Bro. James Hayes - De La Mennais Brothers
"The Monastery" - BBC 2, May '05 (23/07/05)
“The Monastery”: a highly successful BBC 2 3-part documentary following 5 contemporary men who volunteer to live 40 days at Worth Abbey. I know lots of people who've seen at least part of it, some of whom have a lukewarm attitude to organised religion at the best of times. It left them gobsmacked and many found it profoundly moving (as I did myself - especially the last part and Tony's religious experience). The reaction in the press has also been quite amazing. One of the volunteers (Tony) has even been talking openly on TV chat shows about how he discovered faith in God during the experience. His story gives tremendous witness to what Christianity has to offer people in today's secularised societies, in part simply because of the type of person he was before doing the series and also through seeing how it has changed him. I know a lot of people are campaigning for the series to be realeased on dvd but the BBC have not announced any such plans as yet.
The 5 volunteers
A friend of mine has managed to do a decent transfer from vhs to dvd for me and I'm giving copies out to people. I've used part of it already in school. It's a wonderful resource to have: insights into religious life – its difficulties, its riches, insights into Christianity in general, a very positive image of the Church and of the Benedictines involved – the Abbot, Novice Master, etc... some of whom give individual guidance to the volunteers and classes to the whole group. Each of the 5 volunteers came with “issues” that needed sorting out. Three of them were not practicing Christians, but they all thought that their time in the monastery would allow them to take stock, to recharge the batteries and come back “into the world” hopefully as better people. Little did they know that they were going to get far more than they bargained for.
see http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/monastery/
and Worth Abbey
It was great to see people having the kind of (religious) experiences I have had at times over the years and talking about them in lay man's terms. It's also great to see an aspect of the Church portrayed in such an open, positive and generous manner. The series has reminded me why I was so attracted initially to monastic life (Benedictine monasticism – Thanks, Raph - and then the Cistercian variety) as opposed to the Brothers I am now with. Though I thoroughly enjoy life as a De La Mennais Brother and have no regrets, part of me still longs for the “desert”. I try and go for a monastic retreat once a year and also take school groups on retreat. As Brothers, we have to try and live out many of the values and principles of monastic life in an urban, “worldy” context. Not always plain sailing, but very rewarding.
Anyway, if anyone wants a copy on dvd, just let me know and I'll post it off to you. No fee. You can say a few prayers for us instead! If anyone from the BBC reads this, I hope you understand my reasons. If you do release it on dvd I will stop giving out my copies.
Below you will find a transcripted account of a religious experience lived through by one of the volunteers, Tony, during his final talk, 2 days before he left, with the monk who had been his spiritual friend during the 40 days at Worth. To see him courageously say this directly to camera in his bedroom (video diary style) with a look of shocked sincerity on his face was deeply moving.
Personal testimony by Tony Burke ("The Monastery")
“What happened about one-and-a-half hours ago has completely changed everything. Something happened, something touched me, something spoke to me very deeply and very profoundly.
But I tell you something, right, and this is me talking. This isn’t someone who wanted this to happen or expected it to. When I woke this morning I didn’t believe in this. As I speak to you now I do... Whatever ”it“ is (and I still don’t know what that is) I believe in it, because I saw it and I felt it and it spoke to me. And that is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
I can honestly say this is the best thing I have ever done in my entire life, ‘cos I wasn’t happy and I wasn’t content... with me... And I’ve learned here that ”me“ is ok, that ”me“ can be accepted. So whatever happens in the future, I will always have this faith that I have now and the future starts tomorrow.” (Tony Burke, 29)
Articles archive 2001-2005
De La Mennais Brothers Youth Gathering - St. Nazaire, Brittany, April 2005
In the week after Easter myself and our Head of Year 11 at SFX, Tom Brophy, took a minibus full of young people to St. Nazaire in Brittany for a youth gathering organised by the French Brothers in my order. Amongst those who went were 2 6th formers, 2 former pupils + assorted young people from 15 to 24 years old. All except the 2 SFX 6th formers and Tom's daughter, Joanne (who'd spent 2 years working in French-speaking Quebec) were from St. Austin's parish. About 60 young French people attended the gathering which was a warm-up for the trip to Germany for World Youth Day in August.
The De La Mennais Brothers Mother House (or "Mother ship" as it was affectionately baptised by the group) at Ploërmel, Brittany
The group in front of the Château of Josselin, near Ploërmel
Life on board a cramped, wartime submarine... a mime so good it was greeted with a stunned silence! :-) (I actually thought it was very good). Maybe something was lost in translation.
Five of us (Sophie, myself, Ben, Anna + David) contributed 8 worship songs for a praise and worship evening on the Saturday night.
David's (an experienced singer and flautist) first public performance as a drummer... he did us proud!
Ah, those trust games.... first Matthew...
... then Colin!
One of the highlights of the weekend was undoubtedly the evening prayer which we had out on the shoreline at about 11.00pm. As we were about to begin, a priest who was with us gave us the news that Pope John Paul II had just died. This obviously gave an extra dimension to our liturgy that night. The words of the prayers that had been written or chosen in advance were strikingly appropriate for the occasion, especially the poem by St. John of the Cross. An unforgettable experience.
SFX College Orchestra - Jan. '04 - Aug. '04 (10/02/05)
(College Magazine article by Daniel Townley, Yr.12)
St. Francis Xavier's College Orchestra has expanded its horizons in the last calendar year. Appearing in local newspapers for its Christmas performance at MFI. The orchestra played traditional Christmas carols and other pieces from their repertoire for approximately one hour in the entrance of the store, collecting money for the orchestra fund.
The Orchestra playing at MFI
The Spring Concert in March was a great success once again raising money for new equipment for the music department. The orchestra combined with the SFX Boys? Choir, Junior Choir, staff band and soloists to make for an uplifting and enjoyable evening. The orchestra benefited from its new first year members, who added a new range and texture, and were willingly welcomed into the orchestra.
The climax of the calendar for the orchestra was the return of the ?Last Night of the Proms?. After much pestering and persuasion from some of the senior members of the orchestra, Brother James arranged a medley based on the music from the cinema epic, Lord of the Rings, which has become a favourite for both the members of the orchestra and audiences alike. Its premiere performance was at the Last Night of the Proms concert in which the orchestra performed other favourites such as Toccata in D minor and YMCA along with the traditional performances of Jupiter, Pomp and Circumstance, Jupiter and Rule Brittania. The Last Night Of The Proms evening was a enjoyable evening for all involved despite the weather and I would encourage all to attend the next Last Night of the Proms in July 2005.
Daniel Townley, Yr.12
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"All Together Now" (June '04)
Congratulations to the trebles from our school choir (SFX Boys Choir) for being asked to perform on the official England football team anthem chosen by the F.A. - a re-recording of Liverpool band The Farm's 1990's hit, "All Together Now". In the last few weeks they have appeared on local and national TV news programmes and in a variety of newspapers. The video for the song has been doing the rounds of the music channels (containing a cameo close-up of yours truly!! :-).... one of my teaching colleagues was on holiday in Barcelona at half-term. He sat down for a drink in an Irish bar there, looked up and saw me on the telly... gave him a fright!!). Last Friday (11/06/04) they gave a wonderful performance with The Farm live on Top Of The Pops, including a Bucks Fizz moment when they whipped off their cassocks and surpluses to reveal England kits underneath. The song went into the charts at No.10 last week and if England do well in the Euro 2004 tournament that started yesterday, it could see them going higher.
Here's a couple of web links to articles about their achievements:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/sport/2004/06/10/index.shtml
http://www.ely.anglican.org/news/2004/press_releases/pr0453.html
