Academic Mass 2010

Fr Christopher Jamison OSB, Director of the National Office for Vocation, preached at the Academic Mass, for all students and staff at the London Universities. The Senior Chaplain for London Universities, Fr Peter Wilson, celebrated the Academic Mass which took place on the Feast of Christ the King at Westminster Cathedral on Sunday 21 November.

Exquisite music was performed by the choir of King’s College London, directed by David Trendell, included members of Newman House. The readings and intercessions were read by staff and students from the different London Universities and Catholic student residences in the city.

Prayers said by students in Italian, French, Spanish, Cantonese, Polish and Irish represented the diversity of the Catholic student community in London.

Powerful music, a strong attendance and a calling homily by Fr Christopher Jamison ensured a beautiful celebration.

The Big Silence

Worth watching this week on BBC2 (Friday night at 7pm) is the Programme The Big Silence. The BBC blurb says this of it:

Abbot Christopher Jamison, a Benedictine monk, believes that he can teach five ordinary people the value of silent meditation, so they can make it part of their everyday lives

You can watch a preview here.

The programme features Fr Christopher Jamison, formerly Abbot of Worth, now Director of the National Office for Vocations, and an old friend of Newman House. Fr Christopher will be preaching at this year's Academic Mass, on Sunday 21 November, about which more at a later date. Fr Christopher is pictured below with Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP (photo: Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk). The photo was taken at a national conference on the Church and young people earlier this year, just before the football match between Newman House and the Dominican students. Heheh maybe the magazine Fr Radcliffe is reading is all about his wishes for a Domincan victory against Newman House and the small print says "vain"! (It was a memorably fun day and Newman House beat the Dominicans. A fun pizza night back at Newman House followed).



We have had a good relationship with Worth Abbey over a number of years, and usually have our own retreat down there during the course of the academic year. The programme should be a good foretaste of what can be expected.