I had hoped to update my blog shortly after my return to the Beda in mid January but, so far, this year has been really chaotic and full of challenges. I will try and fill you in with all the details.
Firstly, I had an excellent few days (as always) in Bury St Edmunds and managed to catch up with most of the people that I had met the previous year. I really only had about a week in Bury, including Christmas, so I do apologise if I didn't get around to see everyone as I would have liked to. Hopefully you saw me at Mass and around town. I was so grateful for everyone's kind and generous thoughts and wishes. The cards and gifts I received as well as the jars of peanut butter and marmite that appeared at the presbytery. Thank you all so much for thinking of me and for being so kind.
I arrived back at the Beda and we went straight into celebration mode. Because most of us were away over Christmas we celebrated the Epiphany instead and held a festive meal only for the residents of the house. It was a great affair with a moving Mass to precede the festivities. I was working on the bar that evening and made sure that everyone's glasses were well primed at all times.
We then had to finish three weeks of lectures from last semester and sit the dreaded exams! In the Beda we do use the traditional Roman method of exams and all our exams are oral. This has its benefits in that the exams are over quicker and it saves us having to write for hours on end but it also means you need to know your stuff as the professor is inches away from you waiting for an answer! Thankfully, and with a lot of intercessions from my guardian angel, I managed to pass all of my subjects. I cannot describe the relief of that!
To recover we had a short break so we can get ready for the next semester. I took the chance to visit my aunt, uncle, cousin and his wife in Greece. They live in this incredible little village on the mainland, about an hour's drive from Delphi, called Galaxidi. A famous naval port in its day but now just an idyllic Greek village with crystal clear waters and delicious calamari and feta cheese. The wine and beer are pretty good too! Sadly it was too cold to swim but I have been there in the summer, one of the best places for a holiday - but then having family there helps. Below are two pictures showing the beautiful old town from across the harbour and one of me standing next to the crystal clear waters.
Firstly, I had an excellent few days (as always) in Bury St Edmunds and managed to catch up with most of the people that I had met the previous year. I really only had about a week in Bury, including Christmas, so I do apologise if I didn't get around to see everyone as I would have liked to. Hopefully you saw me at Mass and around town. I was so grateful for everyone's kind and generous thoughts and wishes. The cards and gifts I received as well as the jars of peanut butter and marmite that appeared at the presbytery. Thank you all so much for thinking of me and for being so kind.
I arrived back at the Beda and we went straight into celebration mode. Because most of us were away over Christmas we celebrated the Epiphany instead and held a festive meal only for the residents of the house. It was a great affair with a moving Mass to precede the festivities. I was working on the bar that evening and made sure that everyone's glasses were well primed at all times.
We then had to finish three weeks of lectures from last semester and sit the dreaded exams! In the Beda we do use the traditional Roman method of exams and all our exams are oral. This has its benefits in that the exams are over quicker and it saves us having to write for hours on end but it also means you need to know your stuff as the professor is inches away from you waiting for an answer! Thankfully, and with a lot of intercessions from my guardian angel, I managed to pass all of my subjects. I cannot describe the relief of that!
To recover we had a short break so we can get ready for the next semester. I took the chance to visit my aunt, uncle, cousin and his wife in Greece. They live in this incredible little village on the mainland, about an hour's drive from Delphi, called Galaxidi. A famous naval port in its day but now just an idyllic Greek village with crystal clear waters and delicious calamari and feta cheese. The wine and beer are pretty good too! Sadly it was too cold to swim but I have been there in the summer, one of the best places for a holiday - but then having family there helps. Below are two pictures showing the beautiful old town from across the harbour and one of me standing next to the crystal clear waters.
We then had a week's retreat which was offered to us by a Redemptorist priest. It lasted the full seven days; the house was quiet though as the retreat was only for first and second year students (the third and fourth years went away for their retreat). In typical Redemptorist fashion there was plenty of depth and prayer in the retreat as well as an appropriate amount of humour.
Sadly though, it was during this retreat that I learned that my oldest brother was extremely ill and he died less than two weeks later. I was very fortunate with the support and care I received from everyone a the Beda and I even managed to get home for his funeral. I know the community at Bury St Edmunds were extremely kind, my friends from all over the world contacted me and Masses were said for him in all corners of the world. I thank you all for your prayers and love.
Shortly after the retreat we started the new semester with a few new professors and whole bunch of subjects. My week looks a bit like this:-
Monday - Faith and Reason
The Lectionary
Tuesday - Sacraments
Modern Philosophy
Wednesday - Theology of Revelations
The Synoptic Gospels
The Art of Thinking (Logic)
Thursday - Day Off
Friday - Spirituality of Scriptures
Ecclesiology
It's quite a mind-blow of subjects and, at times, they all seem to merge and become one. There seems to be plenty of reading to accompany each subject so boredom at the Beda is not going to be my downfall.
We then moved on to Easter and the house was all buzzing and busy getting ready for the liturgy and to make it as prayerful and happy as possible. Everyone in the house was involved and I was impressed by the quietness that came over the house for the Triduum as well as the joy of the vigil. Everyone seemed to put their hearts into it and celebrate and enjoy. The Lord is truly risen!
The next day we were invited to join the choir from the English College and sing at the Papal Mass in St Peter's square. There were three criteria to join - i, you had to be a seminarian ii. we had to wear cassock and cotta iii. we had to be able to sing (or look like we were singing). The benefit of joining is that we had really good seats for the Mass and it was great to see Pope Francis celebrating the Mass. It was an incredibly hot day but I think it was really worthwhile going. I am not going to put a picture of me in cassock and cotta but I will include one of how close we were to the Pope's chair, the crowd in the square and how fortunate I was to walk through St Peter's basilica and almost have it to myself
Sadly though, it was during this retreat that I learned that my oldest brother was extremely ill and he died less than two weeks later. I was very fortunate with the support and care I received from everyone a the Beda and I even managed to get home for his funeral. I know the community at Bury St Edmunds were extremely kind, my friends from all over the world contacted me and Masses were said for him in all corners of the world. I thank you all for your prayers and love.
Shortly after the retreat we started the new semester with a few new professors and whole bunch of subjects. My week looks a bit like this:-
Monday - Faith and Reason
The Lectionary
Tuesday - Sacraments
Modern Philosophy
Wednesday - Theology of Revelations
The Synoptic Gospels
The Art of Thinking (Logic)
Thursday - Day Off
Friday - Spirituality of Scriptures
Ecclesiology
It's quite a mind-blow of subjects and, at times, they all seem to merge and become one. There seems to be plenty of reading to accompany each subject so boredom at the Beda is not going to be my downfall.
We then moved on to Easter and the house was all buzzing and busy getting ready for the liturgy and to make it as prayerful and happy as possible. Everyone in the house was involved and I was impressed by the quietness that came over the house for the Triduum as well as the joy of the vigil. Everyone seemed to put their hearts into it and celebrate and enjoy. The Lord is truly risen!
The next day we were invited to join the choir from the English College and sing at the Papal Mass in St Peter's square. There were three criteria to join - i, you had to be a seminarian ii. we had to wear cassock and cotta iii. we had to be able to sing (or look like we were singing). The benefit of joining is that we had really good seats for the Mass and it was great to see Pope Francis celebrating the Mass. It was an incredibly hot day but I think it was really worthwhile going. I am not going to put a picture of me in cassock and cotta but I will include one of how close we were to the Pope's chair, the crowd in the square and how fortunate I was to walk through St Peter's basilica and almost have it to myself
We do have another break this week a sort of post-Easter breather. I am staying at the college to catch up on the work I missed while in South Africa for the funeral, to economise a bit after that trip as well as to explore and see Rome some more. So far the plan hasn't worked out that well. I have been having long lie-ins, catching up on emails and updating this blog. So, not exploring and very little work done. Oh well, I suppose it is a holiday!
Thank you all for your ongoing interest, your prayers, love and support. I really do appreciate everyone's good wishes and cards (many have been sent through Catherine in the presbytery). Keep praying for me as I do for you.
Thank you all for your ongoing interest, your prayers, love and support. I really do appreciate everyone's good wishes and cards (many have been sent through Catherine in the presbytery). Keep praying for me as I do for you.