Return to Belmont of Bishop Mark
Abbot Brendan Thomas • August 9, 2020
We are delighted to have Bishop Mark, Bishop Emeritus of Menevia, back home in the community.
After more than 20 years away from Belmont, we are very pleased that Bishop Mark Jabalé has returned to the community, having been taken away to be Bishop of Menevia.
He was always an important figure in the life of Belmont, as Headmaster of the School from 1969 until 1983 and later as Abbot from 1993 to 2000.
He was sent to Peru to build the monastery of the Incarnation in Sullana which Belmont was founding in the north of the country. He returned to be Prior and then was Elected Abbot.
Pope John Paul appointed him bishop of Menevia (West Wales – the see of St David), with his cathedral in Swansea. When the time came for him to retire as Bishop, he still felt he had plenty of energy so took the unusual step of becoming parish priest of Chipping Norton. Since then he has helped Cardinal Vincent Nicholls, taking on various commitments such as Confirmations in the Archdiocese. In the latter period he lived at Archbishop's House, Westminster.
One of his particular interests that developed in the School years was rowing. For several years he coached the Oxford University crew for the Boat Race and was entrusted with the lightweight coxless four for Great Britain which won a Gold medal at the World Championships in 1979.
Born in Alexandria, Bishop Mark was a boy at Belmont Abbey School. Finally retiring, he is delighted to be back at Belmont as we are to have him.
The above photos are from the 60th Ordination Anniversary Mass of Bishop Mark held at Westminster Cathedral on 13th July 2018.
Click to enlarge.

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)
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.
