are like “children shouting to each other in the market place.” They criticised John as a man possessed and Jesus as a drunkard and a glutton for mixing with tax collectors and sinners. Yet both are doing God’s work in bringing salvation to all men and women. We pray that we might receive Christ and accept him as our Lord and Saviour and follow the example of John the Baptist in preparing the way of the Lord.
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.
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.