rchived ews

February MMV

Dear Friends,

At the end of January Farnborough lost an old friend. Dom Alban Léotaud of Prinknash died, aged 95 years. Father Alban was novice master of our community for a number of years and maintained that his Farnborough years were among the happiest of his life. A number of anecdotes of his Farnborough days have become part of the common memory at the Abbey, including his naming of our Sunday liturgy, ‘the Grand Opera’! He bequeathes to our Fr Wulstan the role of senior member of the province. Most of us from Farnborough joined the Prinknash community for his Requiem Mass and burial. May he rest in peace.

The hives were opened in our Apiary at the end of last month. As soon as there is a warm day or two in January the bees are given a helping of icing sugar fondant. If their food reserves are depleted this can be the difference between life and death for a whole hive if the weather of February and March proves inclement. Our first batch of pigs went to slaughter last month and are now in the deep freeze in our basement. The cows have been in the luxury accommodation prepared for them by Fr Aidan over the Winter months. The two mothers are in calf again, and are expected to give birth next month.

We have recently completed a new little publication, an education pack to help school groups to make the most of their visits to us. This also enables us to draw substantial financial grants from DEFRA whose staff are very keen that the agricultural and rural aspect of the Abbey’s life be promoted and encouraged.

A number of men have approached us with a view to trying our way of life and we hope to have several in the novitiate by the end of the summer of this year. We ask your prayers for all those who are seeking the Lord’s will for them in the religious life or the priesthood. It is only by our own prayers and example that the youth of our day will know the Lord, listen to him and follow His call. In these days when there are so few presenting themselves as candidates for the priesthood and religious life we should be very grateful at Farnborough for the steady stream of those who try their vocation and even more grateful for those who persevere to vows in our little community.

Sincerely in the Lord,

For further information or comments please contact info@farnboroughabbey.org