Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 25th March 2023
Abbot Paul • March 25, 2023
Yesterday, it was a great joy to visit my mother after more than a month’s absence due to my trip to Peru and commitments here at Belmont. I must organise my time better so as to enable me to see her more often. It’s not easy being an only child, especially when a parent gets to an advanced age and you’re not far behind yourself! The journey down was a joy, the journey back a nightmare of closed roads and endless diversions. Toby and I were able to go down to the beach for a couple of hours, good for his arthritis and excellent for my hay fever. It was heaven on earth.
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, which is a feast both of Our Lady and Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the feast of the Incarnation, celebrating the day that the Angel Gabriel came to Mary with the Good News that she had been chosen by the Father to bear his incarnate Son, to whom she would give the name Jesus, he who saves. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.” These words, this text and this feast are fundamental to our Christian faith. Let us with Mary always say to God, “I am the servant of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.” Like her, may we always do God’s will.
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.
