An Update from the Prior

4th May 2020

Dear Friends,

I hope that you are all safe and well, and that you are managing the confinement and the disruption to normal life.

Another Outbreak

It’s been longer than I had hoped since I last wrote to you all. The main reason for this is that we had an unwelcome and rather frightening development last weekend, when Fr Richard Finn, who has been deeply cocooned away from us all in a separate part of the Priory building, developed a fever, and subsequently tested positive for coronavirus.

Most of you who know us well, will know that he has had problems with his health in the last eighteen months or so, resulting in a bone marrow transplant a year ago. Poor Fr Richard had a few days of high temperatures and coughing, but as I write I am pleased and encouraged to say that the fever  ended some days ago, and he is feeling much better, and is continuing his recovery in his room. Please do continue to pray for him, that the Lord will bring him back to full health.

Currently, all the other Dominicans in the house are well. This isn’t something that any of us take for granted in these times and after our experiences, and we are truly thankful. Your prayers, concern and support for us continue to be a source of great strength and encouragement.

We have continued to pray especially for all of you at this time, and for those more widely who are sick, lonely, bereaved and working on the front line. We look forward to the end of our 14-day quarantine as a house on Friday morning, so that we can leave the priory and walk out for daily exercise again.

Livestreaming of Mass

We have continued to stream Masses live each day. If you haven’t joined us, please consider doing so. If you click on this link and subscribe to our channel, you can tune in each day, either live or later at your convenience.

The student brothers have also continued to work away at their blog, Godzdogz, which offers various reflections, including a recent piece on St Catherine of Siena.

Term has Begun

We have also started Trinity term, and in common with many of you, those who teach and learn here have been getting to grips with the various online meeting software packages. Our full schedule of lectures, tutorials and language classes is able to operate for our Studium via these wonders of technology. We are able to keep up with the brothers of other congregations and religious orders who study here with us, and keep them on track with their studies and preparation for future ministry, and also with the students of Blackfriars Hall as well.

Our Preaching Mission Continues

We have continued running and participating in groups associated with the Priory and elsewhere. Fr Simon Gaine was involved in a Thomistic Institute event via Zoom, exploring the theme of Christ and the beatific vision, the subject of his recent book.

Some of Fr Richard Conrad’s contribution to the iAquinas series was recently released on YouTube, part of a wider international project to make the works of St Thomas Aquinas more widely known and appreciated.

Input has also been given to the Newman Society of the University, to the first Holy Communion group for the 9.30 Mass, and will start again for the Aquinas Group for young adults tonight. It is encouraging for us to be able to continue our life and work.

Coming Soon…

In the last few days, we have been making a light-hearted video to show aspects of Priory life during the lockdown, and to encourage supporters to keep donating. We will send you a link to the video later this week, and if you like it, please do share it widely.

Praying for you and all your loved ones, and for an end to this pandemic. In anticipation of being together again soon.

Stay safe and God bless,

Fr Robert Gay,
Prior