Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 17th September 2022
Abbot Paul • September 17, 2022
Dear friends,
Sitting at my desk at Belmont to write my daily message now seems a lifetime away. I am sitting in my room in the monastery in Peru, writing these few words on an iPad balanced on my knee, six hours behind Belmont, and although it’s 17C outside, it feels colder. At Lurin, just a ten minute walk from the Pacific Ocean and neighbours to a large factory and a shopping mall, strangely it is much quieter than Belmont, which suffers from the noise of excess traffic both on the A465 and Ruckhall Lane. I took yesterday as a day of rest and relaxation to recover from the long journey out on Thursday, 24 hours door to door. The flights were comfortable, although wearing a face mask on the flight to Lima wasn’t a pleasant experience, but there were angels at both ends of the journey to help me with my 100 kilos of luggage spread over five cases. I haven’t visited our monastery in Peru for almost three years, so there were many requests, especially for the shop here. Later in my trip I’ll take a few photographs to share with you. You’ll be amazed at what the brethren produce for sale and for the consumption of the house. Today’s photograph I took from my small balcony looking at the cloister garden. There is a community of twelve here, so with me that makes thirteen.
Our Gospel today comes from Luke, (Lk 6: 43-49), in which Jesus makes clear to his disciples how essential it is the listen to his voice and follow his teaching. Only that way will they be building on rock rather than on shifting sands. “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them builds his house on rock.” Likewise, they are to transform their own hearts by the goodness that comes from obedience to the will of God, so that they too can “draw what is good from the store of goodness in their hearts.” Today we pray for that grace to be ours, as always on a Saturday through Our Lady’s prayers.
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.