More than 2000 years of faithful priestly service was represented at lunch in the Beda today as 43 priests from England and Wales who have been ordained 40, 50 and 60 years visited us. The group are in Rome, staying at Pallazzola for the week to celebrate these milestones in their life as priests. As in previous years, the joy and fulfillment in their ministry shine out as a wonderful example to our present students of what is to come. Ad Multos Annos to them and to others whose witness and example are an inspiration to us all.

At our community Mass this evening, we will read out the names of the 14 Beda Association members and the names of relatives of present staff and students who have died during the past year. On 11th November we held the Remembrance Day Mass at San Silvestro with the English and Scots communities in Rome. Today is also the anniversary of the founding of the Collegio Ecclesiastico, our forerunner, in 1852. In November both sorrow and joy mark our remembering.

In a dusty corner of the Beda attic, some old black and white photos from March 1959 were found recently during a clear-out. They show the early stages of the construction work on the present Beda building. The five photos can be viewed on the History tab of this website. They are dated on the back as March 1959 but the identity of the prelate signing a document in one photo is unknown. Any information would be gratefully received.

At the annual Academic Mass today, Vice Chancellor of St Mary's University, Francis Campbell, praised the acheivements of Beda students in the past year and personally congratulated each successul graduate. He also spoke of the valued links between St Mary's and the Beda and thanked the college for the contribution it makes to the life of the University. Congratulations to the Fourth year students who recieved a Batchelor of Theology degree, and to last year's Fourth Year who achieved their Graduate Diploma.

The final event of the First Year induction was a trip yesterday to two important monasteries in Subiaco. Guided tours were provided in Sacro Speco where St Benedict lived for three years in a cave and in the neighbouring monastery of St Scholastica. One special moment for us was to see a relic of a bone of St Bede which is in St Scholastica monastery. The heavy downpour of rain for most of the day didn't detract from these very interesting and enjoyable visits.