Mid-January News
» The community holiday ended as usual on the feast of the Epiphany, transferred a day early to Sunday. The Abbot President, Fr Christopher Jamison, was principal celebrant at the conventual Mass for the feast day which was served also by the Douai Abbey Singers who held a reception in the guest refectory after Mass.
» The next day a community meeting discussed matters raised in the preliminary report on the community's safeguarding procedures produced by the American organisation Praesidium. At the beginning of the meeting Fr Abbot announced that he had appointed Fr Finbar as junior master.
» 7 January was the occasion of the semi-annual abbey church clean by the community during which the Christmas decorations and crib were taken down. Later in the day Fr Abbot visited Fr Louis at his nursing home in Newbury.
» It was also announced that during the week Fr Bernard would be transferred from Alton Community Hospital to West Berkshire Hospital to continue his rehabilitation.
» The Abbot President's Regimen, or council, met at Douai on 8 January. Abbot James Wiseman of Washington (USA) attended via Skype, an example of the EBC adopting modern technology to dispense with international travel where possible, saving money and also, in light of modern concerns, reducing our carbon footprint. Fr Wulstan Peterburs of Ampleforth attended for the first time after his recent appointment as the congregations's Inspector of Accounts, replacing Fr Francis Straw who was appointed last year as Prior Administrator of Buckfast.
» Next day Fr Abbot, with Frs Alban and Peter, as well as Fr Godric coming from Ormskirk, attended the funeral in Wendover of Anne Holt, the mother of Fr Oliver. Fr Oliver offered the Mass and his brother James gave the eulogy. Anne had been active in the local Church and community, and the local newpaper published her obituary. May she rest in peace.