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.