Oblate News Summer 2018

Dom Bernard Wassall • July 27, 2018

It seems a long time since the Lent Newsletter and there is so much to report. The Oblate retreat took place over the weekend of 23rd to 25th February February (Second Sunday of Lent). A number of oblates were unable to attend this year and so we missed a few familiar faces, but all went well and we had Novices begin their noviciate and Final Promises taken by Fiona Mills . Earlier in the year Frances Wood made her promises in St Benedict’s chapel; we wish these new Oblates every blessing.

During the past months two Oblates have died; Elizabeth Center (Oblate for 22rs) and Norah Kendal (Oblate for 18yrs) May they rest in peace. Mass was offered by the community for these deceased oblates.

My health (Br. Bernard) has not been good during these past months, but now things seem to be getting back to "normal". I would like to thank so many of you for your prayers and kind support; I am very sure that my recovery is due to the nurses, but also to your kindness and goodness. God bless you

Fr. Aidan's treatment for his cancer has taken time. His pain has been, at times, very intense and he has spent time in Leominster Presbytery, St. Michael's Hospice and here at the Abbey, with many visits to the hospitals and with nurses coming in daily. He has kept the community informed of his progress throughout these difficult months and has received much support from the parishioners at Leominster and Bromyard. Hugo, his dog, has managed to be with him a good deal of the time, making life just a little better. Treatment has been taking its course and he remains in good spirits, please remember him in your prayers.

Fr. Simon has been looking after the Leominster parish together with Weobley and Kington and Fr. Joseph the Bromyard parish. Recently, Fr. Michael , at St. Francis Xaviers, Hereford has been unwell but remained in the parish and is much better. Fr. James , at Abergavenny, has spent time in hospital and was quite ill and unable to say Mass. He is still having tests etc. so please keep him in your prayers.

In February the appointment of a new Bishop for the Diocese of Lancaster was announced after the retirement of Bishop Michael Campbell O.S.A . Canon Paul Swarbrick , a priest of the diocese, is now the new Bishop and we congratulate him on his appointment. St. Begh's Whitehaven is in the Lancaster Diocese. In September Fr. Cenydd & Fr. Richard and the people at St. Begh's, will be celebrating 150yrs anniversary of the present Victorian church building on the 15th &16th September, the parish is over 300yrs old .

The Sacred Triduum was celebrated with the usual dignity and prayerfulness. The congregations were good and as usual many visitors came on Easter Sunday, 1st April. Please pray for Deacon Fred Beddow , an oblate, now aged 94 who had a fall in April, fracturing his spine; also remember his wife Marg.


In May the Abbot President, Abbot Christopher Jamison came to the community to have discussions on the Congregation and other matters. Many of the brethren managed to come for this meeting which was a pleasant occasion.

On May10th Archbishop George Stack came to Belmont to preside at Vespers and bestow a Papal knighthood on a Bromyard parishioner, Mr. Clive Richards who is a great benefactor to many local charities.

On May 10th the Annual Torchlight Procession in honour of Our Lady took place. The weather was kind to us and a good crowd attended with Dom David Bir d giving the Homily. As ever, we thank all those who help to prepare for this occasion and welcome all the visitors in so many ways. This year there were severs from Belmont, Cwmbran, Swansea, Bromyard, Hereford and Worcester who turned up on the night and volunteered to help.

In June our Juniors were taking their examinations etc. at their various colleges/seminaries and we can now congratulate Dom Alistair on obtaining his S.T.B. summa cum laude at Sant'Anselmo. Dom Percy, Dom Juan Edgar, Dom Jose Luis and Dom Augustine all achieved good results.

On July 13th Bishop Mark celebrated his Diamond Jubilee of Ordination quietly in London. Conventual Mass was offered for his intentions. Dom Percy & Dom Juan Edgar will be ordained Deacons on Sunday 29th July by the Bishop of Lurin. Dom Augustine will make his Solemn Profession on August 6th at 10am. Dom Alistair will be ordained Deacon on Friday August 10th at 11am.

Fr. Abbot will be going to Peru for the ordinations and we hope you will keep all these brethren in prayers. Br. David has taken over the management of the Shop from Br. Bernard who has worked there for many years; he will still be involved under Br. David's new regime. Fr. David has not been well for some months and is being cared for by Br. Dunstan (Infirmarian) and Fr Jonathan (Asst), please keep him in your prayers.

Br. Dunstan has been busy with the Bees and has produced Honey for the first time; we are selling it in the shop. Fr. James (Abergavenny) has not been well recently and has had hospital visits to find wrong, at present he is here at Belmont On Sunday 15th July it was announced that Fr. Nicholas (Prior) was to be going as the new superior of Downside Abbey. This has come as a surprise/shock to many here at Belmont. Fr. Nicholas does many jobs here; Prior, Parish Priest, Junior Master, Procurator and more.

The appointment to Downside is because the community there are depleted in number and need some support from the congregation. So Fr. Nicholas together with a Douai monk and a Worth monk will be joining the community to help them. He remains a Belmont monk with his home here. All this comes into place on September 1st. He will be greatly missed here. Br. Alistair has already taken over as Procurator and there will be more changes in positions to come.

The Community will be on retreat from Monday 10th September to Friday 14th September and will be given by Dom Oswald McBride of Ampleforth. We have another Ampleforth monk staying with us at present and a monk of Buckfast. Fr. Thomas is continuing his work at Buckfast Abbey and has been very busy during this special year of celebrations. Later in October (22nd to 27th) there will be a meeting of monks and nuns of the congregation at Buckfast and end with the Abbot Primate joining the Millennium celebrations. Abbot Jeremais President of the St. Ottilien congregation will be a speaker at this conference where each monastery will send up to four members, ours will be Fr. David, Br. David, Fr. Patrick and Br. Alistair .


By Abbot Brendan Thomas May 17, 2025
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. Reception of Body and Mass of Remembrance Friday 30th May, 11am, St Joseph’s Co-Cathedral, Swansea Requiem Mass & Burial Thursday 5th June, 12 noon, Belmont Abbey John Peter Jabale was born on 16th October 1933 in Alexandria, Egypt of mainly European heritage. His father was Lebanese/French, and his mother British/Greek/French. He attended the Lycée Français in Alexandria until 1948, when he was sent to England, having expressed a desire to join the Navy. He enrolled at Belmont Abbey School and, upon leaving school, joined the Abbey, taking the religious name Mark. He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 July 1958. He was then sent to the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, where he obtained a Licentiate in French Literature, writing his thesis on Joseph de Maistre, the French counter-revolutionary. He later completed a Diploma in Education at St Mary’s, Strawberry Hill, where he also played rugby for the University. From 1964, he taught sport and served as a housemaster at the school. In 1969, he was appointed Headmaster of Alderwasley School in Derbyshire, though he held that post for only half a term before being recalled to Belmont to serve as Headmaster there, a role he held—apart from a sabbatical—until 1983. From 1964 he was teaching sport and then was a housemaster in the School. In 1969 he was appointed Headmaster of Alderwasley School, Derbyshire, but filled that post for only half a term. He was called back to Belmont to be Headmaster where he served, apart from a sabbatical, until 1983. Fr Mark was a rowing coach of considerable repute. During his sabbatical in 1979, he assisted Dan Topolski in coaching the Oxford crew for the Boat Race. His greatest coaching triumph came when he led a lightweight coxless four to a gold medal at the World Rowing Championships in Bled, Yugoslavia — the only gold medal won by Great Britain that year. The following year, he was invited to coach for the Olympics, but he declined in order to remain committed to Belmont. He was a steward of Henley Royal Regatta and was responsible for setting up and programming its first computerised systems. He was ahead of may in seeing the potential of new technology. In 1983, he was sent to Peru to purchase land and build a new monastery, which included raising funds in the UK. The new monastery was blessed, and the first Mass was celebrated there by the Archbishop of Piura, Oscar Cantuarias Pastor, in June 1986 together with Abbot Jerome, Fr Paul, Fr Luke, Fr David as well as Fr Mark. Dom Mark returned to Belmont as Prior and was elected the 10th Abbot of Belmont in 1993. He later wrote: “My first and most painful task proved to be the overseeing of the closure of the school.” Together with the bursar, John Hubert, he negotiated with the local NHS for the 4 houses to be leased to them. In 2000, he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Menevia by Pope John Paul II and was ordained bishop in St Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea, on 7 December 2000. He succeeded Bishop Daniel Mullins as the 10th Bishop of Menevia on 12 June 2001. During his episcopate, he held several important offices: Chairman of the Department for Christian Life and Worship, Trustee and Visitator of the three foreign seminaries — the Venerable English College (Rome), the Beda College (Rome), and the Royal English College (Valladolid). He was also Bishop-in-Charge of on-going formation for diocesan priests. Upon reaching the age of 75, Bishop Jabale submitted his resignation to the Holy Father on 16 October 2008 and was succeeded by Bishop Tom Burns. He then moved to Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, and was inducted as Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in March 2009, a post he held until 2014. At the age of 81, he retired to Hendon in London, where he celebrated daily Mass at a local convent, assisted in various parishes, and continued to help with confirmations in the diocese. In October 2019, he moved to Archbishop’s House, Westminster, for nine months. Finally, he returned to Belmont in 2020 as a much-cherished member of the community. He described himself as “very happy.” He remained there until his death in Hereford County Hospital on 9 May 2025, aged 91. He had been a monk of Belmont for 73 years, a priest for 67 years and a bishop for 24 years. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
By Abbot Brendan Thomas May 15, 2025
Abbot Brendan's Homily on the Gospel of the Visitation
May 15, 2025
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. Reception of Body and Mass of Remembrance Friday 30th May, 11am, St Joseph’s Co-Cathedral, Swansea Requiem Mass & Burial Thursday 5th June, 12 noon, Belmont Abbey Bishop Mark served this community well for many years, not least Abbot and before that Headmaster of the School. He was then asked to serve the wider church as Bishop of Menevia. May he know eternal happiness with God whom he served. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
By Abbot Brendan Thomas May 11, 2025
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. Reception of Body and Mass of Remembrance Friday 30th May, 11am, St Joseph’s Co-Cathedral, Swansea Requiem Mass & Burial Thursday 5th June, 12 noon, Belmont Abbey Bishop Mark served this community well for many years, not least Abbot and before that Headmaster of the School. He was then asked to serve the wider church as Bishop of Menevia. May he know eternal happiness with God whom he served. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
By Abbot Brendan Thomas May 6, 2025
A homily by Abbot Brendan at a special Easter Mass for Pope Francis, attended by Catholics from across the Deanery.
By Abbot Brendan Thomas April 24, 2025
New Title
By Abbot Brendan Thomas April 21, 2025
Pope Francis RIP Pope 2013-2025 Born 1936, Died 2025 We are deeply saddened at the passing of Pope Francis. As the successor of St Peter he has been a spiritual father and shepherd to the church in our day, challenging us, and calling as to reach out to those on the peripheries. He was the first Jesuit Pope, but took the name Francis after the Poor Man of Assisi who modelled for him a closeness to the poor, a concern for those on the margins of society and a care for all of creation In his preaching Pope Francis always spoke of the joy of the Gospel and encouraged us to reflect the joy of our faith in our lives. He showed the compassion of Jesus to everyone. He worked tirelessly for the unity of the church and travelled even to non-Christian countries promoting a message of peace. He has left a great legacy. With the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio with the community over Easter we were able to express our closeness to the Holy Father in his final suffering. There will be a special Mass at Belmont this Thursday 24th April at 11am to pray for Pope Francis as he makes his final journey to the house of the Father. On the day of his funeral, the Office of the Dead will be sung, and Mass that day will be a Requiem. May the angels lead him into paradise; may the martyrs receive him at his arrival and lead him to the holy city Jerusalem. May choirs of angels receive him and with Lazarus, the poor man grant him eternal rest." (The In Paradisum, words from the Funeral Liturgy)
By Abbot Paul April 21, 2025
We were were honoured and delighted to be joined by the Apostolic Nuncio to celebrate Easter. His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía is the representative of the Holy See in Great Britain, and therefore of the Holy Father. His presence on Easter Sunday morning brought us more consciously in communion with Pope Francis, the successor of St Peter, as we heard the Gospel story of Peter running to the tomb. His patron saint is St Michael, so afterwards, at a festive lunch we were able to present him with some Belmont cufflinks with the monastery coat of arms - very similar to his as Archbishop. We were able to pray for him and his work in this country.
By Abbot Brendan Thomas April 20, 2025
"He is not here, for he is risen." Homily by Abbot Brendan
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