(From Pope Francis’s Mass for World Youth Day in Campo San Juan Pablo 11, 27th Feb 2019.)….continued… “You, dear young people, are not the future. We like to say “you are the future” but no, you are the present. You are not the future of God, you young people are the now of God. He invites you & calls you in your communities & cities to go out & find your grandparents, your elders; to stand up & speak with them, to speak out & realise the dream that the Lord has dreamed for you. Not tomorrow, now, for wherever your treasure is now, there will your heart also be. Whatever you fall in love with, it will win over not only your imagination, it will affect everything. It will be what makes you get up in the morning, what keeps you going at times of fatigue, what will break open your hearts & fill you with wonder, joy & gratitude. Realise that you have a mission & fall in love; that will decide everything. We may possess everything but, dear young friends, if we lack the passion of love, we will have nothing. The passion of love today! Let us allow the Lord to make us fall in love & let him take us into the future! For Jesus, there is no “meantime”, but only a merciful love that wants to enter into & win over our hearts. He wants to be our treasure, because Jesus is not a “meantime”, an interval in life or a passing fad; he is generous love that invites us to entrust ourselves.” (Pope Francis’s powerful message to our young people, & through them to us, will be concluded next week….be ready!)
Following the IICSA report of last summer & an initial period of reflection by the Community, Fr Gabriel has this week issued the following statement, to be shared with us & others. Ampleforth Abbey, Ampleforth College & St Martin’s Ampleforth are committed to promoting the highest standards of safeguarding of children & adults at risk. No apology can ever be adequate for the suffering that has been caused to those abused by monks & lay staff, in our schools & parishes, & from them we seek a forgiveness we do not deserve. We feel a profound shame at the sacred trust we have betrayed, & a profound sorrow at the lasting damage inflicted by the actions of individuals & by our failures as a community to put the needs of each child first. We are renewing our commitment to work in a transparent way with the statutory authorities. We are meeting with, & learning from, survivors of abuse, & in our community prayer & discussions we are discerning practical ways to enable a different, safer, future. If you are a victim or survivor of abuse & would like to speak to someone, please contact our Safeguarding Coordinator, John Ridge John.Ridge@ampleforth.org.uk or 01439 766043. If you would prefer not to speak to someone at Ampleforth, please contact Survive York: 0808 145 1890 or 01904 638813. Trained counsellors are available to talk in complete confidence. Fr Gabriel Everitt OSB, Prior Administrator, & the Monastic Community of Ampleforth Abbey.
Some developing thoughts for Lent 2019. A weekly Lenten Pause, a half hour for silent prayer & recollection in alternate Churches, with varying dates to try to include those with regular weekly commitments. Fri 8th March OL&SB: Tues 12th March St Hilda’s: Fri 22nd March OL&SB: Tues 26th March St Hilda’s: Mon 1st April OL&SB: Tues 9th April St Hilda’s. All at 5.15pm until 5.45pm. Sun 14th April (Palm Sunday) Stations of the Cross & Palm Procession at Byland Abbey (provisional) Caroline Dollard has generously agreed to lead a Lent Course based on her new book “Seeking God Together”. It will help us to look at how we accompany families of all shapes, sizes & make up, at every stage of their existence as part of our belonging together & our community responsibility. An introductory session & 5 “seasons” to explore. Each session will include refreshments, reflection & prayer. Wednesdays 13th, 20th, & 27th March: 3rd, 10th, &17th April 2019, 7.30pm to 9pm. If you would like to participate, a list for names is at the back of Church & the Parish will provide each individual with a copy of the book. with love & my prayers. Fr Bede