Happy Easter!

Dear Friends,

Christ is risen!

How welcome is this shout of good news against the backdrop of these extraordinary times and events we are living. It is welcome, and it is life-giving. As we are ever more aware of our vulnerability in these days, and we have lived the most extraordinary Lenten period, with anxiety, sickness and death such a dominant theme, we need to hear the news of the resurrection of our Lord, which has the power over sickness, sin and death.

And this is the day when that cry is heard by the whole Church. As our isolation continues, the mood and tone of our liturgy shifts – and that wonderful, healing Alleluia, absent from our Lenten season, now radiates out through the world in the Church. God’s grace is especially at work in this season to fill our hearts with Easter joy, so that fear and anxiety, loneliness and isolation do not dominate or overtake us.

These are strange times, and difficult times. But they will pass, and there will be a time to thank God for his loving care for us all when this is all over. And there will be better times to come, when we will be together again as a worshipping community. Know that we are praying for you all each day in the Liturgy of the Hours, and especially at Mass, which so many of you continue to join us for each day.

I would like to thank you on behalf of the community for the expressions of condolence, prayers and concern at the loss of Fr David Sanders, who was also dear to so many of you. It was a great shock, and brought not only loss, but the reality of the Coronavirus to bear on our community. A small number of brothers have had mild symptoms and all have now recovered. At a later point we will have an opportunity to gather for a public Mass for David, once it is appropriate to do so.

God bless and Happy Easter!

Fr Robert Gay,
Prior