Twelve of the Beda Community commissioned as Acolytes

Edna Tongco retires after 31 years of service

Years 2 and 3 participate in Safeguarding Training

Students given a tour of the facilities by Mgr. Samuel Sangalli (undersecretary of the Dicastery of Evangelisation) and meet with Prefect Cardinal Tagle.

Three Bishops from Committee conduct annual visitation

Service for Christian Unity attended by several Ecumenical Representatives

Celebration of Advent Liturgy

Seminarian Philip Thornley (Leeds) admitted as Candidate for Holy Orders

Beda students receive academic awards

Festive moment marks Beda Anniversary celebration

Visit part of induction programme for new students

We have seven new fulltime seminarians joining us this September. In addition, we have an Anglican ordinand with us for two months, and a new external Rosminian student who will be studying with us throughout the academic programme. A visit to St Peter’s for Mass is one of the earliest gatherings that we organize. We were in the Polish Chapel with a replica of the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa.

On the afternoon of Saturday (23 September 2023) the new members of the College accompanied some of the older ones on a walk led by St Patricia. We started at the Colosseum and made our way down the Foro Imperiale to view the forum from the Capitoline Hill; thence to the Jewish quarter, Tiber Island, and Trastevere. The Janiculum followed and we made our way down to Lungotevere, past the Bambino Jesu Hospital, and relative ease of a bus journey home.

The last day of the Beda College year is marked by the Ordination to the Diaconate. This year seven of our members were ordained by Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh, with two of the ordinands promising obedience directly to the Archbishop. The ordinands were: David Chung – Diocese of Port Louis (Mauritius), Paul Henderson and Peter Shankland - Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Thomas Hiney - Diocese of Portsmouth, Simon Marley - Diocese of Lancaster, Brian McNally - Archdiocese of Armagh, Eamon Salmon - Diocese of Ferns The splendid liturgy under the guidance of the College MCs and Music Master was enhanced by the singing of the Schola Cantorum of St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh, under the direction of Mr. Michael Ferguson. The festive lunch at the College managed to outflank the constant threat of rain by hosting different groups of guests indoors allowing everyone the opportunity to venture in and out as they pleased. The celebrations went on untill late in the afternoon.

The College celebrated its Patronal Feast in an intimate and outgoing way. We gathered for Morning Prayer at 09.30 followed by a joyful celebration of the Eucharist at 11.30. The many College guests were invited for a splendid buffet dinner in the evening, beginning at 19.00: our fine garden is perfect for this. The small selection of pictures below will give a flavour of how the day unfolded. Happily, the threated rain did not materialize. Four members of the Ordination Year of 2013 were able to join us as part of the celebration of their tenth anniversary. We shared a ubique sense of closeness to Beda members around the world, living and dead; and, in particular, with the Beda Association.

Today the College celebrates our Patron, the Northumbrian Monk Bede, who died in the year 735 and is widely recognised as not only a great historian but also a great learned figure of Anglo-Saxon England. His scholarship covered a huge range of subjects, including commentaries on the bible, observations of nature, music and poetry. The Opening Prayer at Today’s Mass speaks of a marriage in the learned Monk of the gifts of wisdom and merit ( virtue ) and in our own lives as disciples of Christ Jesus we ask for his intercession and inspiration that we may emulate our Patron ! Here in Rome tomorrow we keep the Feast of Saint Philip Neri, known as ‘ il santo sorridente’ , the smiling Saint. In the work of evangelization let us call on both of these saintly figures so that WISDOM, VIRTUE and A SMILE will be our gifts to others today ! Saint Bede, pray for us !

12-14 May 2023 This was the last occasion when Year 4 would meet for a reflective ‘weedend away’. It focused on the whole formation/seminary experience and the prospect of crossing the threshold of leaving the College. There were lots of happy, poignant and courageous moments: memories, reminiscences and anticipations. The Divine Word retreat centre at Nemi had lots of memories too. Despite the drizzly weather, on Saturday afternoon a few responded to the urge to walk round the lake.

All of Year 1 received the Ministry of Reader at this joyful Wednesday evening Mass. They were joined by their guests and enjoyed a shared supper together afterwards. Each of the new Readers received a copy of The New Oxford Annotated Bible.

Guests were invited for a lovely afternoon tea in the garden in celebration of the Coronation of their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Seminarians of the Beda College participate in the Easter Sunday Mass with the Holy Father