In the morning we celebrated Mass in the Shrine of Our Lady near Rome, Divino Amore. This was followed by a relaxed lunch by the sea and a visit to the British War Cemetery in Anzio. See photos here.

Friends, relatives and guests of the Beda community gathered in the evening sunshine for the annual barbecue. Click here to see photos of this event.

The traditional lunch to thank those who are leaving took place today. In turn the Student Dean, speaking on behalf of the twelve who are leaving this summer, thanked the staff, the other students and the personale for the support and help they had received in their four years here. We wish them all well as they move on to new pastures.

Two short YouTube pieces from Brendan's Ordination to priesthood on 31st May.

The 1st of June - and finally the sun is shining with some power after one of the coldest and dampest Mays on record here in Rome. The cooler weather has had some advantages: it has been more comfortable for studying during exam week and the mosquitos have kept their distance. But with exams due to finish on Monday, we hope that the warmer weather is here to stay. So far, the prospects are good for the Barbecue on Wednesday and the Rector's gita to Anzio on Thursday.

More than fifty guests gathered at the Beda today for our patronal feast. In his homily at Mass, Canon Gillespie highlighted the characteristic of St Bede of having great knowledge and at the same time, of operating out of love. After Mass, the college community and guests gathered in the garden on a cloudy but warm day for drinks prior to a sumptuous meal which did full justice to our patronal feast. Many thanks to all our extended Beda family for their best wishes and prayers on this our feast day.

The day the College photos are taken is usually guaranteed to be warm and sunny - but not today! As thunder sounded in the distance during Mass and the sunshine struggled against a foreboding sky, the decision was taken to risk taking the photos in the garden. With some haste the college group and then each year group in turn lined up under the darkening clouds. As the shutter snapped on the final photo of First Year, the first big drops of rain began to fall. The storm angels had done their job!

Yesterday evening, first year students received the Ministry of Lector at a Mass celebrated by Canon Philip Gillespie. This year was doubly special because the Beda Association are holding their annual meeting in the College and they joined in enthusiastically with the celebrations. Congratulations to the five new Lectors, and thanks to the members of the Beda Association for helping to make this such a special event. Ad Multos Annos to all.

Sunday 5th May is one of the days we at the Beda set aside for prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life (a week earlier than most places because 4th Year have a formation weekend at Palazzola next weekend). During the afternoon there is an extended time of Adoration and we invite all our families, friends and supporters to join us in this prayer today.

On Sunday 5th May, twelve SHCJ Sisters from Ghana and Nigeria joined us for Mass.They are in Rome on a renewal programme this month. On Saturday 4th May, nine Rectors and Vice-Rectors from Major Seminaries in the Congo, Liberia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Chad, Vietnam and Sri Lanka came for lunch. They are some of the English-speaking paticipants at a Vatican Conference on Discernment and Formation taking place in Rome. We value these visits for the friendships they form and for reminding us that we are a truly 'Catholic' and universal Church.

On Thursday 2nd May, a group pf students left at the crack of dawn for the early train to Assisi. The day included guided visits to several Franciscan Churches and they even managed a wine-tasting event given by a local expert. Their return train got them back about 11.00pm and they reported on having had a very full and rewarding day out.

As we celebrate Easter, the entire Beda community echoes the Rector's Website message in wishing all our past students, friends, relatives and supporters a joy-filled, happy and blessed Eastertime. May the light of the Risen Christ dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds. Alleluia.

From the Hosannas of Palm Sunday through to the solemn Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday, the Beda community has entered into the spirit of Holy Week, celebrating the liturgy with dignity and prayerfulness. Everyone has been involved in preparing or taking part in the Services. Now we await the Easter Vigil which will be followed by a few days of rest and recuperation.

Our Holy Week celebrations began this morning with the blessing of palms in the garden, followed by a procession of palms and then the moving reading of St Luke's Passion within our community Mass. Earlier, Fr John Carlyle had led the college in a few hours of recollection to prepare for Holy Week. The Rector offered sincere thanks for all the background work in sacristy, music and organising the ceremonies which paid off as we begin a prayerful journey towards the Passion and to Easter.

Yesterday evening, nine members of Second Year received the Ministry of Acolyte, a step forward on the journey towards priesthood. Bishop Terence Drainey from Middlesbrough, one of the three bishops currently on the annual visitiation from the Bishops' Conference, presided at the Mass (See a link to his Homily by clicking the title above). The new Acolytes were joined by friends and family for the evening celebrations. Ad Multos Annos.

On Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent the Station Mass takes place in St Paul's Basilica. The Beda provided servers and choir and the Rector was the preacher. The celebrant was Cardinal Harvey, Archpriest of St Paul's. Our Beda Community mingled with the regular daily Station Mass-goers who were invited to the college for breafast after Mass. A good gathering of young people, students and staff from other colleges enjoyed true Beda hospitality before heading off for their day's work.

The 'Lent Oasis' has been a feature of Beda hospitality for many years. This year it was the turn of the staff and students from Venerable English College to visit us for Mass and lunch. The tradition goes back to the time twenty years ago when the English College had to vacate their premises for several months and some stayed at the Beda for that time. Almost 75 people sat down at lunch today for a festive mid-Lent Sunday, truly expressing our mutual friendship and shared purpose.

Over recent years, the Beda has been active in encouraging older men to put themselves forward for priesthood. Often an idea about priesthood has been at the back of someone's mind and they simply haven't done anything about it. We have run two successful discernment weekends at St Beuno's Retreat Centre in north Wales and a further one is planned for the end of August this year. There are still places available on this and anyone interested can find details and a link to a booking form on the Beda Website, (Beda Life/ Vocations Promotion/ Discernment weekend).

On Saturday, 23rd March, some First and Second Year students visited the ancient site of Ostia Antica. Their guide was Fr Alberto de Mingo, a Redemptorist priest who teaches New Testament at the Beda. Ostia Antica is the well preserved archeological site of the ancient port of Ostia. It was a fascinating and enjoyable visit for all who took part. Very many thanks to Fr Alberto for his guidance and knowledge.

A weekly film in the student common room on Sunday evenings has been a feature of Beda life for some time. A new innovation this year is that in addition to Sunday's film, on Friday evenings throughout Lent a film with a religious theme will be shown for those who wish. Last week, the film was 'Mary Magdalene', this Friday it is, 'Of Gods and Men', and that will be followed in subsequent weeks by four installments of the Zeffirelli epic 'Jesus of Nazareth'.