Dear Friends,
In March we once again had the joy of welcoming Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett, the Bishop of Lismore, Australia,
who stayed with us for a week en route to his five-yearly ad limina visit to the Holy Father in Rome. His
Lordship is a longstanding friend of Dom Alcuin’s, and it was therefore a happy coincidence that he was
able to be with us for the launch of Dom Alcuin’s book, based on his doctoral thesis, The Organic
Development of the Liturgy, the latest title from our Abbey Press. We were pleased to welcome a number of
guests to the launch. Much of the early part of March was spent processing the considerable number of
advance orders for the book.
March also saw the appearance of our new colour catalogue of cards, books and certificates produded by the
Abbey Press, which was sent to every parish priest in England and Wales, generating a very large response.
Free copies of the catalogue may be requested from the Abbey Press.
I spent a very happy eight days preaching the annual retreat to Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity in
their convent at Southall. The retreat, given to the junior sisters of their region, focussed on the
Stations of the Cross and the religious life. I was deeply impressed by their mix of the contemplative and
active life. When I saw their way of life, their spirit, and their joy, I began to understand why they are
so numerous. A lasting memory for me is a saying of Mother Theresa, "and if they find poor on the moon,
then we’ll go there too!"
Doms Thomas and Alcuin, ably assisted by Mrs Christine Parkin, took our Easter Cards and other products to
Towards Easter, a two-day festival of Catholic Culture held in the Cathedral Hall in Birmingham to coincide
with the feast of Saint Chad, the patron of Birmingham’s Cathedral, and inspired by the success of the
annual Towards Advent festival in London. The Birmingham festival proved to be quieter than its southern
counterpart, but proved worthwhile and was a good occasion to renew contacts with other Catholic
organisations throughout the country. The Archbishop of Birmingham who visited the stalls on the Saturday
purchased a pot of monastery balm! We are indebted to our good friend Father Aldo Tapparo of Royal
Leamington Spa for taking care of our monks during their sojourn in the Midlands.
March also saw the death of Mrs Marjorie Lehman, whose links with our community went back many years. Mrs
Lehman married a Canadian soldier who caught her eye in the congregation at a Sunday Mass at the Abbey
during the War. The requiem Mass was celebrated in the Abbey Church. Bishop Jarrett very kindly agreed to
pontificate, adding great dignity and solemnity to the occasion, and freeing me to attend to the chant. May
she rest in peace.
We receive a good number of requests for visits to the Abbey from schools, and in March welcomed all of the
first form of Salesian College, Farnborough, who visited in two groups to learn about the life of a monk,
as well as year six from the Farleigh School near Andover who came for a day’s retreat. Our friend Father
Mark Vickers, whose book St Eustace White is published by the Abbey Press, brought some young adults from
the London Faith group for a tour and for Mass.
Wishing you a Blessed Holy Week and Easter,
Sincerely in the Lord,
rchived 
ews
