Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 29th May 2024
Abbot Paul • May 28, 2024
Yesterday was my last whole day in Greece and most of it was spent talking with my friends, discussing care options for the future as both become frailer and in greater need of help. Fortunately they have two lovely carers who come in on alternate days to help them, but soon this may not be enough. I thank God that, for the time being, I am well enough and enthusiastic enough to contemplate a new ministry in the parishes of Bromyard and Leominster, obviously with the help of many lay volunteers among parishioners. As you know, May 31st will be my last day as Abbot of Belmont and over the weekend I will move to the parish house at Leominster. I also feel that this would be a good time to stop writing this daily message for the time being until I see how to consider something similar in the future. I began writing this daily message in March 2020 as a result of Covid and the first lockdown. With just one or two exceptions, I’ve written a message every day since then. I thank my readers for your encouragement and prayers and assure you of my prayers and remembrance in my daily Mass. This evening I will be travelling back to England via Frankfurt and look forward to being welcomed home by a dear friend at the airport.
Today the Church remembers Pope St Paul VI, who died on the feast of the Transfiguration, 6th August 1978, at the age of 80. I remember that day so well, as Fr Dyfrig and I were on holiday in Italy and staying at the Abbey of St Paul outside the Walls. We were taking a stroll in the gardens after supper when the news came that this great pope had passed to his eternal reward. Today’s Gospel passage comes from Mark, (Mk 10: 32-45), in which Jesus gives his disciples a lesson on humility after they have been quarrelling amongst themselves as to who is the greatest among them. “Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to become first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” That is how we should all behave. We can find no better example than in Pope St Paul VI.
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.
