The Rule of Benedict and a Blessed Bus
Worship, Celebration, Meditation and Work in Abergavenny
St Mary’s, Abergavenny, was founded as a Benedictine priory in 1087. Once a month, clergy in Abergavenny spend an entire day consciously focussing the community life of the church on the pattern of the Rule of St Benedict:
worship, celebration, meditation and work.
Recently, Bishop Dominic joined others during the day for a presentation on how the Rule can be applied to the everyday life of the laity. It was a topic explored on the parish’s recent retreat to Caldey Island where they joined the Cistercian monks in prayer, including 3.30am Vigils, as well as living in community and studying the Rule.
(l to r: Fr John Plessis, Fr John Hughes, Bishop Dominic Walker, Fr Chris Walters, Fr Bernard Sixtus and Fr Jeremy Winston in Abergavenny during June’s Monastic Day picture courtesy of the Abergavenny Chronicle)
The Monastic Days include the recitation and singing of the daily offices, starting at 8am and finishing at 8pm, the celebration of the Eucharist, time to eat together, a time of holy study, and an afternoon dedicated to work.
Work in June included the clergy meeting people in the town, talking to them about church life and answering difficult questions such as “how do you know there's a God?”
The Rule of St Benedict, the father of Western Monasticism, is still relevant for those who are seeking a clearer way of living out the Christian life today. The next Monastic Day will be held at St Mary’s on September 9. All are most welcome. For more details, please log on to www.stmarys-priory.org
The Holy Trinity Community Mission Bus
A soon-to-be brightly-decorated double-decker Community Mission Bus is set to make a difference to the community of Abergavenny. The bus, given to Holy Trinity Parish Church by Zion Family Church, Talywaun when they had to close, features a downstairs café, complete with DVD facilities, and an upstairs open-seating/play area and quiet room. It has been completely refurbished by members of the parish.
The bus will visit various parts of the town throughout each week and will offer people ‘an open ear, a space to be, and a helping hand’. Staffed and driven by volunteers from the Church, mission work on the bus will range from the chance for a simple coffee and chat while children play upstairs, to qualified counselling. There will also be a chance to take part in the ‘Christians Against Poverty’ money-management course, which includes helping people to access qualified debt counselling if needed.
The bus was commissioned on June 13, 2009, at a Service of Blessing led by Bishop Dominic. The first project after that will involve inviting young people of Abergavenny, through the 7 Corners Café, to design and paint the outside of the bus ‘bright and beautiful’.
Fr Bernard Sixtus