Our Lady and St. Benedict
  • Home
    • Church History
  • Mass Times
  • Homilies
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Ash Wednesday
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Baptism of Our Lord
    • Epiphany of the Lord
    • Homily; 1 Jan 2021; Mary Mother of God
    • Christmas Midnight Mass
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent
    • Homily 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • Homily; 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty-third Sunday
    • Thirty-second Sunday
    • All Souls
    • All Saints
    • Thirtieth Sunday
    • Twenty-ninth Sunday
    • Twenty-eighth Sunday
    • Twenty seventh Sunday
    • Twenty-sixth Sunday
    • Twenty-fifth Sunday
    • Twenty Fourth Sunday
    • Twenty-third Sunday
    • Twenty-second Sunday
    • Twenty-first Sunday
    • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Nineteenth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • Fifteenth Sunday
    • Fourteenth Sunday
    • St Peter & St Paul
    • Twelfth Sunday
    • Trinity Sunday
    • Pentecost Sunday
    • Homily for Tuesday Wk 6 Easter
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday
    • Holy Saturday
    • Good Friday
    • Maundy Thursday
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Presentation of the Lord
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Holy Family
    • Mary Mother of God
    • Second Sunday of Advent
    • First Sunday of Advent
    • Remembrance Sunday
    • Thirty-first Sunday
    • Twenty-fourth Sunday
    • Twentieth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
    • The Most Holy Trinity
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Thirteenth Sunday
    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Transfiguration of the Lord
    • Cemetery Mass
  • Newsletters
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • Second Sunday after the Nativity
    • The Holy Family
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent
    • 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty third Sunday
    • Thirty second Sunday
    • All Saints
    • Thirtieth Sunday
    • Twenty-ninth Sunday
    • Twenty-eighth Sunday
    • Twenty-seventh Sunday
    • Twenty-sixth Sunday
    • Twenty-fifth Sunday
    • Twenty Fourth Sunday
    • Thirty-third Sunday
    • Twenty-second Sunday
    • Twenty-first Sunday
    • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Nineteenth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • Fifteenth Sunday
    • Fourteenth Sunday
    • St Peter & St Paul
    • Twelfth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
    • Trinity Sunday
    • Pentecost Sunday
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Presentation of the Lord
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • The Epiphany of the Lord
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Second Sunday of Advent
    • First Sunday of Advent
    • Thirty-first Sunday
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Twenty-fourth Sunday
    • Twenty-third Sunday
    • Twentieth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Trinity
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
  • Coronavirus
    • Caritas Middlesbrough helpline
    • Live streaming
    • Home Prayers
    • Our Advent Journey to Christmas sheet
    • Blessing of Advent Wreath
    • O Antiphon thought for each day
    • The Tablet
    • Seized by the Holy Spirit by Abbot General
    • Letter to Daniel
    • Joyce Rupp reflection
    • The Rev Julie Nicholson
    • Noah's Ark story part 1 >
      • Noah's Ark story part 2
      • Noah's Ark story part 3
      • Noah's Ark story part 4
    • Wind beneath my wings; Bette Midler
    • Lockdown poem
    • Our Lady and the child Jesus
    • Pope Francis Rosary
    • Seven gifts sheet
    • Women & the post-covid church
    • Jesus images
    • Ark
    • Why I'm not opening church's yet
    • Abbot primates five blessings
    • Holy Spirit
    • Angelus & Come down O Love divine hymn
    • Simon & Garfunkel song
    • Trasna Poem
    • The seven I am titles of Jesus
    • Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat by Simon de Myle
    • Angels Unaware
    • Be still and know that I am God
    • Extraordinary moment of prayer
    • Halik
    • Don't be fooled
    • Home picture
    • The Last Supper
    • Iona Gate
    • Caravaggio 1
    • Caravaggio 2
    • Poems 1
    • Poems 2
    • School
    • Leeds
    • 5th Station, Simon of Cyrene carries the Cross
  • Hospitality & Outreach
    • Middlesbrough Food Bank
    • The Sick and the Unwell
    • The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)
    • ​Together Middlesbrough and Cleveland (TMC)
    • Zimbabwe missions appeal >
      • Mashambanzou Bulletin September 2020
  • Gallery
    • Bernard's bench 2020
    • Cherry tree in blossom 2020
    • 2016 in our Church
    • Church Photos
    • Historical Photos
  • Contact us
  • Caristas Newsletter
  • 100 Club Winners
  • GDPR - Privacy Notice
  • Justice & Peace
  • Knitting for Refugees
  • Parish Hall for hire
  • Rosa Ampleforth
  • Safeguarding
  • Useful Links

                                                                                                                   
In my homily for the Feast of Corpus Christi earlier this month I referred back a week to Sat evg 6 June 2020 when, courtesy of our Congregation Ongoing Formation Committee we had an hour on zoom 9pm to 10pm with monks & nuns from monasteries in the UK USA Ireland Peru, & our local Sisters in Stanbrook, listening to Fr Michael Casey, a Cistercian monk in Australia talking to us on “crisis” which then, pre the tragic death of George Floyd, centred on Covid-19. He referred to it “krisis” as the effect of Christ’s coming, speaking of us being “at a time when a decision has to be made” with the virus, the likely recession, polarisation world-wide, an expansion of superficialty [truth v fake news] & the Church being tainted/touched by sexual abuse & the abuse of power within the Church, bringing us to a point of decision “we are living in a golden age”. I shared with you on the Feast of Corpus Christi the experience of the pilot limping home across the Atlantic having lost an engine; a decision [like Covid-19] not faced before; aviate [keep going keep it in the air]; navigate [try to get somewhere in a life-giving way] & communicate [tell the crew/passengers/people on ground what is happening, inviting others to participate]. He said “morality becomes more creative in inclusivity“ &” God is dependable..we feel/experience providence of God active in our life” [my Holy Spirit moments which the world devalues into coincidence] “the present need/crisis is a key element in the remaking of the ancient foundation of monasticism”..”build up a sense of solidarity [we can get there together] building up the empowerment of the group. Real reform never comes from the top, but from bottom, where a few gather, it is convincing & others join us.” As fellow Benedictines of ours in our Community I hope you recognise yourselves alongside us, fellow disciples, in our current home-camino, hopefully soon to become a pilgrimage back into our spiritual home-space, never forgetting the spiritual home ground each of you have discovered, fostered & been fed in these last 14wks, your own cave..safe protective assuring organic spirituality in the making baking & sharing in your home Eucharist’s.
Last Saturday afternoon was the second in the series of three talks, this by Fr Columba Stewart OSB from Collegeville in Minnesota who spoke on “the social & spiritual challenge of Covid-19 a few months in, of racism, & why we as monks/nuns are well placed to react to the crisis “ in line with Ch 7 of Rule of St Benedict seventh step of  humility “good for me to be humbled & to learn” Covid-19 a learning moment about me in Community & with good things emerging; a gift to deal with it in springtime, to reground ourselves at a different pace; of racism being endemic, the death of George Floyd beginning a reckoning, BLM to finally reckon with our past. Our Benedictine life  being in listening/hospitality/inclusion & honesty, where “all are included not just the “in-group”! Monte Cassino our ground zero “cut it back & it still grows” “why do we keep coming back?” it is because of “our ability to form sustainable communities, healing in & out” “we know how to do this & have done it time & time again.” “a very graced moment for us” “take each day as it comes, basic monastic practices [& the good monastic practices you have grown in OL&SB ] will see us “us” through”. I will share a little more with you from him next weekend.
 
As you will know, either by personal experience by now, or through Outreach & my recent special messages sent to you to keep you fully included in the breaking news, we re-opened OL&SB Church last Friday for private prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament between 2pm & 4pm, when 16 of you came, & cooperated so gently & appreciatively with our ministers of welcome. We will continue the Friday prayer times each week from now on until we receive authorisation to begin Masses again in Church. (it seems now, as we are awaiting authorisation from the Bishop, that it may be possible to resume Masses in OL&SB from the weekend of 4th/5th July 2020)
Our planning group did sterling work for us, & the experience gained will seed really well into the procedures & practices we will need to implement to gain the Bishops permission to eventually celebrate Mass again in OL&SB & in OL&HA in Gilling.
I mentioned in my email to you of last Tuesday 23 June I had read the 30 page document compiled for reintroducing Mass throughout the Archdiocese of Tuam in Ireland where Mass is again celebrated from this weekend. It is entitled “nothing can separate us from the love of God [Rom 8;39] & it begins beautifully with a spiritual reflection ; its summary will fit well to our hopes when the time comes to consider our strategy for the full re-opening for Mass. “we hope that many in our parish communities will be inspired to respond with generosity & energy in helping to renew & strengthen the four pillars of parish life; worship, word, community & outreach to those in need.”
 
St Benedict’s RC Primary School continue to work & pray on impressively, with some 20 children in School this week, working playing eating & praying in their own year group bubbles. Our Governors met via Teams last night to listen to Mr Eddy’s report on every aspect of life in School, & this is a moment to express our appreciation to all our Governors for their enthusiasm support for & challenge to our staff; the way all have come together inclusively to ensure our children are receiving the best possible standard of education, pre Covid & during the pandemic, is outstanding. “a very graced moment for us”.
I copy below my weekly letter to the children, this week introducing them to a new story in our book “the ten best stories in the Bible” with this one called “family politics” in which the plight of the first Holy Family is opened, allowing your holy families & my community to read in between the lines in it & recognise people we know very well! Be it in cabin fever or cloister fever..
 
   Message from Fr Bede                               Hello to you all!
 
..to you, to your brothers & sisters, your Mummies & Daddies, & to Mr Eddy & all your teachers, who keep asking to be included in my weekly letters to you. We are now back into the flow of this unusual term, with some of you again working in School, & more of you still working hard from home. We continue to think about each other don’t we? & pray for each other, looking forward to the time after the long summer holidays when we will all come together in School for a new start together. Meanwhile, well done all of you & your teachers & families as we continue to work hard & do our best.
You will know that my favourite football team is Leeds United, & they went back to playing football again for the first time in 14 weeks last Sunday, playing away at Cardiff City, & they sadly hadn’t learned from your example & they didn’t do their best, & they lost 2-0..so Fr Bede has a Mr Glum face on this week. One of the most important things to learn in life is how to lose well; it is easy to be a smiley good winner but more difficult to be a smiley good loser, to thank whoever has beaten you, & to say “well done!” & mean it, & then to learn from our mistakes for the next time. If only the Leeds manager was as good a leader as Mr Eddy, I think Leeds would easily be top of the league!
 
The story we have been sharing for some weeks has been of Noah & his family in their Ark as they escaped from the flood; we thought it fitted well for us in our families in lockdown in our Ark [our home ] as we tried to keep safe from the coronavirus. Each week I shared some of the story with you & asked you three or four questions about each chapter. We got some terrific answers & us grown-ups really enjoyed reading what you wrote. I want to thank all those who got involved, & their mummies & daddies too, in seeing how the story of Noah fitted so well to our lives here & now. So, well done to Constance, Ryan, Arthur, Albert, Evelyn, Lexi, Daisy & Matilda who all sent in great answers. One early question I asked was “if you could take any animal into your Ark with you, which would you take?” & one reply was “I would take a dog because they are really kind & I like them” a good answer, & then they thought a little more a little deeper & said “actually I would take two dogs, one kind & one mean, because the kind one is an example to the mean one to be kind to others.” Wonderful, a lesson for each of us either in school, at home or in my monastery, to help others to grow to be good by our example.
 
I thought we might enjoy another story from my book “the ten best stories from the Bible” so I will share with you each week part of a story called “family politics” & it tells the story of someone you know very well, a baby born in Bethlehem into a family where there were all sorts of things going on for them. You will see yourselves in it, & I hope you will enjoy it. I will send the first five pages with this letter to you.
 
Three questions for you to attempt if you would like to, & then send your answers to me through your Mummy or through Mr Eddy in School please.
 
[1] when Joseph & Mary were on the long hot dusty road from Nazareth to Bethlehem,
    what kept Joseph going was such happy memories of his happy times there as a boy.
    What special memories do you have of life in your family & among your friends?
 
[2] Joseph had a dream & he hoped & prayed it might come true.
    What do you think his dream was?
     Have you a dream I wonder? You may want to keep it a secret but if you would like
    to share a little bit of it, I would love to hear it please.
 
[3] when Joseph arrived at last at his Aunt Ruth’s home in Bethlehem, expecting a lovely
    warm welcome, she was sour-faced & had been arguing & screaming.
    What do you think might have made her bad tempered?
    What makes you bad tempered?
    & who suffers because of your grumpiness? 
    & how do you put it right with those you hurt?
 
I hope you are remembering to be really helpful in your Ark at home, keeping your room tidy, & generally being a good smiley crew member, where we all have a job to do for our family..& always remember to tell your Mummy & Daddy the three key words at least three times each day…….[ the special three words  “I love you” & watch for the smile ]
 
With my love & prayers to you all.                             ..& a fist bump from me!  Fr Bede
 
 
Do listen out of for our Church bell at 10am on Sunday, ringing out through the Village our unity as the Body of Christ this weekend, & in unity of thought love & prayer each Sunday with Rev Catherine Reid & our brothers & sisters at St Hilda’s & at Holy Cross in Gilling. Friday is the feast of St Thomas “doubting Thomas” who got much more than the other ten, because he was absent the first time the Risen Christ appeared, & to make up for it, totally at odds to the penalty the so-called faithful ten expected him deservedly to receive, he got not just to see but to touch the wounds. When wounded met wounded.
 
On Saturday next, 4 July 2020, I am leading the Home Retreat day from the Abbey with a 15min talk at 11am; you can find it on https://ampleforth.org.uk/abbey/service-times  with the theme “the frailty of the young” taken from Ch 37 of the Rule, & my continuing ministry among the young over the last 20yrs. You will be most welcome, with resources left on line for you from me for the rest of the day.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                      With my love & prayers. Fr Bede
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 

Website by Gabriel Media Limited
  • Home
    • Church History
  • Mass Times
  • Homilies
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Ash Wednesday
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Baptism of Our Lord
    • Epiphany of the Lord
    • Homily; 1 Jan 2021; Mary Mother of God
    • Christmas Midnight Mass
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent
    • Homily 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • Homily; 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty-third Sunday
    • Thirty-second Sunday
    • All Souls
    • All Saints
    • Thirtieth Sunday
    • Twenty-ninth Sunday
    • Twenty-eighth Sunday
    • Twenty seventh Sunday
    • Twenty-sixth Sunday
    • Twenty-fifth Sunday
    • Twenty Fourth Sunday
    • Twenty-third Sunday
    • Twenty-second Sunday
    • Twenty-first Sunday
    • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Nineteenth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • Fifteenth Sunday
    • Fourteenth Sunday
    • St Peter & St Paul
    • Twelfth Sunday
    • Trinity Sunday
    • Pentecost Sunday
    • Homily for Tuesday Wk 6 Easter
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday
    • Holy Saturday
    • Good Friday
    • Maundy Thursday
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Presentation of the Lord
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Holy Family
    • Mary Mother of God
    • Second Sunday of Advent
    • First Sunday of Advent
    • Remembrance Sunday
    • Thirty-first Sunday
    • Twenty-fourth Sunday
    • Twentieth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
    • The Most Holy Trinity
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Thirteenth Sunday
    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Transfiguration of the Lord
    • Cemetery Mass
  • Newsletters
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • Second Sunday after the Nativity
    • The Holy Family
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent
    • 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty third Sunday
    • Thirty second Sunday
    • All Saints
    • Thirtieth Sunday
    • Twenty-ninth Sunday
    • Twenty-eighth Sunday
    • Twenty-seventh Sunday
    • Twenty-sixth Sunday
    • Twenty-fifth Sunday
    • Twenty Fourth Sunday
    • Thirty-third Sunday
    • Twenty-second Sunday
    • Twenty-first Sunday
    • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Nineteenth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • Fifteenth Sunday
    • Fourteenth Sunday
    • St Peter & St Paul
    • Twelfth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
    • Trinity Sunday
    • Pentecost Sunday
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Presentation of the Lord
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • The Epiphany of the Lord
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Second Sunday of Advent
    • First Sunday of Advent
    • Thirty-first Sunday
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Twenty-fourth Sunday
    • Twenty-third Sunday
    • Twentieth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Trinity
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
  • Coronavirus
    • Caritas Middlesbrough helpline
    • Live streaming
    • Home Prayers
    • Our Advent Journey to Christmas sheet
    • Blessing of Advent Wreath
    • O Antiphon thought for each day
    • The Tablet
    • Seized by the Holy Spirit by Abbot General
    • Letter to Daniel
    • Joyce Rupp reflection
    • The Rev Julie Nicholson
    • Noah's Ark story part 1 >
      • Noah's Ark story part 2
      • Noah's Ark story part 3
      • Noah's Ark story part 4
    • Wind beneath my wings; Bette Midler
    • Lockdown poem
    • Our Lady and the child Jesus
    • Pope Francis Rosary
    • Seven gifts sheet
    • Women & the post-covid church
    • Jesus images
    • Ark
    • Why I'm not opening church's yet
    • Abbot primates five blessings
    • Holy Spirit
    • Angelus & Come down O Love divine hymn
    • Simon & Garfunkel song
    • Trasna Poem
    • The seven I am titles of Jesus
    • Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat by Simon de Myle
    • Angels Unaware
    • Be still and know that I am God
    • Extraordinary moment of prayer
    • Halik
    • Don't be fooled
    • Home picture
    • The Last Supper
    • Iona Gate
    • Caravaggio 1
    • Caravaggio 2
    • Poems 1
    • Poems 2
    • School
    • Leeds
    • 5th Station, Simon of Cyrene carries the Cross
  • Hospitality & Outreach
    • Middlesbrough Food Bank
    • The Sick and the Unwell
    • The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)
    • ​Together Middlesbrough and Cleveland (TMC)
    • Zimbabwe missions appeal >
      • Mashambanzou Bulletin September 2020
  • Gallery
    • Bernard's bench 2020
    • Cherry tree in blossom 2020
    • 2016 in our Church
    • Church Photos
    • Historical Photos
  • Contact us
  • Caristas Newsletter
  • 100 Club Winners
  • GDPR - Privacy Notice
  • Justice & Peace
  • Knitting for Refugees
  • Parish Hall for hire
  • Rosa Ampleforth
  • Safeguarding
  • Useful Links