The Catholic Union held a very successful Summer Gathering at Worth last weekend.
Baroness Hollins, President of the Catholic Union, spoke about the relevance of St Benedict in the struggles of today and how vital it was to hold onto hope that the tide will turn. Baroness Hollins underlined the important role of the Catholic Union to help and support Catholics in public life. She said that service was a key part of our formation in faith, and as Catholics, we should be supporting the next generation to stand up to serve society.
With regards to the Terminally Ill (Adults) End of Life Bill, Baroness Hollins emphasised how it did not offer choice, it simply provides a new way to die. She encouraged members to a focus on one particular area of the bill, perhaps lethal drugs or lack of oversight by the coroner, and correspond with the newspapers, including local papers, in order that a wider awareness can be brought to light about the detrimental repercussions of the bill.
Vice Chair of the Catholic Union, Dr Karen Singarayer, spoke about the St Benedict’s Week Study Day on 11 July which had representatives from the UK and Ireland of the Benedictine and Cistercian monastic communities, monks, nuns, members of the Lay Community of St Benedict and Oblates including Benedictine communities from the Anglican Communion.
The Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation, Abbot Jeremias Schröder attended the whole event along with Baroness Sheila Hollins. My husband and I had the privilege of representing the Catholic Union of Great Britain.
The theme was to look ahead to the forthcoming 1500th Anniversary in 2029 of the founding of the Monastery of Montecassino by St Benedict in 529AD.
It was a full day with time to pray, listen, engage and discuss ideas by way of preparation for the great Jubilee in 2029.
Each group had three questions to ponder.
1) What does the working title ‘Places of Hope’ bring to mind?
Our particular group felt that ‘place’ roots a person, that it is a place in time, it is incarnational, that one abides in a place, that we abide in God and God abides in us.
Physical places are relevant.
The beauty of a place can be a conduit to open ourselves to God.
A place has a sense of the past, a shared sense, a present and a looking to the future. Looking with hope to God’s plan for the future.
Places lend themselves to the possibility of encounter with God, the other, a conversion of heart, a relational place both spiritually and physically.
2) What would you like to celebrate in 2029 for the Jubilee of Benedictine Life?
We felt ‘Beauty’ should be a major theme.
Beauty is the transcendental that everyone responds to without contention.
Beauty of Benedictine Life
Beauty of Liturgy (Vernacular and Latin)
Beauty of Benedictine illuminated Gospels, art and calligraphy etc
Beauty of Monasteries
Beauty of a life given to God
We felt the second key point was a need for a Benedictine Digital Presence ie online, podcasts, webinars etc and to see more Benedictines in public life. This would possibly lead to an increase in Benedictine vocations.
Another suggestion was the idea of Jubilee pilgrimages to monasteries within the British Isles/Ireland, within our diocese/s, Europe, worldwide eg Peru which is part of the English Benedictine Congregation.
Pope St Paul VI referred to St Benedict’s contribution to Christian civilisation in Europe acknowledging that he brought the Cross, the Book and the Plough at the end of the Roman Empire when most of Europe was in disarray.
During this Jubilee Year of 2025 we are currently within the 60th anniversary of Pope St Paul VI naming St Benedict as the Patron of Europe in October 2024.
We shared about Benedictine Heritage and its faith impact, educational impact and social impact.
3) Are there any challenges which you can anticipate?
a) Young Adults and the young should be given key roles and be a focus during the Jubilee in 2029
b) A need to change the narrative in British society of the English Benedictines. Any negative history from Britain should be put in context with the experience of the worldwide Benedictine Order and encompass the diverse heritage given to the West in the fields of education, academia, science, horticulture, agriculture, music, liturgy, Biblical scholarship, medicine, hospitals etc etc
The brief overview to the audience at the Summer Gathering was concluded with encouraging people to come again, to seek, to experience a retreat an encounter with Our Lord through the simplicity and beauty of Benedictine devotions, spirituality and a life given to God.’
Attendees had the wonderful opportunity to join in the 50th anniversary celebrations at Worth Abbey including Mass, a talk by the Abbot Primate and Vespers. You can read it here. Our thanks to Worth for hosting us and showing exceptional Benedictine hospitality.