The St. Nicholas Day for Schools is designed to help children appreciate the importance of giving and not just receiving at Christmas. The day concludes with a servive in the Abbey Church at which the gifts given by the different schools are presented to a charity, usually one involving children.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School Buckfast, entered Radio Devon's 'Star for Christmas' competition, which is a choir competition for all primary schools in Devon. We are through to the final eight choirs.
The choir is organised by two teachers, Mrs Sophie Kerswell and Mrs Marie Evans who run a lunchtime club each week. The choir actually represent one third of total pupils in the school, showing the children's enthusiasm and love of singing. The carol entered for the competition, 'While Shepherds Watched', is a traditional carol, but sung with a unique melody line which the children have really enjoyed learning. St Mary's choir are used to performing, as they sing at many events in the local community particularly around Christmas time.
Each finalist has their song played on Radio Devon each morning this week at 8.25 approx. in the breakfast show. Listeners can then vote for their favourite choir from Monday 30th November at 6am until Thursday 3rd December at 4pm. To vote you need to go to http://bbc.in/1vPOE1c and register using ivote.
The winning choir are invited to sing at Exeter Cathedral on at a special service on 15th December, which will be recorded and broadcast by Radio Devon on Christmas Day.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00crm0b
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7h5
VOTE FOR US NOW :-)
The Mass of the Solemnity of Christ the King is followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament unti Vespers.
The Buckfast Abbey Media Studio produced a film about the work of the Abbey Education Department. The pupils of St. Mary's School (the Abbey Primary School) wrote the script and presented the various items.
Fr. Abbot gave a tour of the Abbey Church to help explain the art and symbolism of the church.
Buckfast Abbey Media Department filmed the major part of of a three part film for the Pontifical Commission for Interreligious Dialogue. It was presented at the Conference. Father Abbot was present and later met the Holy Father at the Papal audience on 28th October.
The Abbey Choir and Orchestra performed 'In Paradisum' Gregorian Chant; 'Justorum animae' Stanford; 'Kontakion for the dead' Orthodox Burial Service; 'Requiem' Mozart.
The pictures show the Monastic Cemetery in the early morning of 2th November, the Commemoration of Holy Souls. On this day after the Conventual Mass the graves are blessed.
On Friday 16th October 2015 the new premises for the Buckfast Post Office and shop were officially opened by Lorraine Lee, the Post Office manager and Father Abbot blessed the enterprise. The Abbey is very pleased to help maintain this important service for the local community
Fr. Sebastian celebrated his 60th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination on Sunday 27th September 2015. He had been ordained on 21st September 1955.
Dom Gabriel Arnold celebrated his 60th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination with family, friends and Monastic Community on Sunday 13th September.
Archbishop Sparbarro is a retired Papal Nuncio who visited Buckfast 10th until 14th September.
The Order of St. Agatha of Paternò held an investiture at Buckfast and this was follwed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Performace Pictures.
St John's Gospel adapted for the stage by Murray Watts. The play follows a group of refugees fleeing from Eastern Europe in the late 1930s at the start of the outbreak of war who, as they travel, tell the ‘greatest story' on earth.
7th until 12th September in the open air at Buckfast Abbey. See ‘News and Events - What's On' on the Abbey Website.
The General Chapter of the English Benedictine Congregation held a Chapter meeting at Buckfast, to discuss the deliberations of the E.B.C. Forum held a few days before.
The General Chapter of the English Benedictine Congregation decided to call a Forum in July 2015, to prepare for the Extraordinary General Chapter which will follow it, by discussing the appropriate renewal of the monastic life in the coming years, the fostering of new life in our members, and how to make our communities ready to receive and form new members.
The meeting took place from 21st until 25th July. A number of photographs show the Forum members in discussion with members of the General Chapter in the Schiller Hall at Buckfast.
This is a study week aimed at students and yound adults led by a team of Dominican Friars and Sisters offering a systematic overview of Catholic Theology.
First time Festival a huge success
The Buckfast Abbey Christian Storytelling Festival - was a first not just for the Abbey, but we think it is the first of its kind in the UK. The Festival ran from 2nd to 4th July with Thursday and Friday being for schools and Saturday a day for families. It is estimated that over 1000 people attended over the 3 day Festival and were treated to a glorious feast of storytelling with some of the best performers from around the country. Special guest was the amazing Bob Hartman from America who entertained audiences in the irrepressible style that has made him one of the world's most famous Christian storytellers. Possibly every style of telling stories was represented including puppetry and a musical called ‘Timothy's Song' which was specially written for the Festival by Martin Harris, the Director of Unleashed Theatre Company. The line-up was completed by an evening performance for adults by Mark Bedford of stories from the life of St Francis and a course for budding storytellers led by author and actress Alexa Tewkesbury.
The Festival was organised to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Buckfast Abbey Education Department.
Counterpoint, directed by David Acres, have sung in the Abbey Church since 1987. The choir have sung concerts and at liturgical services, notably the Carol Service from 1994 until 2012. Counterpoint have been part of the evolution of music at the Abbey that brought us to the creation, six years ago, of the Abbey Choir and the Voluntary Choir that presently sing at liturgical services. David Acres now lives in the United States and with other mucical involvements it has proved difficult to arrange concerts in the UK.
Superiors from the different monastic communities in the UK and Ireland, Catholic and Anglican, gathered at Buckfast for the 20th General Assembly between 16th and 19th June 2015.
The newly refurbished and extended Northgate House was blessed on Thursday 11th June 2015. The is an addition to Buckfast's accommodation facilities and further extends our mission of hospitality. The house has 31 double or twin en-suite rooms, and two appartments which overlook the Abbey.
The Rt. Rev. Mark O'Toole, Bishop of Plymouth, officiated at Solemn Vespers with Procession and Benediction on Corpus Christi Sunday. The Abbey Choir provided the music and led the congregational singing. The priests and people of the local Deaneries participated.
Blessing of Candles and Procession followed by Mass.
The Rt. Rev. Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, and his secretary, Fr. Jonathan Brandon visited Buckfast and were welcomed by the School of the Annunciation.
The Annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Buckfast by the ladies of the Catholic Women's League. The CWL provide the funds for votive lamp that burns in the Lady Chapel.
The picture shpws Mr. Neville Chamberlain CBE, Master of Worshipful Company of Fuellers, presenting Father Abbot with a shield depicting the arms of the Company. The Company can be traced back to the Livery Company of Woodmongers and Coal Sellers, commonly known as The Fuellers, as early as 1376 Its Royal Charter was granted by King James 1 in 1605. It surrendered its Charter in 1667. The Society of Coal Factors and the Coal Meters re-established a City Company. The Fuellers were granted Letters Patent on 17th October 1984.
This year the procession was from the East End Blessed Sacrament Chapel as the weather was wet and windy.
The staff of the School of the Annuncuation made their Annual Profession of Faith, preceded by the Rector making his Oath of Fidelity.
Moonlight on a beautiful clear and crisp night.
