"Rest and be thankful" is the Rectors message at the end of this remarkable year. A good way to re-live the story of the year is through the 1000+ photographs, organised in 35 ablums, on the college Flickr account (click the title or picture here for the link). From the induction, through to the Diaconate ordinations and all the events in between can be seen again through these photos. The College Website and Facebook page will be taking a rest and being thankful until the new academic year. We look forward to resuming in September.
Two new Icons of St Peter and St Paul by Aidan Hart have been installed recently in the college refectory. Specially commisioned by the college they link the two great apostles with St Bede, our patron. St Peter is seen holding the monastery church of St Peter Monkwearmouth where Bede spent his early life, and St Paul is holding the monsastery church of St Paul Jarrow where Bede spent his later monastic life and where he died. A fuller explanation is given by the Rector's article above.
Six Third Year students were today ordained Deacon by Cardinal James Harvey in the college chapel. Two other Third Year students will be ordained Deacon in their respective dioceses during the summer. Cardinal Harvey referred to them as the ‘Covid Deacons’ and because of the pandemic, the ordinations took place without guests and with strict protocols of masking and sanitizing. We offer our prayers for all the new Deacons and wish them well in their pastoral placements during the summer months.
With three days to go, the final preparations are being made for the Diaconate Ordinations on Wednesday. A choir practice has already taken place, the booklet is prepared, serving practices start tomorrow and the Oath of Fidelity will be taken by the Candidates on Tuesday evening. Preparations for the festive meal to celebrate are also well underway, in usual Beda style. To see pictures of some of the preparations, click the photos above for a link to our Flickr page.