News from Belmont
Fr Alexander Kenyon • July 30, 2023
Fr Alexander writes:
If you’ve been wondering what has been happening at Belmont over the recent past, wonder no longer. As life has, more or less, returned to normal after the Covid pandemic, it seems timely to try to get back to a more regular briefing from the cloisters. The Belmont community has always been, rightly, proud of the close contact we have with so many of our friends and supporters and, if communications have sometimes been less than ideal, it’s a chance now to re-establish some of that contact and think about how, together, we build up our wider community in the future.
So, what’s been happening, what is about to happen? In a word, “lots”. And, in no particular order (ordering or brigading will be sadly lacking from this particular opus) I’m happy to share with you this short digest of news for your information, edification and general delight - hope springs eternal!
Headline news
The “big” and, in so many ways, most significant news is that Abbot Paul, after almost twenty four years steering the Belmont ship as abbot, will be stepping down from the role next Spring. As a “warm up”he is stepping down as Parish Priest of Belmont at the end of August and Fr. Augustine will be taking over that particular rudder - we wish him well and I’m sure he will have lots of support.
Fr. Paul has, as mentioned, been abbot for almost a quarter of a century; I hope that doesn’t make him feel old. His kindness, wisdom and prayerfulness have been sources of inspiration both to the community and many others, far and wide. I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities to pay tribute to him etc over the coming months; for now we simply wish him well and offer him our prayers. Do please pray for the community as well as we begin a period of discernment before a new abbot is elected next year
Community News
Our noviciate is three strong now: our novices, Brothers Meinrad and Gildas have been joined by a postulant, Brother Robert. All make a great contribution to the liturgical, spiritual and domestic life of the community. Please continue to pray for them as they begin their monastic journeys.
In September Fr. Alex, prior of our monastery in Peru, will be at Belmont delivering a couple of icon retreats. Please keep him and our brethren in Peru in your prayers.
The Covid pandemic had such a negative impact on so many aspects of life. One particular way that our lives were impoverished was demonstrated by our inability to say a proper “goodbye” to those who died during this period. In the case of Belmont our dear, beloved Brothers Bernard and Raphael returned to God without many of us being able to be present at their requiems and burials. In order to allow people to come together to pray for them and celebrate their lives we will be having a memorial Mass for them both on Saturday, August 19th at 11am. Do please come along if you can. The are both missed greatly.
On a happier note our dear Fr. Richard, currently toiling away on our parish in Whitehaven, celebrates his silver jubilee of ordination on September 29th. He will be here at Belmont to celebrate the 4pm Mass on Saturday, 30th September and all are welcome. If you would like to join him for a cup of tea and a sandwich after the Mass please let me know so that suitable and ample comestibles will be available - you can email me, Fr Alexander
at djaskenyon@gmail.com. We congratulate Fr. Richard on this great milestone and offer him our love and prayers for many more years of fruitful ministry.
Belmont has been asked to renew its pastoral work in the parishes of Leominster and Bromyard and we will be starting this apostolic work in September.
Please continue to keep the Belmont community in your prayers. We especially appreciate prayers for our brethren in Peru who face many challenges, not least the unstable political situation and spiralling costs.
Dom Alexander
July 2023
Longworth Chapel Mass
Did you know that there are two mediaeval Catholic Churches in or near Hereford?
The Longworth Chapel at Bartestree is dedicated to Saint James. It is a small but beautiful gothic building, unique in being a mediaeval chapel used for Catholic worship over a period of some six hundred years. It was originally the chapel of Old Longworth manor house built c.1390. Then it (yes, the church!) was moved to Bartestree in 1869. Sadly, the church was closed in 1995 but is currently in the care of the Historic Chapels Trust.
Once a year some of the community join local Catholics to celebrate Mass - usually, as this year, on the feast of St James. We prayed in particular for Robert Phillipps who restored the Chapel for Catholic worship and built the neighbouring Bartestree Convent. We also prayed for the sisters who served there for 130 years as well as the those cared for at St Michael’s Hospice, built in the convent grounds. Fr Brendan presided at the Mass along with Fr James. Abbot Paul, Fr Augustine & Br Meinrad led the singing and Br Gildas served.
On 15th August there will be Mass in the Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford, another mediaeval church used by Catholics.
View more
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.
Archbishop Mark O'Toole, of Cardiff-Menevia presided at the Requiem Mass for Bishop Mark, while Abbot Brendan conducted his burial. Cardinal Vincent Nichols preached a homily full of warmth and affection for Bishop Mark which is reproduced below.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB RIP Given at his funeral by Dom Alexander Kenyon Baby Jean Pierre (Mark) Jabale was born on October 16th, 1933, in Alexandria, Egypt. As he said, himself, his background could be considered “cosmopolitan”: his father was Lebanese / French and his Mother, British / Greek / French. He also reminded people that he wasn’t Egyptian. Through his mother, Arlette, he was related to St. Jean Vianney, so it was, perhaps, no surprise that he followed in his priestly footsteps. His father, Jean, was MD of Fiat and Simca cars Europe and, maybe surprisingly or not, he did love a car – not, however, Italian cars, but German; he loved his Audis. Perhaps we should begin today by remembering his mother and father, his brothers Christian and Paul and his nieces, here today, Aline and Nathalie and Isabelle and their families – they were so dear to him and he to them and I know they miss him enormously. Young Jean wanted to join the Navy and came to England, to Belmont Abbey school but the Lord had other ideas – he ended up joining the rather land locked monastery, our dear, late Fr. Raymund opining that he wouldn’t last a month. After a rather uninspiring course of priestly studies (his words, not mine) he studied for a Licentiate in French literature in Fribourg, then a Dip Ed at Strawberry Hill and played Rugby there – the Papist Witch Doctor as he was affectionately known. Teaching followed, at Belmont, Housemaster, acting Headmaster, then to Alderwasley, our prep school in Derbyshire as Headmaster, and then back to Belmont soon after as Headmaster. In 1983 he went to Peru to build our first monastery there only to realise there was little money. So, he returned to the UK to put in a stint of fundraising with his usual zeal and determination. With his mission accomplished he was asked by Abbot Alan to return to Belmont as his prior in 1986 – Peru remained close to his heart. In 1993 he was elected Abbot. In his time as Abbot, he had to preside over the closure of the school, necessary but no less painful for him. In 2000 he was appointed coadjutor Bishop of Menevia and succeeded Bishop Mullins in 2001. He retired as Ordinary in 2008 and “retired” to Chipping Norton as parish priest, then Hendon, saying Mass for the nuns and helping with confirmations. After a spell at Archbishop’s House, Westminster, living with his great friend Cardinal Nichols, he came home to Belmont – it was as though he had never been away and he loved being back in the monastery, particularly praying the Office with the community. That’s the list, of sorts, but it doesn’t really say “who” he was. I haven’t mentioned his outstanding contribution to rowing – the 1979 coxless, lightweight four gold medal at the world championships in Bled, which almost didn’t happen as, at the last minute, he was told there was no money to send the crew. He begged, cajoled and got them there – the video footage of the final is compelling. He transformed Henley Royal Regatta, writing a computer programme for the race results – he was well ahead of his time. He coached the Oxford Boat, ran the Heads of the River Schools Regatta, and more. What an achievement from someone who had never sat in a boat but learned on the job, as he said, “from books, mainly”. It was his determination, his commitment, his love of people and his drive to share what he had that is, perhaps, one of the key things to celebrate about him. And it was underpinned by his rock-solid faith – nothing overly pious, nothing showy, but a faith and a love of the Lord built on granite. Even his occasional lack of patience (sorry Mark) extended to that faith; ‘why won’t God call me?”. At the risk of being irreverent my response was always “would you want you?”. But God did want him, and he knew it. God had a purpose for his Apostle during his life and he now rests with Him in eternity. His purpose was, simply, to bring the joy of the Lord into the lives of others, in many and varied ways. A few weeks before Mark died, Pope Francis died. When the late Pope was seriously ill the son of friends of mine who entertained Mark and I to lunch regularly, was distraught at overhearing mum and dad say the Pope may die. He couldn’t stop crying. “But darling”, they said, “you don’t know the Pope, why so very sad?”. “We do know him” came the reply, “it’s Mark”. “No, Mark isn’t the Pope”. “Oh, so when the Pope does die will Mark be Pope then?”. Mark loved that one. When Mark himself did die said son would only be pacified by picking flowers from the garden and bringing them to church for him. He wanted to show how much Mark meant to him and wanted to give a little something back. That is the real biography – a man loved, respected, a man who shared what he had, above all his faith, a man who touched so many lives and made them better.  Rest in peace our dear friend.
Our brethren in Peru were delighted with the election of Pope Leo.
