WELSH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CONCERT: Friday, 3rd July in OLSM Church, Abergavenny at 7.30pm. "Mozart in Abergavenny." Tickets £20, or £35 including drinks reception after concert. More information is available on the parish website: www.olsm-abergavenny.co.uk
NEEDLE NEEDS: Help is needed, initially for some napkin-hemming for the Monk’s Refectory. If you are able to help please contact either Fr Augustine, Fr Patrick or Fr Christopher.
LEARN TO PRAY: At The Chapterhouse, Belmont Abbey, Saturday, 27th June, 11.00am to 4.00pm. A day of teaching on prayer, led by CCO founder Andre Regnier. Open to anyone who wants to deepen their prayer life – no previous experience needed. Part of the CCO (Catholic Christian Outreach) three-week Diocesan Mission across Cardiff-Menevia - running from 19th June to 5th July. More details at: rcadc.org/a-mission-for-the-whole-diocese-cco-comes-to-cardiff-menevia
ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE GRAVE OF ST JOHN KEMBLE � SUNDAY, 23RD AUGUST 2026 9.15am Mass at St Mary’s Church, Monmouth. 10.15am Pilgrims set off to walk to Welsh Newton - bring a packed lunch. 3.00pm Rosary, readings and prayers at St John Kemble’s Grave, Welsh Newton Churchyard. 4.15pm Benediction at St Mary’s Church, Monmouth. Everyone welcome.
THE PICKWICK PAPERS: Join the lovable Mr. Pickwick and his eccentric band of companions as they bumble their way on a rollicking journey through confusing courtships, courtroom shenanigans, questionable duels, and carriage rides gone terribly wrong. Pack your picnic, secure your seat and prepare for an uproarious adventure with The Pickwick Society—where the only certainty is a thoroughly good time will be had by all! Belmont Abbey grounds, Saturday, 8th August at 7.00pm-9.30pm Tickets: adults £18, children (under 16yrs) £8 Box Ofice: 03306 600541 - www.bit.ly/Pickwick-Belmont
LE VOCI LADIES CHOIR & CANTAMUS GIRLS CHOIR: Present an evening of song in aid of Yeleni Therapy and Support, a local charity. In Belmont Abbey on Saturday, 27th June at 7.00pm. Tickets are £12 for Adults, £5 for Students and under 16s go free. Tickets are available at: levocicantamus.eventbrite.com or on the door.
DOWNSIDE ABBEY FESTIVAL 2026: A series of concerts this Summer in the magnificent setting of Downside Abbey, 16th-19th July. Artists include David Bednall and the Bristol Brass Consort, the Choir of St Mary’s, Wimbledon and the Tenebrae Associate Artists. The highlight of the four-day festival will be a ‘Come and Sing’, directed by Sir John Rutter. Tours of the Abbey Church will take place and there will be an opportunity to see the exhibition ‘Everyday Lives’. More information is available at: https://www.downsideabbey.co.uk/downside-abbey-festival-2026/
THE BIBLE: MYTH OR HISTORY?: A free illustrated lecture series in Biblical Archaeology with David Rohl. Session 5 - Kadesh-Barnea - The location of Kadesh-Barnea. Aaron’s tomb on Mount Hor. The journey to Abel-Shittim. The death of Moses on Mount Nebo. Saturday, 11th July 2.00pm to 4.00pm, location within Belmont Abbey to be conirmed. Free parking, Free entry. Monthly lectures on the second Saturday of each month.
Dear friends in Christ, Thank you to everyone who helped and supported our annual Garden Fete last week on Saturday. I am told it was once again a fantastic event and I am sorry to have missed it. We made over £6,500 on the day. The expenses still need to be deducted but it is an amazing amount. Once again, thank you to everyone who was involved and for all your hard work! It has been unbelievably hot recently! I hope everyone has been able to keep cool over the last few days. It looks as if the heat got to our sound system, meaning none of the microphones are working. The engineers are hopefully coming on Wednesday to fix it but we will have to make do without voice amplification and the livestream this weekend! This Sunday, on the liturgical Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the traditional Peter’s Pence collection takes place. This is a way to support the Holy Father in his mission of service to the universal Church. Donating to Peter’s Pence is a concrete gesture of communion with the Holy Father and of solidarity with his mission to bring the Gospel throughout the world. To support this initiative, the Secretariat for the Economy and the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See have prepared informational and multimedia materials to illustrate its significance. On the official website ObolodiSanPietro.va, it is possible to:
Meetings are on Wednesdays 11am–12noon : 24th June, both in the Parish Centre, 22nd July in The Chapterhouse (all three are major feasts of the English Church). This is a way of opening our hearts to reading scripture in the Holy Spirit. It is an ancient practice, commended by St Benedict in his Rule. Lectio, whether in a group or on your own, begins with prayer, and then focuses on a brief passage of scripture. Read it several times, silently or aloud, and just allow yourself to sit with it. Be open to the Holy Spirit and to the Word of God - allowing yourself to be moved by it. Let it resonate with you and think about what it is saying to you. This helps us grow in love of scripture, and is a way of growing into prayer.
