There will be a Mass of hope and healing for survivors and all those impacted by abuse, and dedication of a plaque, on Saturday 2nd May at 11:15 am in the Abbey Church at Ealing Abbey.
All parishioners and others very welcome.
Prayer for Survivors of Abuse
God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just: You gave your only Son to save us by His blood on the Cross.
Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to yur own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit, by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.
Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who have been gravely harmed, and the cries of htose who love them.
Soothe their restless hearts with hope, steady their shaken spirits with faith. Grant them justice for their cause, enlightened by your truth.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people’s wounds and transform brokenness into wholeness.
Grant us the courage and wisdom, humility and grace, to act with justice. Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labours.
Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice.
The Easter Triduum is the most important time in the Church’s year. It runs from the Mass of the Lord’s Supper to the Easter Vigil. The Triduum (‘three days’) is really one long liturgy from Thursday to Sunday. The Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and then waiting and praying on Holy Saturday receive the crowning glory of the Resurrection at the Paschal Vigil.
Our services in the Abbey Church at this most holy time are listed below.
Maundy Thursday
NB: The only Mass today is the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
6:00 am
Matins
7:35 am
Lauds
3:30 -5:30 pm
Confessions
6:30 pm
Mass of the Lord’s Supper
until Midnight
Watching at the Altar of Repose
Good Friday
8:30 am
Tenebrae
12 Noon
Chidren’s Passion Liturgy
3:00 pm
Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
followed by
Veneration of the Cross
4:45 – 6:45 pm
Confessions
7:00 pm
The Seven Last Words
8:00 pm
Stations of the Cross
followed by
Veneration of the Relic of the True Cross
Holy Saturday
8:30 am
Tenebrae
10:00 – 11:00 am
Confessions
11:00 am
Blessing of Easter Eggs and Baskets (Bulbeck Room)
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Confessions
6:30 pm
Vespers
9:00 pm
Paschal Vigil
Easter Sunday
On Easter Sunday the monks celebrate Lauds in the House Chapel.
Note that there is an extra Mass at 8 am. The midday Mass starts at 12:15 pm (not noon).
8:00 am
Mass
9:00 am
Mass
10:15 am
Family Mass in the Parish Hall
10:30 am
Monastic Conventual Mass (Pontifical)
12:15 pm
Mass
6: 00 pm
Pontifical Vespers
7:00 pm
Mass
Easter Monday
There is no 7 am Mass on Easter Monday.
Compline will be prayed privately.
7:25 am
Matins
8:45 am
Lauds
9:15 am
Monastic Conventual Mass
6:00 pm
Mass
6:30 pm
Vespers
Tuesday – Saturday of the Easter Octave
Service times as normal except that Compline will be prayed privately.
The Trust of St Benedict’s Abbey, Ealing, wishes to appoint a Safeguarding professional as a permanent position to continuously ensure that Ealing Abbey and its works are comprehensively assured to be safe environments for all.
The post is to be the Safeguarding lead responsible for ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding across all activities of Ealing Abbey. It is to promote an effective culture of safeguarding that protects the health and wellbeing of everyone who comes into contact with the Abbey, ensuring they can live free from harm and abuse. It is to support victim survivors, helping to bring their voices to the forefront in all our safeguarding work.
The role is to assist the Safeguarding Trustee, providing strategic leadership, policy oversight, governance, and cultural development in safeguarding. It is to ensure compliance with national legislation and the “One Church” Approach of the Catholic Church of England and Wales articulated through the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) within the safeguarding framework of the Abbey charitable trust.
This part-time role allows for flexible working hours appropriate for fulfilling the responsibilities outlined in the job description. There is the possibility for hybrid working.
Salary of between £40-48k fte depending on experience.
The closing date for applications is Friday, 10th April, 11.59pm with interviews in person in April 2026.
Ealing Abbey is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All staff must adhere to the policies of the Catholic Church in England and Wales for safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults. In line with our safeguarding policy, some employees and volunteers working in specific roles at the Abbey will be subject to satisfactory clearance being obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). As this work involves regulated activity with children, this appointment is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check. The check will be undertaken as part of the appointment process with the successful candidates. In the event of an offer of employment being made, we will take up references and reserve the right to validate all information entered on the application form.
The Abbey of St Benedict, London, wishes to appoint a Director of Music to lead the Catholic choir of Ealing Abbey, and to contribute to the development of the Abbey’s sacred music programme in September 2026.
Founded in 1897, the Abbey maintains a high standard of liturgical and musical worship within the Catholic Benedictine tradition and this role offers the opportunity to work in a context where the choral tradition is taken seriously, and where music plays a central role in the liturgical expression of the church. Following the exceptional twenty-year tenure of the current Director, the post will suit a gifted musician who brings artistic sensitivity, professional focus, and a desire to maintain and develop a well-established tradition of excellence in church music.
The part-time role requires hours appropriate for fulfilling the responsibilities outlined in the job description. There is flexibility built in to support the growth and development of the position over time.
Subsidised accommodation available as part of a competitive salary package.
(All photos on this page are copyright Damian Walker.)
On 27th September, Dom Bede was ordained to the priesthood after 9 years in the monastery. His ordination comes after six of studies at Oxford Blackfriars.
Bishop James Curry presided at the ordination. In hishomily, Bishop James referred to Bede’s experiences prior to joining the monastery and to the meaning of the Benedictine vows. He reminded us that everything a monk does is part of his spiritual life, whether praying the Divine Office or doing the washing up. Although Dom Bede was ordained to the priesthood, he remains a monk. The monk’s life is a school of prayer which nourishes the priestly ministry.
The Ordination
The service started with a procession from the monastery through the street to the church. Sr Kathleen of the Resurrection Sisters read the first reading (Isaiah 61:1-3) and Bede’s cousin Maria read the second reading (2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-7). The Carmelite Deacon Chidiebere Ezeakacha OCD, who is also studying at Blackfriars Oxford, proclaimed the Gospel (John 15:9-17).
Then came the Rite of Ordination. This comprises a questioning and the homily by the Bishop, and then promises by Dom Bede to carry out his duties. After this comes the Litany of Saints, where we call on the saints to pray for us. Following this, the Bishop and then all the other priests laid their hands on Dom Bede’s head, passing on the Holy Spirit. Then the Bishop prayed the prayer of consecration before Fr Alexander dressed Bede in the stole and chasuble. Bishop James then anointed Bede’s hands before Bede received the chalice and paten for the Mass. The Bishop and Fr Bede then exchanged the kiss of peace, and then all the other priests also gave Bede the kiss of peace.
Bishop James lays hands on Dom Bede’s head
Following this, Mass continued as normal, with Fr Bede and Abbot Dominic as principal concelebrants alongside the Bishop. The Mass ended with Fr Bede giving his first blessing to the Bishop. This is something that happens at the end of every ordination to the priesthood; the newly-ordained priest blesses the Bishop who ordained him.
Blessings and Celebration
After the Mass, there was a celebration in the Parish Hall, while Fr Bede was giving his First Blessing to people.
Your views on safeguarding can help make the Church a safer place.
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) is undertaking a thematic inspection focusing on current survivor engagement and support across Catholic dioceses and Religious Life Groups in England and Wales. This is the first of its kind for the CSSA. The aim to identify and share best practice and areas for improvement across church bodies.
You can help the CSSA by filling out this survey. The survey is anonymous unless you choose to provide contact details. (It is not necessary to provide any contact details.) This survey takes about half an hour to complete.
Your response to the survey will help the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency advise all parishes and religious groups (such as monasteries) to have the best safeguarding standards possible. The CSSA will collate information from across the country. It will then be able to see what works well and what ideas can be suggested to all parishes. That way, your views on safeguarding can help make the Church a safer place.
Brother Bede will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday 27th September. The Mass will start at 1 pm in the Abbey church. The Right Reverend James Curry, auxiliary bishop of Westminster, will be the ordaining bishop.
Priestly ordination is the culmination of a long journey for Brother Bede. It follows six years of study at Blackfriars Studium, Oxford, a seminary run by the Dominicans. Although not all monks become priests, most monks in the English Benedictine Congregation are ordained. Dom Bede will be ordained in the Abbey Church in front of family, friends, the monastic community, and the parish community.
Please pray for Brother Bede as he starts this new phase in his monastic life.
The monastic community is on retreat this week from Monday evening, 18th August, until Saturday morning, 23rd August. The monastic community retreat is a time when we try to step back from our usual day-to-day activities in the parish and our other works, focussing on our relationship with God. Although we are still available for emergencies, we ask that less urgent matters wait until after Saturday.
For a reflection on why monks need a time of retreat, see this post.
St Adhelm’s Church
During the retreat, the Conventual Mass is at 9.15 every morning, rather than 7 am.
At the end of the retreat, we renew our monastic vows at the Conventual Masss on Saturday 23rd August.
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) is conducting a thematic inspection on survivor engagement and support across Religious Life Groups (RLGs) and dioceses of the Catholic Church.
The wall-mounted cast of Mary Mother of All
Through a public survey/public call out we invite survivors to contribute their experiences of contact with the Catholic Church following abuse. The experiences may be new or ongoing, as well as those connected to non-recent abuse. The information will be used to gain a better understanding of survivor’s experience with church bodies, share best practice and to develop ways to improve this experience for both survivors and church leaders.
This process is being conducted with transparency, respect, and in a survivor-centred way. We would like to hear from as many voices as possible, enabling us to identify good practice and areas for improvement across the Church.
Come along to a Book Review and Discussion of ‘Hope’ by Pope Francis, held at the Maurice Fowler Hall of Ealing Abbey, on Saturday 21st June.
In January, Pope Francis published his autobiography. Originally, heintended it to be published after his death, but then decided to release it to coincide with the 2025 Jubiliee year of Hope.
This is the first time a sitting Pope has published ab autobiography. Pope Francis writes about his life, from growing up as a child of immigrant parents in Argentina to the challenges of his papacy. He discusses his personal passions for football and tango, his vocation, and his life in the Church. The Pope also writes about the problems of the modern world, including the conflicts in the Ukraine and the Middle East, the environmental crisis, and the future of the Church.
Pope Francis died three months after the publication of ‘Hope,’ making it a complete autobiography of his life.
HOPE is an independent group that meets to look at the signs of further progress in the Safeguarding in the Catholic Church. HOPE is hosting a Book Review and Discussion of ‘Hope’ by Pope Francis. All are welcome to come along for a friendly chat and share responses to the book.
After the discussion there will be a ‘bring-and-share’ lunch.
Details
Date
Saturday 21st June 2025
Time
10:30am to 12:30pm
Place
Maurice Fowler Hall, entrance to the right of No 1 Montpelier Avenue, Ealing W5 2XP
Our webservers are undergoing scheduled maintenance. This may lead to the website being unavailable for a short period between 7 pm and midnight on Saturday 24th May. The website may be unavailable for a period of about an hour between these times on Saturday evening.
We hope to have everything back up and running by midnight on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
‘I announce to you great joy; we have a pope.’ This is the start of the announcement made Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti, the senior cardinal in the Order of Deacons. (Despite the title, Cardinal Mamberti is, as are most cardinals, a priest and a bishop.)
At 8 minutes past 5 in the afternoon, UK time, white smoke came from the chimney erected on the Sistine Chapel. This was the signal we had been waiting and praying for, telling us that a new Pope has been elected. He was elected on the fourth ballot of the cardinals in the conclave.
Cardinal Prevost has been elected as Pope. Robert Cardinal Prevost has taken the name Leo. He is the 14th Pope to be named Leo, so will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo is the 267th in a line going back nearly 2000 years, when the risen Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Feed my lambs,’ ‘Tend my sheep,’ ‘Feed my sheep’ (John 21:15, 16, 17). All popes are the successor to St Peter.
Pope Leo Addresses the Crowd in St Peter’s Square
The new Pope started his speech from the Vatican balcony with the words ‘Peace be with you,’ something urgently needed in these troubled times. These words were the first words of Jesus to the apostles after His Resurrection (John 20:19).
In his speech, the Pope thanked Pope Francis, as well as the cardinals who elected him. He said we all need the light of Christ. Pope Leo called for a missionary Church that will build bridges between people.
Although he was born in Chicago, Pope Leo has spent over half of his life based outside the USA. He was born in September 1955 and joined the Augustinians at the age of 22. Pope Leo is the first Pope from the Order of St Augustine. In June 1982 he was ordained as a priest. Three years later he moved to Peru as part of the Augustinian mission there.
While in Peru he was head of the Augustinian seminary and taught canon law at the diocesan seminary. In 1998 he was elected as Provincial of the Chicago Province of the Order of St Augustine. Three years later, he was elected as Prior General of the Order, and moved to Rome. He served two six-year terms as Prior General.
In December 2014 he was consecrated as a bishop and in September 2015 he became bishop of Chiclayo in Peru. He had already been the Apostolic Admninistrator of the diocese. Pope Francis made him Prefect (head) of the Dicastery for Bishops in January 2023 and he became a cardinal in the following September.
We pray for our new Pope as he takes over the leadership of the Church.
Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your heart, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. Peace be with you!
This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally. We still have in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed Rome!
The pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that Easter morning.
Allow me to follow up on that same blessing: God cares for us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward.
We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to reach God and His love.
Help us too, then help each other to build bridges – with dialogue, with encounter, uniting all of us to be one people always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!
I also want to thank all the fellow cardinals who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice – always trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.
I am a son of Saint Augustine, (an) Augustinian, who said: “With you I am a Christian and for you a bishop.” In this sense, we can all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.
To the Church of Rome, a special greeting! We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges (and) dialogue, always open to receive (people), like this square, with open arms – everyone, all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.
(Switching into Spanish) And if you allow me also, a word, a greeting to all those, and particularly to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, have shared their faith, and have given so much, so much to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.
(Switching back to Italian) To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world, we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer.
Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to stay close, to help us with her intercession and her love.
So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother.”
There will be a Mass for survivors of clerical abuse on Saturday 17th May at 11:15 am in the Abbey Church at Ealing Abbey.
This is an opportunity to come and pray for those have been abused.
The Mass has been organised by HOPE, a group which meets regularly to look at the signs of hope and further progress in the Safeguarding of those in the Catholic Church and elsewhere.
Prayer for Survivors of Abuse
God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just: You gave your only Son to save us by His blood on the Cross.
Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to yur own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit, by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.
Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who have been gravely harmed, and the cries of htose who love them.
Soothe their restless hearts with hope, steady their shaken spirits with faith. Grant them justice for their cause, enlightened by your truth.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people’s wounds and transform brokenness into wholeness.
Grant us the courage and wisdom, humility and grace, to act with justice. Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labours.
Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice.
The monastic community is on its annual retreat from 19th to 24th August. This is a time for the monks to go deeper into prayer so that they are better able to carry out their roles in the parish and community. Jesus told His apostles, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while’ (Mk 6:31). While the monastic community is on its annual retreat this is what we try to do.
During this week, while the monastic community is on its annual retreat, please try to avoid phoning us, except in an emergency.
Brother Bede will be ordained as a deacon on Saturday 29th June 2024. The service will be in the Abbey Church and will start at 1 pm. Bishop Paul McAleenan, an auxiliary bishop of Westminster, will be presiding.
Diaconal ordination has long been one of the stages to the priesthood. After the Second Vatican Council the Church also brought back permanent deacons. Ealing Abbey Parish has two permanent deacons, Ian and Alex. They will be assisting Bishop Paul at the Ordination.
Brother Bede will be ordained as a deacon during a service that includes promises of obedience to the bishop and of celibacy. Although he is already committed to celibacy and obedience as a consequence of his solemn profession in 2021, ordained ministers are also under the direction of a diocesan bishop.
The Easter Triduum is the most important time in the Church’s year. It runs from the Mass of the Lord’s Supper to the Easter Vigil. The Triduum (‘three days’) is really one long liturgy from Thursday to Sunday. The Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and then waiting and praying on Holy Saturday receive the crowning glory of the Resurrection at the Paschal Vigil.
Our services in the Abbey Church at this most holy time are listed below.
Maundy Thursday
6:00 am
Matins
7:35 am
Lauds
3:30 -5:30 pm
Confessions
6:30 pm
Mass of the Lord’s Supper
until Midnight
Watching at the Altar of Repose
Good Friday
8:30 am
Tenebrae
12 Noon
Chidren’s Passion Liturgy
3:00 pm
Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
followed by
Veneration of the Cross
4:45 – 6:45 pm
Confessions
7:00 pm
The Seven Last Words
8:00 pm
Stations of the Cross
followed by
Veneration of the Relic of the True Cross
Holy Saturday
8:30 am
Tenebrae
10:00 – 11:00 am
Confessions
11:00 am
Blessing of Easter Eggs and Baskets (Bulbeck Room)
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Confessions
6:30 pm
Vespers
9:00 pm
Paschal Vigil
Easter Sunday
On Easter Sunday the monks celebrate Lauds in the House Chapel.
Note that there is an extra Mass at 8 am. The midday Mass starts at 12:15 pm (not noon).
8:00 am
Mass
9:00 am
Mass
10:15 am
Family Mass in the Parish Hall
10:30 am
Monastic Conventual Mass (Pontifical)
12:15 pm
Mass
6: 00 pm
Pontifical Vespers
7:00 pm
Mass
Easter Monday
There is no 7 am Mass on Easter Monday.
Compline will be prayed privately.
7:25 am
Matins
8:45 am
Lauds
9:15 am
Monastic Conventual Mass
6:00 pm
Mass
6:35 pm
Vespers
Tuesday – Saturday of the Easter Octave
Service times as normal except that Compline will be prayed privately.
A few weeks ago, on the Feast of St Scholastica, Brother Bede was instituted as an Acolyte. As with his earlier institution as Reader, this is one of the stages on the path to the ordained ministries of Deacon and Priest. Brother Bede, if it is God’s will, will be ordained to the Diaconate later this year.
What is an Acolyte?
As with the ministry of Reader, the ministry of Acolyte was previously one of the minor orders through which men had to progress on the path to priesthood. Since 1972, men have still have to progress through Reader and Acolyte before Diaconal ordination. (A Priest has to be ordained as a Deacon before he is ordained as a Priest. Famously, in December 374, St Ambrose of Milan was baptised and ordained Deacon, Priest, and Bishop all within a week! These days, such rapid progression is not permitted.)
According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal ‘The Acolyte is instituted for service at the altar and to assist the Priest and Deacon. It is his place principally to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if necessary, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful as an extraordinary minister’ (GIRM 98). Among other duties, the Acolyte prepares the altar for the Eucharist, assists the Priest with incensing the altar, gifts, and cross, and, if neeed be, purifies the vessels after communion (GIRM 187-193). Many (but not all) of these duties are also carried out by altar servers.
Since the Acolyte is for the service of the altar he ‘should learn all matters concerning public divine worship and strive to grasp their inner spiritual meaning: in that way he will be able each day to offer himself entirely to God, be an example to all by his gravity and reverence in church, and have a sincere love for the Mystical Body of Christ, the people of God, especially for the weak and the sick’ (Pope Paul VI, Ministeria Quaedam, 1972).
What is the Ceremony for the Institution of Acolytes?
Although a Reader can be instituted outside Mass, the institution of an Acolyte must take place in the Mass. As with most ceremonies, it takes place between the Gospel and the Offertory. When a monk is instituted, the presider is the Abbot, whereas in parishes it is the Bishop. The ceremony itself is, like that for the Reader, very simple.
After the Gospel the candidate sits in front of the Abbot. The Abbot then speaks about the duties of the Acolyte and the requirements of the person. Following prayers for the Acolyte, the Abbot presents the Acolyte with the bread for the Offertory. After the ceremony, Mass continues with the Offertory, and the newly-instituted Acolyte hands the bread for the Offertory to the Priest.
What Happened to Minor Orders?
The minor orders were Porter, Reader, Exorcist, and Acolyte. Originally, they were open to most members of the Church but over time they were restricted to those on the path to the priesthood. After minor orders the person would usually progress to the major orders of Subdeacon, Deacon, and Priest. Now Reader and Acolyte are again open to most members of the Church, while Porter is no longer an official title, and Exorcist is included in the functions of the ordained clergy.
At the same time as minor orders were replaced, the major order of Subdeacon was also merged into the order of Deacon.
In a word, Yes. The Second Vatican Council stated, ‘The Church earnestly desires that all the faithful be led to that full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations called for by the very nature of the liturgy’ (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14). The opening up of the ministries of Lector and Acolyte to people not on the path to the priesthood was originally restricted to men. However, in 2021 Pope Francis recognised that charisms are given to the faithful, whether male or female. In answer to a call from bishops in the Pan-Amazon region he recognised that the ministries are suitable for men and women. It is, however, still rare for these ministries to be given to anyone not on the path to priesthood.
A Discussion on the Meaning of Forgiveness inspired by Simon Wiesenthal’s book “The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness”
In his book The Sunflower Simon Wiesenthal recounts a moral dilemma that he faced during the Second World War. The dilemma centres around ‘What is Forgiveness?’ He recounts the circumstances of the dilemma and his decision, unsure whether it was the right decision. The second half of the book has contributions from a number of people saying whether they agree or disagree with his decision. (There were 10 contributers to the first edition of the book; the latest rdition has 53.)
The Benedictine Institute is hosting a discussion based on this book. It will look at the question ‘What is forgiveness?’
Organised by HOPE: A community helping each other to hope and act in response to the trauma of abuse. Previously known as COPE
Who Was Simon Wiesenthal?
Simon Wiesenthal was an Austrian Jew who was imprisoned in four concentration camps between 1941 and 1945. After the war he dedicated his life to searching for Nazi war criminals who had evaded capture. He died in 2005.
On 6th January Abbot Dominic instituted Brother Bede as a Reader in the Church. This ceremony is part of the preparation for ordination by all priests and deacons. The institution as Reader is a short and simple ceremony but a significant one.
What is a Reader?
In the Catholic Church ‘Reader’ is a ministry or service to the Church. A Reader is appointed to read the word of God in the liturgical assembly. Before 1972, Reader was one of the ‘minor orders’ on the path to priesthood. Pope Paul VI reformed the formation process, removing minor orders and replacing two of them, Reader and Acolyte, with ministries. These ministries are now open to lay people as well as candidates for the priesthood; since 2021, they have also been open to women.
What is the Ceremony for the Institution of Readers?
The institution of a Reader is a simple ceremony that can be carried out either within Mass or at another celebration of the word of God. For monks, the person presiding at the ceremony is the Abbot; in parish churches it would be the bishop. (Groups such as Franciscans, Dominicans, or Carmelites, would be enrolled by their provincial superior.)
After the readings and homily the candidate sits in front of the Abbot, who then speaks about the duties of the Reader. Then there are some prayers, and the Abbot gives the reader a bible.
When Pope Paul VI brought in the ministry of Reader he said the reader ‘is to meditate assiduously on sacred Scripture.’ This, of course, is something that monks always do anyway.
The Mass then carries on as normal.
What Happened to Minor Orders?
The minor orders were Porter, Reader, Exorcist, and Acolyte. Originally, they were open to most members of the Church but over time they were restricted to those on the path to the priesthood. After minor orders the person would usually progress to the major orders of Subdeacon, Deacon, and Priest. Now Reader and Acolyte are again open to most members of the Church, while Porter is no longer an official title, and Exorcist is included in the functions of the ordained clergy.
At the same time as minor orders were replaced, the major order of Subdeacon was also merged into the order of Deacon.
These are the times for the services in the Abbey Church. Ealing Abbey Christmas Services 2023 are slightly different from the usual services. Since Chrismas Eve is on Sunday, the usual Sunday 7 pm Mass is replaced by a Vigil Mass at 8 pm. There is a Matins service at 11 pm, followed by carols, leading into Midnight Mass. On St Stephen’s Day there is no 7 am Mass and Matins is at 6:30 on both St Stephen’s Day and the 27th December. Conventual Mass is at 9:15 on those two days. There will be no Compline in the Church until after teh Epiphany.
Sunday 24th December
Normal Sunday morning Mass times. No Evening Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent – there is a Vigil Mass for Christmas at 8 pm.
3 pm
Blessing of the Crib
3:30-5 pm
Confessions
6 pm
Solemn Vespers
8 pm
Vigil Mass
11 pm
Matins
11:30 pm
Carol Service
Midnight
Midnight Mass
Monday 25th December, Christmas Day
Note that there is no evening Mass today.
8 am
Dawn Mass
9 am
Mass
10:15 am
Family Mass in the Parish Hall
10:30 am
Monastic Conventual Mass
12:15 pm
Mass
6 pm
Pontifical Vespers
Tuesday 26th December
Note that there is no 7 am Mass today. Compline will be said privately by the monks, not in the Abbey Church.
6:30 am
Matins
7:35 am
Lauds
9:15 am
Monastic Conventual Mass
6 pm
Mass
6:35 pm
Vespers
Wednesday 27th December
Compline will be said privately by the monks, not in the Abbey Church.
6:30 am
Matins
7 am
Mass
7:35 am
Lauds
9:15 am
Monastic Conventual Mass
5:15 pm
Vespers
6 pm
Mass
Thursday 28th to Saturday 30th December
As usual for the corresponding weekday except there is no Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Compline will be said privately by the monks, not in the Abbey Church.
Sunday 31st December
Matins, Lauds, Vespers, and Masses as usual for Sunday, followed by Confessions and Exposition at 10 pm, with Mass at 11:30 pm.
7:35 am
Lauds
9 am
Mass
10:15 am
Family Mass (in Parish Hall)
10:30 am
Monastic Conventual Mass
12 noon
Mass
6 pm
Pontifical Vespers
7 pm
Mass
10-11 pm
Confessions
10-11:30 pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
11:30 pm
Mass
Monday 1st January 2024
World Day of Prayer for Peace
Divine Office at usual times, except Vespers at 5:15 and Compline said privately by the monks, not in the Abbey Church. Conventual Mass will be at 9:15 am.
6 am
Matins
7 am
Mass
7:35 am
Lauds
9:15 am
Monastic Conventual Mass
10 am – 5 pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
5:15 pm
Vespers
6 pm
Mass
Tuesday 2nd – Friday 5th January
Services at usual times except Compline said privately.
On 4th December, the Feast of St Barbara, Fr Timothy travelled to North Acton to bless two statues of St Barbara. The statues were then placed in tunnels. This strange-sounding behaviour is part of an ancient ritual carried out in tunnels the world over.
These tunnels are part of the new HS2 (High Speed 2) line, which will connect London to Birmingham. HS2 is being built in sections, much of it underground. The underground tunnels are built by tunnel-boring machines, also called moles. You can see a fully-assembled one (Emily) to the left and a part-assembled one (Anne) to the right of this photograph.
What has this got to do with Fr Timothy and St Barbara?
Before joining Ealing Abbey in 1989, Fr Timothy worked for 15 years as a manager for British Rail and is our resident expert for all things rail-related. When the HS2 construction team needed a priest to bless the stautues of St Barbara he was the natural choice.
St Barbara is (among other things) the patron saint of tunnellers and miners. One of the first tasks of every tunnelling project is to set up a small shrine to St Barbara at the entrance to the tunnel. This tradition, and St Barbara’s patronage, follows from the story of her life.
Fr Timothy found it a very stimulating day. He said that he felt it a great honour to be a small part of a very important project. The fully assembled tunnel-boring machine is very impressive. (You can find out more about it here.) It was also a special day for the workers, with a celebration lunch laid on.
The tunnels are about 50 metres below ground level. Although Timothy walked down steps to get to the tunnels, he was grateful to be lifted back up in a cage hauled by a crane.
St Barbara
Although there is a lot of doubt about the story of her life and death, it has much in common with other martyrs of the third century. St Barbara was the daughter of a rich pagan who kept her locked in a tower to protect her from the outside world. While in the tower she was able to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation and was drawn towards Christianity. Her father built a private bath-house for her and, while he was away, she asked the builders to put in a third window to symbolise the Holy Trinity. When her father returned she admitted that she was a Christian and he tried to kill her. She ran from him and a crevice opened up in a hill to hide her.
Eventually she was captured, tortured, and condemned to death. Her father beheaded her with a sword and on his way home was struck by lighning and died.
Paintings and statues of St Barbara usually show her holding a chalice and a sword, with a tower behind her. The chalice represents a sharing in Christ’s sacrifice, while the sword represents the tool of her martyrdom. It is common to depict martyrs holding the tool of their martyrdom; it shows that they have conquered death. The tower represents the tower in which her father imprisoned her. Sometimes St Barbara is shown with a palm branch, which is a common symbol of martyrdom. There is a story that, while she was being tortured with whips, the whips tuned into peackock feathers. For this reason, she is also sometimes depicted with peacock feathers.
The first tunnel under the Thames was built by men working in a cage. They chipped away the rock in front of them and passed the spoil behind them. This method was devised by Marc Brunel, the son of the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Now specialist machines use the same principle but faster and more safely.
The tunnels on the Northolt East section of HS2 are being built by machines named Emily and Mary. Each machine is 140 metres long and has a crew of 17 people. The machines work 24 hours a day. They have a drilling face at the front which passes the rock through pipes and conveyors to the back of the machine. Every time the machine drills out two metres of tunnel it stops and puts in the concrete lining. This lining is two metres wide and comes in curved sections of about 4 metres. Since the tunnels are about 9 metres wide it needs five sections to make the complete circle of lining for the tunnel.
The Tunnelling Machines at Northolt East
The machines drilling the Northolt East tunnel are named Emily and Anne. Anne is named after Lady Anne Byron who was married to the poet Lord Byron. As well as being an active campaigner to abolish slavery, she founded Ealing Grove school, the first industrial (or cooperative) school in England. This school combined academic work with activities such as gardening; it also banned corporal punishment. Lady Byron’s daughter, Ada Lovelace, was the world’s first computer programmer.
The other machine, Emily, is named after Emily Sophia Taylor, who was the first female councillor in Hanwell and then Ealing when the two councils merged. She was also the first female mayor of Ealing. Emily Taylor was very active in both education and child welfare, and helped set up Perivale Maternity Hospital. Coincidentally, her husband was an accountant for the railways.
The Language of Beauty at the Service of the Church: Pilot for Diploma in Iconographic Techniques
The Christian Art Studio of Ealing Abbey is pleased to announce enrolments for a diploma course in iconographic technique, starting in January 2024.
Initial enrolments: November 2023
Pilot start date: Friday 5 January 2024.
3 hour weekly class 11.30am to 2.30pm.
Term dates: 5 January – 4 May; 6 September – 21 December 2024
Location: Ealing Abbey, London
This will be hands-on learning that is studio-based and student-focussed. It will use a well-established method that builds foundational core skills, instils the principles and practice of iconography, immerses the student in Christian imagery, past and present, and builds critical analysis and discernment.
The aim is to create sacred art that is well executed, technically sound, engages people’s minds and hearts and draws them into the mysteries of Holy Scripture.
If successful, the pilot will be year 1 of a 4 year diploma programme. The course will be taught by iconographer Amanda de Pulford in the Benedictine Centre at Ealing Abbey.
Initial interest has been high but there may be some spaces available in January 2024 or for later enrolments in 2025.
The monastic community is on retreat this week from Monday evening, 21st August, until Saturday morning, 26th August. This is a time when we try to step back from our usual day-to-day activities in the parish and our other works, focussing on our relationship with God.
For a reflection on why monks need a time of retreat, see this post.
During the retreat, the Conventual Mass is at 9.15 every morning, rather than 7 am.
At the end of the retreat, we renew our monastic vows at the Conventual Masss on Saturday 26th August.
In 1964 Pope Paul VI declared St Benedict Patron Saint of Europe, with his Feast on 11th July. Traditionally, this is the date he was born. Pope Paul VI noted that St Benedict started a movement that had a profound effect on the Christianisation of Europe. Ealing Abbey and its parish are both dedicated to St Benedict. Therefore, this feast is doubly important for us, as the founder of western monasticism and as our patron. We prepare for the Feast of St Benedict with a novena. This is nine days of prayer and devotion in honour of St Benedict.
The Novena
During the Novena, we remember a different saint each day. Apart from St Thomas, whose feast is during the novena, these are all Benedictine saints or (St Gregory) have a connection with Benedictines in England.
2nd July
Ss Placid and Maurus
3rd July
St Thomas
4th July
St Bede
5th July
Ss John Roberts and Ambrose Barlow
6th July
St Benedict of Aniane
7th July
St Gregory the Great
8th July
St Augustine of Canterbury
9th July
St Benet Biscop
10th July
St Scholastica
The novena leads up to the celebration of the Feast of St Benedict on 11th July.
A statue of St Benedict holding his Rule and a cross
As we come to the end of the school year, you might want to consider that St Benedict described the monastery as a ‘school for the Lord’s service.’ If you have time away from work or study this summer, why not ask St Benedict to pray for you to serve God better.
Prayer
Stir up in your Church, O Lord, that spirit to which Our Holy Father Benedict was ever faithful, so that, filled with the same spirit, we may strive to love what he loved and to practise what he taught. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
All images on the page are copyright the Catholic Church of England and Wales.
On Sunday 18th June His Beatitude Cardinal Archbishop Louis Sako, the Patriarch of Baghdad, celebrated Mass at Ealing Abbey. The Mass was part of a 10-day visit to the UK by the patriarch, organised by Fellowship and Aid to the Christians of the East (FACE). He was invited by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
In common with most Eastern Churches, the Chaldean Church celebrates an elaborate liturgy that is also very musical. The Mass was celebrated in Arabic, using the East Syriac Rite. Ealing Abbey Church, which holds about 650 people, was nearly full for the service. There is a significant number of Chaldean Catholics in Ealing and west London. Several Iraqi families regularly attend Mass at Ealing Abbey.
Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald, of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers), concelebrated, as did the Bishop of Baghdad, Basil Yaldo, and the head of the Chaldean mission in the UK, Fr Andrew Toma. Cardinal Fitzgerald was previously the head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and is an expert on Christian-Muslim relations. His order, the White Fathers, have the headquartes for their Mission Appeals in Ealing.
Christianity in Iraq
Christianity in Iraq dates back to the second century. Although the Iraqi Church split from the church in he Roman Empire in the fifth century, the Chaldean Church started to reunite with the Catholic Church in the 15th century, and is now in full communiion with Rome. Before the rise of Islam, the majority of Iraqis were Christian. At the start of this century there about one and a half million Catholics in Iraq but there are now fewer than half a million. The fall in numbers is a result of war and persecution.
Later in the week, Cardinal Sako gave a talk to members of the Newman Society at the Oxford Union. There he spoke about Christians in Iraq being forced to convert to Islam. Once converted, anyone who tries return to Christ faces the death penalty. As well as this, many churches in Iraq have been destroyed by militants.
The Easter Triduum, from the evening of Maundy Thursday until Vespers of Easter Sunday, is the most important time in the Christian calendar. From the commemoration of the Last Supper until the Resurrection the liturgy follows the Passion, death and Resurrection of Christ. On Maundy Thursday we join the apostles in the Upper Room for the Last Supper, when Jesus showed the depth of His love (cf. Jn 13:1). We follow Christ’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion on Good Friday. Holy Saturday is a time for mournful prayer and waiting. Then, on Saturday evening, we keep vigil and celebrate the Resurrection. Those who attend all the services of the Triduum enter deeply into the mystery of Christ’s love.
Our liturgy times are shown below.
Please note that these are the times of the monastic services. For other parish services, see the Parish Website.
Maundy Thursday
6:30 pm
Mass of the Lord’s Supper
This is the only Mass on Maundy Thursday. It is a solemn commemoration of the Last Supper, with washing of the feet.
8 pm until midnight
Vigil at the Altar of Repose
The church is bare, and we pray in front of the tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament as we remember Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and His arrest and trial.
Good Friday
8:30 am
Tenebrae
This is a traditional Triduum morning office, combining Matins and Lauds. The Matins readings are sung in Latin from the Book of Lamentations. The lay clerks of the Abbey Choir also sing the psalmody today.
12:45 pm
Sext
Midday prayer, in the St Rupert Chapel (Monks only).
3 pm
The Passion of the Lord
The Church does not celebrate Mass on Good Friday. Instead, there is a liturgy including St John’s account of the Passion, with communion and veneration of the Cross. This liturgy also replaces Vespers and Compline.
Holy Saturday
8:30 am
Tenebrae
See Good Friday but note that here are no lay clerks today.
12:45 pm
Midday prayer, in the St Rupert Chapel (Monks only).
1:45 pm
None
In the St Rupert Chapel (Monks only).
6:30 pm
Vespers
First Vespers of Easter Sunday.
9 pm
Paschal Vigil
Solemn Vigil Mass of the Resurrection, including the Blessing of Fire, singing of the Exsultet (Easter Proclamation), and Scripture readings of salvation history. Those taking part in the Vigil do not pray Compline.
Easter Sunday
9 am
Lauds
In the St Rupert Chapel (monks only).
10:30 am
Monastic Conventual Mass
Other Masses on Easter Sunday are at 8 am, 9 am, 12:15 pm, and 7 pm. Note the extra Mass at 8 am and Mass at 12:15, NOT 12.
12:30 pm
Sext
In the St Rupert Chapel (monks only).
6 pm
Pontifical Vespers
Solemn Vespers presided by the Abbot. This ends the Easter Triduum.
Easter Monday
7:25 am
Matins
8:45 am
Lauds
9:15 am
Monastic Conventual Mass
12:45 pm
Sext
In the St Rupert Chapel (monks only).
6:30 pm
Vespers
Notes:
During the Easter Octave monks pray Compline privately.
There are drop-in prayer sessions at the Benedictine Study Centre, 74 Castlebar Road, every weekday morning. These sessions, led by a monk of Ealing Abbey, are a chance to experience some aspects of Benedictine prayer. There are three separate parts each day; come for any one, two, or all three.
Monks have been immersed in Scripture and meditation from the earliest days. The monk seeks God in his life; God is to be found in the Scriptures. When Paul and Silas preached in Beroea, the citizens studied the Scriptures every day to see if their preaching was true (Acts 17:11). Studying the Scriptures helps us to understand them. This helps also with lectio divina, which is a prayerful reading of Scripture.
The most difficult aspect of prayer is listening. It is no use our talking to God if we do not listen to what He says to us. Both silent meditation and lectio divina give God a chance to talk to us and us to listen to Him.
The monks of Ealing Abbey renewed their vows at the Monastic Conventual Mass at 9.15 on Saturday 27th August. This ceremony is the culmination of the Community Retreat, which ran from Monday 22nd August to Saturday 27th August. Each year the monks have a community retreat and renew their commitment to the service of God.
After the homily, Abbot Dominic made a public renewal of his abbatial vow. The monks then made a public renewal of their vows of stability, conversatio morum, and obedience. We do this every year at the end of the retreat.
The renewal of vows has symbolic significance. Once a monk has made his Solemn Profession (perpetual vows) he is already bound by them for life. However, the renewal of vows is both a reminder of the commitment we have made and a refreshing of that commitment. Having spiritually refreshed ourselves on the annual retreat we renew our vows to continue forward for the next year.
At the General Chapter of the English Benedictine Congregation we welcomed three communities of nuns into the EBC. This more than doubles the number of convents of nuns in the English Benedictine Congregation and also increases our global reach, all three houses being located overseas.
Abbots, abbesses, and delegates at the end of the EBC General Chapter
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Reflecting on the Catechism of the Catholic Church
You are invited to participate in a fortnightly meeting led by a monk of Ealing Abbey. We reflect prayerfully together on the teaching of the Catholic Church as presented in ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’.
Participants who can afford to are invited to contribute £5.00 towards each session.
For many people an occasional or regular shared prayerful reading of the sacred scriptures is helpful. For the insights of others may bring light and life. The group must be small enough and harmonious enough (though variety in age and background may enrich) for each participant to feel valued. An awareness of the presence of Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit when ‘two or three are gathered together’ is the basic condition. The purpose is never to show off, but to build Christian community and the love of God.
Adapted from the CTS NewCatholic Bible page 2245 Catholic Truth Society
A work of Ealing Abbey registered charity no 242715
Feasts this Week
All are memoria unless otherwise stated.
Sunday Cycle: Year A
Weekday Cycle: Year 2
8th Week of Ordinary Time
Week beginning 24th May 2026
Sunday
Pentecost Sunday
Monday
St Bede the Venerable, priest and doctor (Feast)
Tuesday
Wednesday
St Augustine of Canterbury, bishop, Principal Patron of the English Benedictine Congregation (Solemnity)
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Bl Maurus Scott, priest and martyr
Daily Reading from the Rule of St Benedict
CHAPTER 6: SILENCE
LET us do as the prophet says: ‘I said: I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I have set a guard to my mouth; I was dumb and was humbled, and kept silence even from good words’ (Ps. 38). By this the prophet means to give us a lesson: if sometimes we ought to refrain from good conversation for silence’ sake, how much more ought we to put a stop to bad talk because of sin’s punishment. Therefore even in the case of conversing on good, holy and edifying subjects, to perfect disciples let permission be rarely granted because of the importance of keeping silence, for it is written: ‘When words are many, transgression is not lacking’ (Prov. 10), and elsewhere, ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue’ (Prov. 18). For to speak and teach are fitting for the master, but the disciple should be silent and listen. And so if any requests have to be made to a superior, they should be made with all humility and respectful submission. But as for coarse jokes or frivolous talk or making people laugh, these we condemn to be for ever barred in all places, and for such conversation we do not allow a disciple to open his mouth.
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