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News During the weekend of the 18-20 September 2009. Young Catholic Adults will be running a Traditional Retreat at Douai Abbey, the retreat will be led by Juventutem Ecclesiastical Assistant Fr de Malleray . The weekend will be full-board (except for the Sunday lunch). Douai Abbey, situated on high ground in the Berkshire countryside overlooking the beautiful Kennet valley towards the distant Hampshire downs, is within easy reach of London, Reading, Oxford and many places of interest. It provides an ideal setting for quiet reflection, retreats and for conferences. Hospitality has been a special concern of monasteries from the earliest times. St Benedict teaches in the Rule "All guests are to be welcomed as Christ". All rooms are fully en-suite offering accommodation for guests in the Bl Hugh Faringdon , St Alban Roe and the St Benet Biscop buildings. One of the comments frequently made about Douai is that it offers an environment and atmosphere of peace and serenity, where the cares of daily life can be left behind. Places are limited so please book early
Events Open to the Public The Sung Mass (Missa Canta) on Saturday 19th September 09’ at 10am followed by a Marian Procession around the extensive grounds of the Abbey at 11am (starting from the main Abbey Church) are open to the public. There are also a few rooms allocated for all age groups (not just YCA) so please book soon. The cost of the weekend will be:- Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th September (full board)* 48 pounds full-board (except Sunday lunch) Or to come for 3 days:- Friday 18th - Sunday 20th September 88 pounds; 45 pounds for students/low waged/unwaged) Come for the day Or come for the day on Saturday 19th September How to book - limited places so please reserve your place early To reserve your place FOR THE WEEKEND (no deposit needed if you are coming for the day ), please send a 20 pound deposit (NON RETURNABLE) to Damian Barker, Flat 5, 12 St. Catherine Street, Kingsholm, Gloucester, Glos. GL2 9DU (please make any cheques payable to Damian Barker). For enquiries ring 07908105787. How to get there Douai Abbey is situated 1 mile north of the A4 about half way between Reading and Newbury in Berkshire. The turn off the A4 is about 6 miles from M4 Junction 12. By rail the nearest station is called MIDGHAM, but it is actually in Woolhampton village. To Walk You will need to leave the station and head towards the centre of Woolhampton
village, when you reach the main road, turn left and walk c. 50 yards
until you reach the "The Falmouth Arms"; turn right here,
then walk up WOOLHAMPTON HILL which is then signposted to Douai Abbey.
Pass Elstree School (right) and St Peter's Church (right) and on up
to a T-junction. Turn left past the Thatched Cottage (on left), and
then after 800 yards is the DOUAI ABBEY Entrance. It takes about 15
mins to walk from the station. From Reading on the A4: At roundabout after dual carriageway, continue on A4 towards Newbury
for half a mile.
At Woolhampton village, on the left is "The Falmouth Arms",
very prominent. (Also for those travelling by train, as trains do not run from Midgham station on a Sunday, there will be lifts to Reading Station). FOR A MAP OF HOW TO GET TO DOUAI CLICK HERE Report on the Second gathering of the International
Federation Juventutem in Bern, Switzerland, February 21-22, 2009 (www.juventutem.org).
The schedule was similar to the one last year. Over twenty Juventutem members had travelled to Switzerland for the occasion. They came from France, England, Ireland, Slovakia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Spain, of course Switzerland, and even Russia. Like last year, the aim was not to have many people, but rather to ensure diversity of representation. The gathering officially started with Holy Mass at 3pm at the Villa Maria. Juventutem Ecclesiastical Assistant Fr Armand de Malleray offered a votive Mass of Saint John Bosco, Patron of Catholic Youth. In English and in French Fr de Malleray drew a parallel between St John Bosco’s time and ours, reminding us that the great apostle of Turin had had to overcome all sorts of suspicion and of opposition as the government accused him of working for the Vatican against the new regime set up by the Piedmont-Savoy sacrilegious monarch. King Victor-Emmanuel of Piedmont-Savoy had indeed invaded the Pontifical States, putting all Catholic clergy loyal to the Sovereign Pontiff in a very delicate situation. Despite the most obvious value of St John Bosco’s apostolates for the education of the youth and of the clergy, shaping young men into good and trustworthy subjects when so many others were falling into illegality and vices, these worthy initiatives were often hindered by civil authorities. This did not prevent the saint from working wonders at the service of God. Fr de Malleray said that current anti Catholic prejudice could sometimes discourage us in the XXIst century. However he added, we should be certain that God’s almighty grace could help us bare abundant fruit and achieve great things for his Reign - if only union with God was our essential and constant goal. Thomas Balsis from Lithuania served the Low Mass, which was concluded by the singing of the Marian antiphon “Ave Regina Coelorum”. After thanksgiving, we met in the refectory for coffee. The Juventutem Federation’s flag was hanging on the wall. Like last year, the Sisters had prepared everything for us on the tables and really made us all feel at home. There was an informal time for greeting each other. It was good to see again many members who had come last year. For instance, newlywed Damian Barker from Juventutem England (YCA) had come with his wife. Some of us had seen each other in between, either at the traditional pilgrimage to Chartres, or at WYD in Australia. Vassili came from Moscow, where he leads the Gregorian schola for the Old Rite Mass. Juventutem Federation President Gregory Flash then opened the official session. Each member introduced himself or herself and shared update on his or her group’s activities. Gregory said it was important to keep the Federation informed of what we were doing as Juventutem groups. He asked whether we had seen any improvement in our situations as the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum was making the Roman traditions of the Church better valued and accessible. It seemed that the multiplication of Mass centers in the Extraordinary Form could make it easier for more youths to hear about these traditions and benefit from them, but on the other hand, it also meant that each Mass center had fewer people attending, thus making the traditional setting sometimes less attractive for youths. Young people like it better when they see a sufficient number of other youths interested in the same things. Juventutem Federation Treasurer Cosimo Marti reminded every member of last year’s decision when a €10 contribution per year and per person had been voted. He said that many had omitted to fulfill it. Gregory Flash said that it was not so much the amount of money that mattered, than the concrete manifestation of every member’s commitment it should express. Cosimo approved, saying that last year’s decision had set a €10 contribution “depending on each member’s actual resources”. He said the €10 represented less than one Coca Cola per month. Cosimo also asked for the addresses to be updated, as a fair number of the 450 Juventutem Christmas cards he had sent two months ago had been returned to him due to incorrect address. Gregory Flash then announced his intention to have a successor elected. He said that as he was nearing 30 years of age, and after several years serving a President of the Federation, he would be glad if another member could take over. He added that he had talked already with Raphaël Waldis about that possibility. Gregory said that he would still be active in the Juventutem chapter at the Chartres pilgrimage. Raphaël Waldis is a student in Switzerland and has been involved in Juventutem since the beginning, partaking in the first international gathering in Bavaria (August 2005) and subsequent WYD in Cologne, as well as at other events like the Chartres pilgrimage every year and WYD 2008 in Australia. Gregory said that of course anyone was free to vote for whoever they wished. We then proceeded with the vote, with Raphaël being elected at the first ballot. Several groups who did not have a representative physically present had sent a proxy. Raphaël thanked the members and said he was happy to be of help. The fact he lives in Switzerland will help for collaboration with Treasurer Cosimo Marti. We then went back into the chapel for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and adoration, served by Damian Barker, from England. It was a wonderful moment, all of us gathered before the Lord, fulfilling a very essential dimension of Juventutem’s spirituality centered on Eucharistic devotion, both through the Mass and through adoration, as depicted in our logo. After having exposed the Blessed Sacrament, Fr de Malleray recessed in the sacristy to hear confessions while we adored. He then came back and led us in praying a decade of the Rosary asking for strength and protection for the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. He reminded us of the fact a novena was currently being prayed all over the world for the Holy Father, ending the day after, on the Feast of the Chair of St Peter. We also presented to God the intentions of all Juventutem groups and supporters all over the world. After adoration we cleaned the refectory and tidied up the chapel and sacristy, before making our way to Il Grissino, the restaurant where we were to have dinner. It was a very merry evening in a casual and convivial atmosphere. We were glad to have among us Mr Heinz Müller, an ebenist supporting Juventutem (although not a Catholic). The night was beautiful, with snow in the streets, then quieter than last year when it was carnival. Dinner at the restaurant was a great opportunity for all to talk casually with each other and exchange news. French and English were the most commonly spoken languages. Many pictures were taken and Gregory and Raphaël suggested we changed seats after the main course, so as to allow for more opportunities to speak with everyone. After meal, everybody was free to walk around the city or just go back to their youth hostel and chat. On Sunday morning 22 February we all met again at Holy Trinity Church for Holy Mass. Like last year the Secretary to the Papal Nunciature attended Mass in choir. Mgr Ruiz Mainardi had been assigned at the Papal Nunciature in Cuba, but his successor was equally pleased to pray with us. Unlike last year though, for want of available clerics, we had a Sung Mass and not a Solemn High Mass. It was served by male members of Juventutem from various countries, while others – boys and girls alike – joined in the schola to sing the Gregorian kyriale and proper of the Quinquagesima Sunday. Fr de Malleray offered the Mass and preached on Juventutem. He quoted Pope Benedict’s homily at Randwick on the last WYD in Sydney, and also Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos’ letter of support to the International Juventutem Federation last year. After thanksgiving we met for breakfast at the Hôtel National where Dr and Mrs Gerd Weisensee joined us. Dr Weisensee has supported Juventutem from the beginning and had given a talk on pro-life legal issues related with health insurance at the first Juventutem gathering in Bavaria, August 2005. Breakfast was followed with a projection of pictures and films (www.juventutem.org) on Juventutem activities over the past year, mainly on the Eucharistic Congress in Québec, Canada, and at WYD in Melbourne and Sydney. We then had a time for sharing our experiences and our expectations as Juventutem members. Tomas Balsis, from Juventutem Lithuania, was presented with an ancient map of his country. It was quite unique to hear such a diversity of testimonies among a rather small group of people representing very diverse cultures and languages (with members from Spain, France, England, Ireland, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Lithuania, Slovakia, Italy and Russia). We then met for lunch at Il Grissino where the waiters now know our group fairly well. The Nunciature’s Secretary came for lunch as well and was able to speak with Kieran, from Juventutem Ireland, his fellow citizen. Fr Arnaud Evrat, FSSP, the chaplain to Juventutem Switzerland, attended lunch as well. Some of us started departing in order to catch their trains back home, while others stayed longer. Some were shown around Bern by Cosimo Marti. That week-end has been a blessed time of fraternal gathering and it is a pleasure to see that the Federation is getting stronger through mutual friendship and prayer. We all gave thanks to God “Who giveth joy to our youth" - ad Deum qui laetificat Juventutem nostram. (http://www.juventutem.org) Calling all Priests and Laymen/Women - New Groups for Young Adults Wanted Young Catholic Adults was founded in February 2004 at Oxford in the UK. YCA are loyal to the Magisterium and faithful to Pope Benedict XVI's teaching with regard to Summorum Pontificum (2007). It is now part of the International Juventutem Federation. YCA-Juventutem organise a selection of national, international events, why not get involved and become part of this exciting new movement? By having a small but convinced faith communities in an area or parish, souls can learnmore about their faith, grow in holiness, meet different people and make new contacts. By starting a local group you could:- -Have your local group mentioned in Mass of Ages Magazine -Advertise your local group on the YCA website free of charge -Help to raise the profile of traditional Catholicism at the local level - almost all youth/young adult groups in the UK are currentlycharismatic/non traditional in nature -What types of groups could you have?The Rosary, Eucharistic
Adoration and Benediction, Talks, Socials or a combination of the above.
Or you could even run a Mass in the Traditional Rite under the aegis
of YCA-Juventutem. To start a prayergroup/local group or to become affiliated
to YCA just send an e-mail to Damian Barker at:- -Your name See:-YCA Events for more info on current groups/activities
SSPX EXCOMMUNICATIONS ARE LIFTED - IT'S OFFICIAL
By way of a letter of December 15, 2008 addressed to His Eminence Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Mons. Bernard Fellay, also in the name of the other three Bishops consecrated on June 30, 1988, requested anew the removal of the latae sententiae excommunication formally declared with the Decree of the Prefect of this Congregation on July 1, 1988. In the aforementioned letter, Mons. Fellay affirms, among other things: "We are always firmly determined in our will to remain Catholic and to place all our efforts at the service of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the Roman Catholic Church. We accept its teachings with filial disposition. We believe firmly in the Primacy of Peter and in its prerogatives, and for this the current situation makes us suffer so much." His Holiness Benedict XVI - paternally sensitive to the spiritual unease manifested by the interested party due to the sanction of excommunication and trusting in the effort expressed by them in the aforementioned letter of not sparing any effort to deepen the necessary discussions with the Authority of the Holy See in the still open matters, so as to achieve shortly a full and satisfactory solution of the problem posed in the origin - decided to reconsider the canonical situation of Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta, arisen with their episcopal consecration. With this act, it is desired to consolidate the reciprocal relations of confidence and to intensify and grant stability to the relationship of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X with this Apostolic See. This gift of peace, at the end of the Christmas celebrations, is also intended to be a sign to promote unity in the charity of the universal Church and to try to vanquish the scandal of division. It is hoped that this step be followed by the prompt accomplishment of full communion with the Church of the entire Fraternity of Saint Pius X, thus testifying true fidelity and true recognition of the Magisterium and of the authority of the Pope with the proof of visible unity. Based on the faculties expressly granted to me by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, in virtue of the present Decree, I remit from Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta the censure of latae sententiae excommunication declared by this Congregation on July 1, 1988, while I declare deprived of any juridical effect, from the present date, the Decree emanated at that time. Rome, from the Congregation for Bishops, January 21, 2009. Card. Giovanni Battista Re
Meanwhile, The Remnant discloses a January 21 letter in which the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, distances the FSSPX/SSPX from any specific privately held opinion (namely from Bishop Williamson of the SSPX ). Young Catholic Adults Traditional Reteat at
Douai 2009
YCA-Juventutem retreat in England: 18-20 September 2009: At Douai Abbey, Berkshire, come (whether you live in the UK or not) and pray with other young Catholic adults. Juventutem Ecclesiastical Assistant Fr de Malleray will preach the retreat. Contact: D. Barker on 07908 105787 or ps99ddb@yahoo.co.uk, more details will follow at:- Plus more datails will follow at http://youngcatholicadults-latestnews.blogspot.com/. To reserve your place FOR THE WEEKEND (no deposit needed if you are coming for the day on Saturday 5th July), please send a 20 pound cheque as a deposit (NON RETURNABLE) to Damian Barker, Flat 5, 12 St. Catherine Street, Kingsholm, Gloucester, Glos. GL2 9DU. The overall prices for the weekend will be similar to last year, but will be confirmed shortly.
International Youth Gathering organised in Marian
Shrine of Le Puy-en-Velay, France: August 18-23, 2009. Plan ahead and
make sure you will be with us during this wonderful week in one among
the most ancient Marian shrines in the world. Come and venerate the
famous "Black Madonna", come and attend beautiful liturgies,
meet young adults from various countries motivated by the Roman traditions
of the Church, improve your Catholic knowledge through sound lectures
and explore the breathtaking volcanos landscape of the "Massif
Central". Contact: www.juventutem.org http://www.juventutem.org/.
A Juventutem Chapter is to attend again the great Traditional pilgrimage from Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris to Notre-Dame cathedral in Chartres: on Whit week-end 2009. Come and join the Juventutem young adults, one group among 8.000 young Catholic walking the 70-mile pilgrimage across the beautiful French countryside! Contact: email Gregory Flash, at: flash[at]gregory-f.com. For your information: http://www.nd-chretiente.com.
Every group is cordially invited to contact the Bureau and send at least one delegate. Like last year, the purpose is the diversity of representatives rather than the actual number of members attending. Please do your best to support this event which is an important opportunity for the Juventutem International Federation to update and grow stronger.
Of course we do not expect many members outside Europe
to be able to travel to Bern, but please pray for us and with us during
this important meeting. Contact: Juventutem, Kirchbergerstrasse 42,
CH-3008, Bern, Switzerland; Tel./fax: +41 31 371 29 20. Email Cosimo
Marti at : codama[at]bluewin.ch. Juventutem News
In July as well, Juventutem England (YCA) held a well attended retreat at Douai Abbey, Berkshire. In August, Fr de Malleray was in Madrid (Spain) again where he visited various places of interest in the perspective of WYD 2011. In October there was a successful Juventutem meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand with Bishop Basil Meeking and Rev Bill Define, Regional Superior of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter. In October as well, Juventutem members from various country including Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France and Ireland took part in the ceremonies of the twentieth anniversary of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. David Oostveen and Cosimo Marti represented the Bureau of the Federation in their capacity of Secretary and Treasurer respectively. This very month, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Juventutem Rome (Italy) welcomed Cardinal George Pell as he came to the FSSP personal parish church Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini to offer a pontifical high Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. On the same day, Juventutem Italia attended a musical meditation on the Holy Rosary. This month again has been announced the release of
a CD with the music and chant recorded during the Juventutem liturgies
at WYD 2008 in Australia. In the meantime, the Federation has received applications from two new prospective groups. Following this, we are glad to announce you of the foundation and affiliation of “Juventutem Londrina” in Brazil and of “Juventutem Czech-Slovakia”. Please visit them on http://www.juventutem.cz . Contacts have been made with potential members in Asia (other than Juventutem Hong Kong). A further application from Ancona in Italy has recently reached us and is currently being examined. On this matter, it should be reminded that the name “Juventutem”, as related to youth activities linked with the Extraordinay Form of the Roman liturgy, morally belongs to the International Juventutem Federation and should therefore be used only with its approval. The reason is that the founders of the Federation are the same ones who chose the name “Juventutem” and started the movement in Spring 2004. Young Catholic Adults Appear in the Catholic Herald
For the first time ever YCA (Young Catholic Adults) have managed to get a write up in the August 1st edition, in the Catholic Life section on page 6.
An Extraordinary Weekend
at
The Young Catholic Adults (YCA) retreat at Douai was fully booked this year and proved to be the most successful to date. It was led by Br. Christopher Greener the Guestmaster of the Abbey. The accommodation in the Bl Hugh Faringdon and St Alban Roe buildings was excellent, and much improved from previous years. Fifty People Join in the First Marian Procession in Recent Memory
On the afternoon of Saturday 5th July at 2.30pm, YCA organised a Marian Procession in the grounds of the Abbey. This was the first such event in recent years at Douai, and was made possible with the help of the organisation Our Lady Help of Christians. Fr. Abbot gave a blessing and joined in with approximately fifty other people, including many clergy and religious. Everyone loved the event, including one of the resident monks who said that this was his first Catholic Procession ever.
The rest of the weekend involved saying the Rosary, attending Vespers (in Latin), a talk on St. Benedict given by Br. Greener and having social time in the evenings. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with other guests commenting about how nice it was to hear younger people praying the Rosary. Monsignor Conlon Celebrated Mass On Sunday 6th July, almost one year on from the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, the Traditional Mass returned to Douai Abbey for only the second time since the liturgical changes. Monsignor Conlon (despite and incredibly busy weekend) celebrated Low Mass (the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost) in the Parish Church of Our Lady – which is adjacent to the Abbey. Some on this retreat had never been to a Traditional Mass, (there were also two Anglicans in the group) and so Monsignor very kindly an excellent and informative talk about the positive benefits of the extraordinary form of Mass and how the Pope wants the Old Rite to flourish once again in every Parish in the West. Again the comments afterwards were all positive – someone suggested that they would now like to start attending Latin Masses. The Mass was open to the public (not just retreatants) so afterwards some of the congregation thanked Monsignor Conlon for celebrating a Mass, which they had not seen for almost forty years.
Letter of Support from the Vatican
Cardinal Castrillion Hoyos the President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei has lent his support to the International Juventutem Federation. Young Catholic Adults has just affiliated itself to the Fœderatio Internationalis Juventutem. His Eminence writes:- Dear young members of the International Juventutem Federation, The presence of your little groups in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and Oceania demonstrates the universal attraction of the most ancient forms of the Roman liturgy, whose particular transcendence serves to connect the most diverse cultures. From this liturgy, you will receive special help in coming better to know and love Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church, as the Holy Father wrote on 7th July 2007: “Immediately after the Second Vatican Council, it might have been imagined that the demand for the use of the 1962 Missal would have been limited to the older generation, which had grown up with it, but it has since become clear that young people were also discovering this liturgical form, feeling attracted to it and finding in it a type of contact with the Most Holy Eucharist which suited them particularly well” (Letter to the Bishops, accompanying the Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum“). As a sign of your devotion to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, your Juventutem Federation has chosen as its emblem a monstrance. I also know that you will be present at the International Eucharistic Congress in Québec in June 2008. I therefore wish to renew my encouragement of your progress in Christian piety and friendship via the Roman traditions of the Church. May you continue to obtain ever deeper sanctification, which will make you warm witnesses of the love of Christ in communion with His Church. Dario Card. Castrillon Hoyos,
YCA Local Group(s)
Cheltenham New Joint Local YCA Meeting YCA are sponsoring the catechetical materials of Cheltenham Catholic Adults. The meeting takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of the month on the 1st floor of the Old Priory at St. Gregory's Church Cheltenham A new group will start at St. Peter's Gloucester in the next few weeks.
Douai 2006 (Article printed in the the 2006 edition Retreat at Douai Abbey Friday 8th – Sunday 10th September 2006
Damian (Co-ordinator).
The Abbot of Douai Dom Geoffey Scott has been very kind in allowing YCA the use of Douai and has given us two excellent talks . Douai 2005 (Article printed in the December 2005 edition
On 5th November 2005 Young Catholic Adults held a retreat at Douai Abbey, which is situated between Reading and Newbury, in Berkshire, about one hour west of London. The Abbey has a distinguished history, the community was founded in 1615 in Paris, the third house of the re-established English congregation. The majority of the monks served the Catholic missions in England, often at great risk to their lives. Having suffered greatly during the French revolution the monastery moved in 1818 to the town of Douai in Flanders, now in northern France. In 1903, three years after having been raised to the status of an abbey, the community had no choice but to leave Douai after the passing of the Association Laws. The Bishop of Portsmouth offered them St Mary's seminary in Woolhampton, which the refugee community accepted. At Woolhampton in Berkshire the Abbey Church, the construction of which began in 1929, was finally completed in 1993. The group stayed in a delightful retreat centre exuded rustic charm and comprised of three former farm labourers' cottages that been converted into one. It had a kitchen, scullery, dining room, lounge and chapel and provided simple self-catering accommodation. A tour of the Abbey and its grounds kicked off the proceedings. Unexpectedly, we had climbed the steep spiral staircase of the tower and found a panoramic view at the top, with the monastic gardens and the surrounding wooded countryside spreading before us. The gardens could be seen to the east of the monastery, and were laid out under in their present form under the guidance of Abbot Gregory Freeman OSB, (7th abbot 1969 - 1989) after the monastery had been built. Some of the older trees nearest to the buildings, were part of a grove planted by Abbot Stanislaus Taylor OSB (3rd abbot 1906 - 1913). Everyone gathered in the Chapel for a rosary at 3pm, after which a period of spiritual reading ensued. At 6pm Fr. Abbot gave a fascinating talk on the ‘Four Hundredth Anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot’. We learnt about the propaganda of the time, both Catholic and anti-Catholic in the form of engravings - the most powerful medium of its time. It went so well that it continued after Supper. The evening was completed with a social gathering in the village.
At 9am on the Sunday morning Fr. Du Chaxel gave us an inspiring talk on the catechetical nature of the Mass and how it can bring us closer to God, the talk had previously been given to the Sisters of Charity! At 10am Traditional Low Mass was celebrated in the parish Church (which is owned by Douai Abbey) by Fr. Du Chaxel, many present were attending their first Old rite Mass and the impressions gained were overwhelmingly favourable. Father gave a sermon regarding interceding for the holy souls in Purgatory - a sometimes forgotten central tenet of our faith. Fr. du Chaxel had to leave after Mass to drive to the Reading Mass Centre; however, afterwards we said a rosary and then had adoration in the main Abbey Church to finish off our weekend. Feedback from the event was very positive, so much so, that the Abbott and Community want YCA to come back next year. Young Catholic Adults would like to wholeheartedly thank the Abbot of Douai, Fr. Nicholas du Chaxel and Dom. Christopher Greener for their help and support with the weekend.
For forthcoming events Click here: -
(Click here for the 2005 Douai Retreat Photoalbum) World Youth Day 2005
World Youth Day and Juventutem YCA members went to World Youth day (WYD) this year by travelling to Dusseldorf in Germany as part of a new movement called Juventutem – (or Latin for 'youth'), this was the first time that Latin Masses and other traditional devotions have been allowed at World Youth Day; YCA joined 2,000 other pilgrims mainly from France, but other with young people coming from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands – not to mention the UK. Eight Bishops and three Cardinals attended including Cardinal George Pell of Sydney and Cardinal Francis George of Chicago. YCA enthusiastically helped to serve the numerous Masses
available (there were many private Low Masses being said as well as
having Solemn High Mass every day), and gladly took part in the various
events on offer such as Pontifical Vespers, processions and devotions.
We also met up with others connected to YCA in Cologne, who went with
diocesan pilgrimages. Despite organisational problems, Juventutem proved
to be a promising new chapter in the history of the traditional movement. Our first retreat at Prinknash Abbey (2004)
On October 23rd 2004 we had our first Day of Recollection at St. Peter's Grange in Prinknash Abbey Gloucestershire. The Grange is an enchanting building with evidence that it was an abbatial manor in 1339, although there are architectural features of later developments. The work of rebuilding and enlarging the house was the achievement of the last of a long line of distinguished Abbots of Gloucester, William Parker, who was the last Abbot of St. Peter's Abbey(which after 1541 became Gloucester Cathederal). The weekend started off with Sung Mass in the main Abbey Church, with the monks of Prinknash kindly providing the choir, followed by a tour of St. Peter's Grange. A talk followed after tea, with rosary and Benediction in the Chapel of the Apostle (which is in the Grange) finishing off the days proceedings. This Chapel, was first dedicated in 1629 and restored in 1850. Today it is the centre of the life and work of the Retreat House and is ideal for the Old Rite! Behind the high altar are stone carvings of Christ the High Priest flanked by Our Lady and Saint John designed by Dom Theodore Baily and carved in 1929. Sunday commenced with breakfast at 7.30am followed by Mass at 9.00am (in the Grange). It was a Sung Mass, with the congregation joining in enthusiastically . Between 10.30am and 12.30am there was a chance for some free time. Fr. Damian gave an inspiring talk just before lunch at 1.00pm, with Benediction (given by Fr. Mark) concluding the proceedings. We would like to wholeheartedly thank the Fr. Abbot of Prinknash, Fr. Damian Sturdy and Fr. Mark for allowing us to have the retreat and for showing us the true meaning of Benedictine hospitality; the monks could not have been more welcoming.
Our first event was:- St. Bede's Clapham , London (2004) On 27th March 2004, we had our first major event; a Day of Recollection at St. Bede's Church, Clapham in London. It started off at 12:00noon with a Mass celebrated with Fr. Andrew Southwell. Next, there was a short introduction about the aims of the organisation over lunch and then a short talk on prayer. The rosary followed at 3:40pm with Vespers and Benediction completing proceedings. It was a wonderful day and hopefully the start of many more such events to come. We would like to wholeheartedly thank Fr. Southwell and Fr. Basden for allowing us to arrange this day, and for giving such enthusiastic support to this new venture.
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