Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 16th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 16, 2023
So the Second Week of Advent comes to an end and we prepare to set out on the final eight days marked by the Great O Antiphons. Unusually, tomorrow Gaudete Sunday coincides with O Sapientia, so there will be a lot to think about and pray for. The horrific situation in Gaza surely can’t go on for much longer. Can there be anything left to bomb? How can we just stand by and see what is happening there? I just can’t get my head around the desire for war, destruction and death, but I realise that Hamas started this and have led Israel into a trap which seems to have no way out other than total destruction and revenge. In what is left of Advent, let us step up our prayers for peace and that somehow a solution might be found to bring about a just peace and lasting coexistence between Israel and Palestine.
It’s so late tonight, after my exhausting day in Lima, that I won’t write anymore. Please forgive me. I’ll add a few photographs of the church of Santo Domingo, including the tombs of St Rose of Lima and St Martin de Porres, where I prayed for all my readers.
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.
