At the Pentecost Mass this morning, the Rector offered prayers for the whole Beda Community, those in Rome and those who have returned home. The altar was beautifully decorated for the occasion as usual by Edna. Photographs of the garden in May help us to celebrate the feast and can be accessed by clicking the picture here. We pray that the Holy Spirit will enliven the hearts of us all in the coming year.

Four students from Second Year received the Ministry of Acolyte during the Mass for the Feast of St Bede. Due to the Coronavirus lockdown no guests were able to be present but the personale provided a wonderful celebration meal for all residents in the sunny summer garden. Photographs of the new Acolytes and this year's unusual Bede's Day can be found by clicking the photo or title above.

Celebrations for the Feast of St Bede are taking place as usual today for the resident community but sadly, this year, there can be no guests. However, we take great encouragement from receiving the many messages of goodwill and prayer from former students and friends. We sincerely thank everyone for their good wishes and in turn wish the whole Beda family a joyful and memory-filled day of celebration.

A new video about the college chapel has been created by Second Year student Philip Bua to mark the feast of the Ascension and as a preparation for Bede's Day next Monday. The chapel is at the heart of the building and for all of us, residents and visitors past and present, it is the focal point drawing us together, as the disciples were drawn together after the Ascension.

With 15 students having chosen to return home at the start of the coronavirus lockdown, the annual house photo of 2020 records a smaller gathering than usual of the 15 students and 5 staff who have remained. However, it reminds us of how we look forward to the new semester in the autumn when the complete Beda family will be re-united once again.

Good Shepherd Sunday is traditionally a day of prayer for vocations. Despite the unusual circumstances, staff and students resident here will be making this a special intention during the Holy Hour this evening. We invite the whole extended Beda family to join us in this prayer and particularly to pray for the work of the Beda in promoting and fostering mature vocations.

A video of the Beda garden in Spring created by Philip Bua during the Easter break, has reached 2270 people on the College Facebook page within 48 hours of its publication. The four minute film gives a good flavour of our beautiful surroundings in Spring.and at a time when, because of the virus lockdown, we have appreciated our garden even more than usual. Click the picture to see the video.

East Anglia Seminarian Mike Smith made good use of the lockdown time during the break after Easter by creating some lovely line drawings of scenes around the college and gardens. It is hoped that some of these drawings will be made into notelets and cards for future use by the college. Click on the picture to see more details of some of Mike's Easter drawings.

Past students from the early 1990s will remember the Icons of SS Peter and Paul which used to be displayed over the doors at the side of the sanctuary. These Icons, in the classic Greek and Russian tradition, were written by two students, David Clemens and Michael Hornbeck-Madson, duing the summer of 1991. Although the doors on the sanctuary no longer exist, the Icons have been displayed in their old positions for our Eastertide celebrations this year.

As the the simple but prayerful Holy Week Services are completed, we celebrate Easter with the deep joy that the Risen Lord brings. The Rector's Easter message echoes this Paschal joy, while acknowledging the darkness we are living through. The Rector, staff and students thank the whole Beda family for their support and prayers over the past weeks and we wish everyone a peaceful, safe and joyful Eastertime.

The traditional weekend of Recollection to prepare for Holy Week was led this year by Fr Peter Verity. Although only half the students are here, those away were able to be in solidarity with us and all prayed for the whole Beda community. Our Palm Sunday liturgy was simpler this year, as will be all the liturgies this week. But there is a prayerfulness in simplicity, matching the sombre times we are living through. .

On Thursday this week two visitors from the Vatican came to give us some welcome advice and support in order to help keep us safe. They were very pleased with the way we are self-isolating and made some helpful suggestions to keep us even safer. While our life continues more or less normally this week, we keep in our prayers the people of Italy who are suffering so badly at this time.

Lectures resumed this morning after the short break - but all classes from the external professors are now online. Using Skype, Zoom and other platforms, the academic programme can continue and colllege life remains more or less stable and normal. Thank you to those who have been keeping us in your prayers. We are continung to pray for those back home whose lives are so badly affected by the pandemic.

The short four day break began today in highly unusual circumstances. Although staff and the remaining 15 students are not allowed off the premises due to the Italian quarantine, a lighter timetable comes in for a few days, allowing time for relaxation and exercise in the warm Spring sunshine. Blue skies and light airs are forecast and we look forward to rechargning our batteries in the relaxed atmosphere.

With Italy now in quarantine, some students have returned home. From there they will continue their academic work and other aspects of formation by Skype or email. The Rector's message above shows that the remaining students and staff are safe and well, served by a rota of the wonderful Personale. The emergence of the turtles from hibernation and the first daffodil of Spring came on the day the Italian lock-down was announced - signs of hope for the future?

Second and Third Year students went to the Divine Word Missionary Centre in Nemi this weekend for a course on Safeguarding which was led by Dr Colette Limbrick, Director of the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service of England and Wales. Interesting, fruitful and enjoyable was how they described the weekend. Many thanks to Dr Limbrick for travelling from the UK to give the weekend.

With the rapid advance of the Coronavirus, especially in Italy, the Beda community has been able to continue working normally at present. While Schools and Universities in Italy closed yesterday to prevent the further spread of the virus, the Beda is able to continue with its in-house lectures. However, in a rapidly changing situation, a close watch is being kept on necessary directives from Church and Civil authorities.

Ash Wednesday this year was the day after the Third and Fouirth Year retreats had ended and at the beginning of the second Semester. The Mass with the blessing and distribution of ashes took place in the evening. Earlier in the day the Personale had come to receive their ashes.

The annual retreats this year all took place at the Divine Word Retreat Centre in Nemi. Third and Fourth Year did their Canonical pre-ordination retreats. In previous years, First and Second Years have remained in College for a preached retreat but this year, for the first time, they came to Nemi for an individually guided retreat.

The final exams of the first half of the year bring the semester to an end today. A short break when students will rest, visit friends and family and travel for a few days holiday, will be followed by the annual retreats which begin the second semester. We wish everyone a good rest and renewed energy for the next stage of their formation journey.