Mid-December Update
» Fr Ben Lodge CP was at Douai in 9 December to consult the archives of his order, now housed at Douai, as part of his research into the Passionist mission to Sweden. The same day the house council agreed to accept Tom Messenger into the novitiate on a date to be determined.
» The next day Fr Abbot, after burying the ashes of Bob and Kevin Hartigan at Douai, visited the monks on our midlands' parishes: Kemerton, Studley, Alcester and Stratford.
» On 11 December Br Andrew Prickett returned to Buckfast for the holiday period after spending term time at Douai while pursuing studies at Blackfriars in Oxford.
» 12 December saw two car-loads of monks travel down the hill to vote in the general election, Our new MP is one-time Douai parishioner Laura Farris.
» The next day 12 Jesuit scholastics, led by Fr Nick King SJ, came to Douai to make a retreat and renew their vows. During the night Fr Bernard suffered a bad fall, and was taken to Basingstoke Hospital by Br Christopher where he was treated and remained for further tests. Please keep him in your prayers.
» The annual Advent service of music and readings was held in the abbey church on 14 December.
» Maintaining a practice begin some years ago, the monastic community will not be sending Christmas cards but instead will make a donation to a worthy charity.
» The times of the monastic community's Christmas services in the abbey church remain the same as in previous years:
Christmas Eve - Solemn Vigil and Mass: 9pmChristmas Day - Solemn Mass: 11am & Solemn Vespers: 4.30pmSt Stephen's Day - Mass: 12 noon