Message from Fr Paul for Friday 6th January

Fr Paul • January 6, 2023

“Above you the Lord now rises and above you his glory appears. The nations come to your light and kings to your dawning brightness.”

What a blessing it is that we can celebrate the Epiphany on the right day and so keep the Twelve Days of Christmas. Sadly, the Epiphany, greatest and most important of all Christian feasts after Easter, is now overlooked, forgotten or unknown to most people. They know about the kings and the star, but that’s about all. In any case, they celebrate them together with the shepherds and the angels on Christmas Day or long before. Last night my mother was expressing her sorrow that all her neighbours had dismantled their Christmas trees and taken down their decorations on 2nd January. Mind you, some had them up since 1st November. People no longer have the patience to wait for anything and that means they are no longer able to really celebrate and enjoy the feasts and get to know the mysteries of our faith.

Advent and Christmas, like the star, guide us to the great Feast of the Epiphany, or Theophany as our eastern brethren call it. This is the Feast of Light, Easter in Winter, when in ages past whole towns and nations were baptised and received into the Church. It celebrates and allows us to meditate on the three mysteries of Christ’s appearing to the world as Messiah, Saviour and Lord.

Today we recall the coming of the wise men to Bethlehem, following the light of a star. In the cave at Bethlehem, they kneel and adore the Christ Child, God made man, and offer him their prophetic and symbolic gifts. The gifts were three; we don’t know how many wise men there were. The place where the star came to rest is itself prophetic, for he who is born in the House of Bread is himself the Bread of Life and he who is laid on the wood of the manger will die for our sins on the wood of the Cross. Today we remember the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John the Baptist, when the Father’s voice was heard declaring him to be his beloved Son, while the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. The Baptism of Jesus is a true Theophany, where the Holy Trinity is revealed to us and Jesus is proclaimed to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Today we celebrate the Marriage Feast of Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, his first sign, at the request of his Mother, transforming water into wine just as at the Last Supper the wine would become his Blood “shed for many for the remission of sins.”

The full meaning of Advent and Christmas is not revealed until today and the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection can only be understood in the light of the Epiphany. That is why on the Epiphany it is an ancient custom, after the Gospel, to read out the dates of the moveable feasts of the year, for the seed of Easter is sown today. The Epiphany is also reflected in the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, where the three disciples see once more that vision given to the Baptist on the banks of the Jordan. From the summit of Tabor and from the height of the Epiphany, through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, we can look back at the whole History of Salvation and we can look forward to the Last Day and his Second Coming, when every tear will be wiped away and God’s Kingdom fulfilled.

Truly today, “the people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.” We rejoice on the Epiphany because we no longer walk in darkness: we walk in the light of Christ. The Child in the manger, the Man on the riverbank and the Guest at Cana is Jesus our Lord, who said to his disciples, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” He also said to them, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” In Christ we too are light and in us others can see God. The Epiphany teaches us that we too are the light of the world, if we allow our star to shine and so guide others, that we too are beloved children of God, if we live each day the grace of baptism, and that we too can change our world as Jesus transformed water into wine, if we are prepared to love and sacrifice ourselves for others. The Epiphany tells us to look through the prism of Jesus at ourselves and at our world. Christ renews in us today the vocation of shedding his light on everyone we meet and on every situation.

“Above you the Lord now rises and above you his glory appears. The nations come to your light and kings to your dawning brightness.” On behalf of the monastic community, I wish you all a blessed and fruitful Epiphany.


Fr Paul

Belmont Parish Christmas Concert

By Jonathon Nicholls • November 4, 2025
A Christmas concert of classic Christmas tunes sung by the local Minims Musical Theatre Choir  Tickets are available to buy online here; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-concert-tickets-1955269576939 Or they will be available to buy after Mass or by contacting Louise Wright at louise@thewoodee.com More info available on facebook here https://www.facebook.com/events/25157023667265728

Parish AGM Documents 2025

By Jonathon Nicholls • October 2, 2025
Please find below the documents on the Parish AGM held on 13th September. AGM Agenda AGM Minutes AGM Parish Priest Report AGM Chairman Report and Vision Parish Mission Teams List 2025

CALLING LOCAL ACTORS!

By Jonathon Nicholls • September 29, 2025
CALLING LOCAL ACTORS! Could you be part of The Hereford Passion? Hereford Cathedral is casting for its forthcoming production of The Hereford Passion (March 2026), with rehearsals beginning in January. We are seeking actors for a wide range of roles — and especially someone to play the pivotal role of Jesus . Rehearsals will be held twice a week from mid-December/early January, though not all actors will be required at every rehearsal. Both The Hereford Nativity (November 2025) and The Hereford Passion (March 2026) will be performed inside the stunning setting of Hereford Cathedral, following the huge success of The Passion in 2024. If you are interested in taking part, or would like to recommend someone, please contact: James Pacey 📧 james.pacey@herefordcathedral.org 075950 353 42

Passion Play in Hereford

By Jonathon Nicholls • April 7, 2025
There is a performance of the Passion Play in Hereford next Saturday 12th March

YouCAN Cymru launched

By Jonathon Nicholls • September 9, 2024
YouCan

Fr Paul's Daily Message

By Luke Evans • November 8, 2023
Fr Paul's popular daily message can be read on the monastery website here

Message from Fr Paul for Sunday 15th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 1 st October 2023 Yesterday was a busy but happy day in the service of the Lord. In the morning, after Conventual Mass and Toby’s second walk of the day, I drove up to Leominster for Mass and Confessions, then came back to Belmont for a joyful wedding, elegant, homely and relaxed. Then came the Mass of Thanksgiving for the Silver Jubilee of Fr Richard’s Priestly Ordination, an uplifting celebration followed by a magnificent, traditional tea party. It was lovely to see so many well-known faces from all the parishes where Fr Richard has served. As a monk can never have too much of a good thing, this was followed by Solemn Vespers. Today, I will be at Leominster for Mass in the morning and again in the early afternoon, as well as at Bromyard for Mass later in the morning. Then, at 5.30pm the monastic community will sing Vespers at Hereford Cathedral for the vigil of the feast of St Thomas Cantilupe at the invitation of the Dean and Chapter. We are all looking forward enormously to returning to the Cathedral for the first time since lockdown. All are welcome to join us for Vespers. Fr Michael will preside and preach. Today’s Gospel from Matthew (Mt 21: 28-32) has Jesus asking the chief priests and elders of the people a question. “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, ‘My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not go,’ but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, ‘Certainly, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?” His question is based on the short parable of the two sons and the answer is obvious, but by getting the answer right, his adversaries fall into a trap. When they answer, “The first,” Jesus is able to compare them unfavourably with tax collectors and prostitutes, i.e. with public sinners. He contrasts the way they responded to John the Baptist’s preaching, which was to ignore him, and the response of sinners, which was to repent of their sins and change their way of life. Jesus says, “Tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.” Now it’s fine to talk about the high priests of Jesus’ time, about the elders of the people, the scribes and Pharisees, but what about us? What about me? Which son am I like? How closely do I listen to Jesus and take his teaching to heart? Does his teaching call me to repentance? Does his example move me to conversion and new life? These are important questions we should be asking ourselves today. Lord, I have often been disobedient to your will and have let myself down; help me out of my indolence and give me grace always to do what is right and just. Amen.

Message from Fr Paul for Saturday 14th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Saturday, 14 th October 2023 It was good to drive to Bromyard yesterday morning for Mass and to take Toby with me. This wasn’t new to him, of course, as in the past he had been there many times and always accompanied me when I went church crawling nearby. As you know, I love visiting ancient churches and love praying in them and singing the chant. I always get the feeling that the stones remember and rejoice. When I eventually move to Leominster and Bromyard next year on my retirement as abbot, one of the many things I’m looking forward to doing is visiting every ancient church in the north of Herefordshire, not that I can say that I’ve visited every medieval church in the south of the county, but I’m getting pretty close. Toby always accompanies me, as he loves sniffing around old churches and churchyards as much as I do. Today’s brief Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 11: 27-28), is a most suitable passage to be heard on Saturday, which is usually dedicated to Our Lady. Here it is: “As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” It’s somewhat similar to the short account we read recently of a visit made by Mary and his brothers to Jesus, when he was preaching to the crowds and healing them. “Who are my mother and my sisters and brothers?” he asked, replying that those who hear the word and kept it are his mother and sisters and brothers. This time it is a woman in the crowd, who shouts out, “Blessed are the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked.” It’s not that Jesus disagrees with what she says, but he takes her thought a stage further. “Even more blest those who hear the word of God and keep it.” Who is more blessed than Mary his mother, who heard the word of God and kept it? We ask Mary’s prayers today that we, like her, may hear the word of God and keep it.

Message from Fr Paul for Friday 13th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Friday, 13 th October 2023 It’s 11pm on Thursday night as I sit down to write a few words for today’s message, my first day back at Belmont after a short break in Greece. However, the drive from Birmingham Airport to Hereford took much longer than expected because of roadworks on the M42 that resulted in lengthy diversions, causing us to arrive at Belmont well after 2am. I didn’t really recover all day. Then, after Compline, I had to drive down to Newport to collect Fr Alex, who was arriving from his visit to the Cistercian nuns at Las Huelgas, Burgos, Spain. I wonder why the train to Hereford leaves Newport three minutes before the train from Paddington arrives. Today the Church in England keeps the feast of St Edward the Confessor, last Anglo-Saxon king of the House of Wessex, who reigned from 1042 until 1066. He is buried at Westminster Abbey and was one of the English patron saints until replaced by St George by King Edward III. Our Gospel from Luke today, (Lk 11: 15-26), sees Jesus casting out a devil and then taking about the devil, whom he calls Beelzebul. He says, “If it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you.” It is God’s will and through his power that Jesus casts out devils, as he tries to bring healing, unity and reconciliation to all God’s children. There are many devils abroad in thew world today, wreaking havoc, death and destruction. We ask Jesus to cast these from our world through the power of God and to bring us that peace with God which alone can bring peace among his children.

Message from Fr Paul for Thursday 12th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 12th October 2023 I spent much of yesterday travelling back to Belmont from Greece and I’m writing this short message in one of the many Lufthansa lounges at Munich Airport. As my plane doesn’t get into Birmingham until 11pm, I doubt I’ll arrive at Belmont much before 1am. I really enjoyed having a break, but as the Welsh say after a good day’s weather, “We’ll pay for it later.” Munich must be one of the best airports to negotiate as you make a connection from one flight to another, especially if you happen to have a British passport. On leaving Thessaloniki, I was asked by the young border policeman how I’d been allowed into Greece without a visa, as he didn’t recognise a new blue British Passport. He took it from me and went off to consult a senior colleague. It’s the first time in 60 years of visiting Greece on a regular basis that I felt like an alien in a foreign land! Today we keep the feast of St Wilfred in England, but in Spain and many countries in Latin America it’s La Virgen del Pilar, Our Lady of the Pilar, patron of Spain and venerated in Zaragoza, another reason why October is the month of Mary. Our Gospel from Luke today, (Lk 11: 5-13), is the continuation of yesterday’s, where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. It’s an extended commentary by Jesus on perseverance in prayer. “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.” Ultimately, the best gift of prayer is the Holy Spirit, whom our Heavenly Father gives to those who ask him.
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