Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St.
Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 24 of July 2016 No. 768
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
The email from Kazim is the follow up to Circulars No. 762, 764 and 766
a discussion under the name The Mount as I see it.
This is the last of the series
-------------------------------------------
Abasali
<empowerwithart@gmail.com>
Apr
13 at 7:17 AM
Thank you, Jon,
for sharing with us what you experienced first-hand in your time at the Abbey, MSB.
And thank you for
sharing how you felt as the Boys do and somehow wish for some semblance of
return
However, as you
pointed out, those days are long gone and the Boys’ longing that is in their
hearts should cherish the past memories.
Times are different
now, as are circumstances.
And the Abbot,
through no fault of his, did not share our past experiences of life at the
Mount in our time.
So, be honest
with him, we should understand from his point of view having no connection with
our past.
And more importantly
do not blame him.
Jon, I personally
thank and appreciate you for sharing these thoughts about your time at the
Mount.
It gives us a
greater perspective.
I value your
wisdom in thinking through the process from tender schooldays at Mount, to your
volunteer time to assist the Abbot, and now.
And last but not
least, the training we acquired in school should be applied here.
To pray and pray
for everyone involved past and present.
Personally, I
cannot add anything to this sage advice.
And although, I
too have always sought to pray that God's will be done, not my will, I have
been here reminded by you that this is the divine path we should take.
Blessings to you,
our Abbot, and all our Boys.
May we continue
to work in love and unity for highest good for all concerned.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------.
On
Wed, Apr 13, 2016 at 11:18 AM,
Jon
Golding <jon@goldings.net> wrote:
Thank you, Fr Harold,
For your
appreciation of the big picture of the past which we are fortunate that you
were part of.
It is great that
you can be a link to that era which many/most of the later post-Dutch staff and
students would not have any depth of understanding for.
Not their fault.
For us
earlier-days old boys we have tended not to want to let go of the past and only
blame the poor Abbot, including myself, my apologies to this forum!
Any new initiatives
need a totally fresh and different 2016 outlook with close appreciation,
respect and cooperation for the Church-appointed Head of the monastery, Fr
Abbott, whoever he may be.
Not what we old
boys wish thru pure nostalgia, and in some cases ego and personal politics.
God is in charge
so let's ask Him to lead the way and try to become aware of His response in
prayer, as we were taught by our School and Church.
Amen, and let's
continue our camaraderie in good Faith and giving.
Keep well.
Jon
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Jon
Golding <jon@goldings.net>
Apr
13 at 7:34 AM
Thank you, Kazim.
Much appreciated and let’s look to the future
with the benefit of our past experience!
God bless
Jon
On
13 Apr 2016, at 02:15,
Father
Harold Imamshah <frharold12@gmail.com> wrote:
Thank you, Jon,
You have put into
perspective and described a beautiful past and Abbey School legacy. You have helped us understand the present
Abbot's inability to appreciate a wonderful Institution which was in its last
year when he joined in 1984; the very
same year I had brought the CXC O'level Art Class to complete its Form 4 level
and found a Teacher who would replace me and bring the boys through Form V
O'level Art after I left in July 1984.
I have an
interest because I gave 5 years as a monk/Teacher and saw some fruits of having
been there, so, yes, it's understandable that I can maintain some interest and
the present Abbot can't.
I agree with you,
let's move the blog into an appreciation of the years that all of you received
and keep our eyes and ears open to what we can donate to, whether it's a
building's upkeep or whatever might be needed currently.
If Joe can help
start another Institution with a unique approach to Formation, it would still
be a tribute to what you just described.
To Life, to the
Future, and to the Past,
Sincerely,
Fr. Harold
---------------------------------------------------------------------------.
GLEN EVELYN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Van Duin, Adelbert (Rt. Rev.) - O.S.B.
Lord Abbot, Mount St. Benedict
NATIONAL AWARDS
HUMMING BIRD MEDAL GOLD
1972
---------------------------------------------
Old Abbot van Duin, from Holland, once the man
in charge of Abbey at Mount St Benedict, had suffered with his heart.
When he retired he was succeeded by Abbot
Hildebrandt, then Abbot Francis.
Anthony Milne <anto@ttemail.com>,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Under the leadership of Abbot Adelbert Van
Duin (1947-1972), the impulse of liturgical renewal had already begun at Mt.
St. Benedict.
By November 1960,
the altar already faced the people, (much to the discomfiture, I understand, of
Archbishop Finbar Ryan who could do nothing about it since the Abbey was
outside of his jurisdiction) and, with the help of Frs. Ildefons Schroots,
Augustine Schreurs and Bernard Vlaar, the so called Dialogue Mass was in place,
and the people were singing the Missa de Angelis.
Thus, when, in
#11 of the Constitution on the Liturgy, Pastors of souls are told that: it is
their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they
are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects. such was
already in effect at the Abbey, and continued during and after the Council. deVerteuil Chairman of the Archdiocesan
Liturgical Commission.]
2. The
Seminary: The Benedictines were responsible for the Seminary at Mt. St.
Benedict. In order the better to equip
those who taught at the Seminary, Fr. Augustine Schreurs was sent to St. John’s
Collegeville, USA, in 1963, and in 1964 Fr. Hildebrand Greene was sent to the
Benedictine University, San Anselmo in Rome to study Liturgy.
In this way the
decision of the Council was fulfilled:
15. Professors
who are appointed to teach liturgy in seminaries, religious houses of study,
and theological faculties must be properly trained for their work in institutes
which specialize in this subject.
16. The study of
sacred liturgy is to be ranked among the compulsory and major courses in
seminaries and religions houses of studies; in theological faculties it is to
rank among the principal courses.
It is to be
taught under its theological, historical, spiritual, pastoral, and juridical
aspects.
Both these men
absorbed the liturgical ferment centred around Fr Godfrey Diekmann, at
Collegeville, and Fr. Augustine Mayer, at Sant Anselmo, and, upon their return,
transmitted learning, insights and enthusiasm to both Seminary and the home
Community.
3. The
Vernacular: The Constitution on the Liturgy recognised that there could be
a distinct advantage in praying in one’s own language: #36.
1. Particular law
remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the
Latin rites.
2. But since the
use of the mother tongue, whether in the Mass, the administration of the
sacraments, or other parts of the liturgy, frequently may be of great advantage
to the people, the limits of its employment may be extended. At Mt. St. Benedict, the need to pray the
Liturgy of the Hours in English arose primarily because fewer and fewer
candidates for the monastic life had a sound formation in Latin.
When the
Constitution, promulgated in December 1963, opened the possibility of praying
in the vernacular, the Monks seized on the opportunity.
This coincided
with the return from studies at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem of one of the
Monks, Fr. Francis Friesen in 1965.
At once the
Community was given copies of the 1953 Grail Translation of the Psalms, and
those in formation were encouraged to have this English translation alongside
their Latin breviaries.
Subsequently,
through the untiring efforts of Fr. Augustine Sehreurs, an in-house edition of
the Monastic Breviary in English appeared between 1967 and 1969, in a series of
booklets for the Seasons of the Liturgical Year.
In 1970, the
Abbey chose to adopt the Interim Roman Breviary in English, so that all who
joined them in prayer – clergy, religious and laity – could pray with
understanding.
Thus, from 1974
to the present, we have used the Roman Breviary in English.
The appearance,
in 1969, of the Missal of Paul VI meant that, from then onwards, English was
used in the celebration of the Eucharist.
4. Liturgy:
Fr. Ildefons Schroots. From 1971 three Monks from Mt. St. Benedict –
Frs. Ildefons Schroots, Hildebrand Greene and Bro. Paschal Jordan – were
members of the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain.
Through them, and
together with Fr. Brendan Ryan, OP and Fr. Cyril Ross, a campaign of liturgical
education began.
The Liturgy
Bulletin, a monthly periodical aimed at educating clergy, religious and laity,
saw the light of day in January 1973; the Liturgical Ordo was prepared and
printed at the Abbey; the Seminary and the Abbey were designated authorised
places of liturgical experimentation; and, in 1977, in collaboration with the
Seminary and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, the Antilles School of Liturgy
was born – a summer school of liturgical education and experience, which
continues up to the present time (2013).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------.
7
of July 1982.
Greetings from the Old Mount – Inside!
I was in Holland
earlier this year, I met with Fr. Bernard.
His speech has
not improved.
The burns he
suffered last year he is unable to stand and so is confined to a wheel chair.
He is in a rehabilitation
centre where they are giving him therapy to see if they can make him able to
walk.
It seems he will
be coming back in September to the Mount.
He surely is
carrying a heavy cross!
You will remember
him specially, I am sure.
When last you visited
T´dad, you give me some book-markers with Teen-agers’ 10 Commandments printed
on it.
As I have passed
that age unfortunately!
I give them away
and people have been asking if I had more of them.
On your next
visit or in some other way, could you bring some of them if possible?
Thanks a million
in advance.
God´s abundant
blessing be with you and your Family!
Very best wishes and kindest regards.
Adalbert van Duin
------------------------------------------
EDITED by LadislaoKertesz, at kertesz11@yahoo.com,
if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list, or know any old boy
that you would like to include.
----------------------------------------------
Photos:
30UN0001EDIMSB,
Photo of the Cloister, the old corridor between the old and new.
08KA2029FCU,
Fr. Cuthbert at the burial of Fr. Benedict
75GE9442,
Glen Evelyn
08MD1971DDV,
Maurice de Verteuil
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.