Circular No 1070

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 1 December 2022. No. 1070.

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Dear Friends,

Here is the December issue, the last of the year.

I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, with lots of heath and prosperity. No more COVID or similar, we are not made for all the forced enclosures.

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Nigel Boos

            Sat, 6 Aug

Hi Csaba,

Tks for your email. I was wondering what had happened and why I hadn’t been hearing from you so thanks all the same.

I’m glad to know you and your family are all right and well.

I’ve been laid up for the past 32 months in the aftermath of a Whipple operation for pancreatic cancer (suggestion: google “Whipple”) and in my case the surgeon removed my stomach, my spleen, my gall bladder and half of my pancreas.

My other medical problem is called Ankylosing Spondylitis

(see:https://secure.naturalhealthreports.net/products/185/sp-worst-foods-b-vsl)

Please say one for me. I could use the help.

Best wishes,

Nigel B

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Here we continue with our favourite alumnus, Arthur Knaggs, with his various friends.

Why so many emails from Arthur? Well, he is kind enough to send me emails for publishing, and he is favourite to the Circular for helping out.

Hope this information is going to inspire others in writing similar stories and recount the wonderful news when they have met a long-lost friend.

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From: "Art & Val Knaggs"

Date: 27 Apr

To: Baknal@aol.com

Yes Howard, It is I.

So great to hear from you and to know that your Mum is still in there pitching, wish her all the very best from us.

Guess you got my e-mail from the Mount Bulletin and think Ladislao and his crowd are doing an excellent job.

Keep in touch.

Val & I are fine and keeping very well.

What are you up to these days, and where do you hang out?

As Always,

Art

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From: Baknal@aol.com

To: av_knaggs@hotmail.com

Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 11:03:43 EDT

Is this the Arthur Knaggs from the old days in St Augustine when you visited Wilson St/ Deane St (Susie Ho-Mum)?...

How are you and where are you?...don't know if you remember me from those days...

I'm in Houston, TX.

Mum will be having her 90th birthday in Orlando, where Bernice is presently living....take care.

All the best,

Howard.

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From: "Art & Val Knaggs" <av_knaggs@hotmail.com>

Date: 3 Feb 08:26 (PST)

Subject: Mount Old Boys

Keith,

How the heck are you all down in the sun?

We are both fine, enjoying fine health, and having a great time.

What about you?

Retired Yet?

Am trying to get a hold of some Mount Old boys (and their E-mail addresses) but I know Ray De Cambra is Computer Challenged, and lost touch with Anthony Lucky (is he still in the Royal Bank?).

Need to get a hold of someone from Mount, who has e-mail, and has some contacts.

If you can help, I would be most grateful.

Give us a bit of an update on your life.

As ever,

Art

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From: Art & Val Knaggs

To: ekayne@shaw.ca

Date: 10/12/2004 9:34:10 AM

Hi Earl & Elaine,

We almost got to you two.

Went to Jasper in July and met with Jigger and Ian in Vancouver, but back home travelling again.

How are you all?

Earl are you in touch with the Mount "Old Boys", as Ladislao in Venezuela has taken up the task of continuing the old Mount Outside and the O.A.S.I.S, so drop him a line, and give him any e-mails on old Mounties that you may have.

We are fine, and are on a Years Adventure and will be hovering down to the U.S. mid Oct to mid Dec; then back in N.S. for Christmas, and then to T & T for Jan, Feb & Mar 05.

Drop us a line

As always with love,

Art & Val

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From: Art & Val Knaggs <av_knaggs@hotmail.com>

Sent: Monday, May 3, 2004

To: celandaal@hotmail.com

Great hearing from you Anthony, and wondered where you were at.

We will be in Victoria for the month of July, our son Edward plays Rugby for Canada and is stationed there; they are expecting a new baby mid June.

Guess you will be long gone by then.

Would love to keep in touch.

We are fine and buzzing along.

Lovely to hear from you both.

As always

Art & Val

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From: Anthony Cintra <celandaal@hotmail.com>

To: av_knaggs@hotmail.com

Subject: greeting

Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Dear Arthur,

My name is Anthony Lucky. Remember?

I saw your address in Ladislao's latest Circular.

My wife, Cintra, and I are currently in Vancouver visiting our eldest daughter and our 20 month granddaughter Isabel.

We had been in Ancaster visiting another daughter and our grandson whose second birthday was 12 April.

We return home via Ancaster and Toronto on 9 May.

It is possible that I may be called to return to Hamburg where I now sit as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to preside in a case.

I trust all is well with you and family and really hope this e-mail reaches.

With best wishes,

Anthony Lucky

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From :Art & Val Knaggs <av_knaggs@hotmail.com>

Sent : Saturday, April 30, 2005 1:04 PM

Great Photos, and thanks a million for keeping us all so informed.

Had a great re-union in Barbados with Cecil Ince, Scipio Soodeen and brother Jack Knaggs (three Original Starters) of "The Mount".

Cecil hosted a dinner and has some photos, so hound him for them, with short write up. Regards,

Arthur "Scroongie" Knaggs

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From: Art & Val Knaggs <av_knaggs@hotmail.com>

Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005

Subject: RE. Circular No. 184, The Abbey School, MSB

Copy should be sent to Alcoholics Anonymous, judging from the array of stimulants displayed.

Really appreciate all the work you are doing to keep the memories flowing.

As always,

Art

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WhatsApp

1/1/20 12:51 - Msbsw Abasali Kazim: A Blessed 2020 to all our Brothers and family

1/1/20 13:31 - Msbtt Alexander Garth: Abundant blessings to you and your family my brother 🙏

1/1/20 15:07 - Msbtt Berment Joseph: Complements of the Season. I wish you and your families all Good Health, Happiness and Prosperity. I hope that you keep our Brothers in Venezuela in your prayers and thoughts and look forward to your generous support for our fundraising drive which is about to start soon. If just a few will sacrifice just a few trifles form the cup of Grace the Lord has provided ,all will be well with them and their families. God Bless you all.

1/1/20 16:43 - Ladislao: To all My council members, hope You survived the festivities and that this year 2020 we can meet, and stretch hands in a reunión. Every day we have less known members and we should make plans, life is short.

God bless You all.

Circular issue no. 1000 is nigh.

4/1/20 14:06 - Msb Dejan Paul: Hello All. Its Paul Dewan I am in Trinidad for my Mother's 1 year death anniversary. I am having a mass for her on Tuesday January 7 at living waters on frederick st. At 12 o'clock. If you are able to attend that would be appreciated and we can have a reunion by having lunch afterwards at living waters cafeteria. My local cell number is 744-2788. Hoping to reconnect and catch up with as many of you as possible. I am going back to Canada Jan 15. Take care.

4/1/20 14:16 - Msbtt Faria Gabriel: Hi Paul, it’s Gabriel, we are actually in London ON, have been here since eary December and back in Trinidad on Friday 10th Jan. My Trinidad Cell is 3842060, let’s try to connect for a drink or coffee over the weekend of the 10th

4/1/20 14:28 - Msb Dejan Paul: Sounds good Gabriel. Thanks.

4/1/20 15:05 - Msbtt Rampersandsingh Anand: Welcome to Trinidad Paul

4/1/20 15:08 - Msbsw Abasali Kazim: Hi Paul, I shared your message on our MSB Abbey School Facebook Group also.

12/1/20 10:13 - Msbsw Abasali Kazim: Nice song indeed. Thanks for sharing with us our friend.

9/2/20 16:03 - Msbtt Berment Joseph: Brothers, This is the crisis that our Alumni still in Venezuela are facing. I'll be taking care of this one. I implore the rest of you to give generously to avert the catastrophic humanitarian effect of the economic and political situation that they find themselves in.

"Dear Joe, I had to travel during this week to Maturín to attend my last son 12 years old, he has got a great problem of malnutrition, his mother called me because he faint in the schoolbus and was unconscious for  quarter of an hour. He is not eating proteins because they are so expensive that we can afford to buy it and he only comsum carbohydrates due to that fact. So if you please can send me 2 tins of protein power I will be very grateful to you. Some milk and peanut butter, that is all we are needing by the moment Make sure that the protein power have amino acids in it, I want to take him out of that health situation quickly before it will affect his mind. Thanks dear Joe, regards for Sum, God bless you".

Please call me or make your pledge here. A major fund raising initiative will beging within the next 30 days.

9/2/20 17:36 - Msbu Mickiewicz George: May God bless you for all that you do for our Venezuelan brothers in need. Team George has collected USA $1553 so far.  Let me when and how you would like me to transfer these funds.  Have challenged our team to collect USA $ 2000 by end of March

9/2/20 17:50 - Msbtt Berment Joseph: Thank you George: I'm only doing what I was taught in my own family and amplified at The Mount. I have taken courage from the selfless generousity of many of you Old Boys. "Cutty'  used to say "never start anything unless you are prepared to see it to the end."

18/2/20 13:24 - Msbtt Mendoza Henri: Jo......did you guys see the article in the newspaper today ....”Murder on the Mount”...😳😬

18/2/20 13:42 - Msbu coscarart salvador: What and where was  the ation done?

18/2/20 13:45 - Msbu Azizul Mohammed: Yes it happened at the seminary

18/2/20 18:54 - +1 (757) 952-9492: Azi like yuh living I. TNT, we all could read papers we trying to get first hand confirmation

18/2/20 23:20 - Msbtt Gomes Ian: The video on tv didnt show the seminary. It was at a building used to store something. Cant remember what.

18/2/20 23:41 - Msbca Chin Cham Gerry: Can anyone remember that there was also a murder in the 60's at the house on the track going down to the grounds. I think the house was owned by a Chinese Lady who drove a Humber Auto. I think her family owned the Che Che Tien Restaurant at that time.

18/2/20 23:58 - Msbu coscarart salvador: The nephew of that ñady was from venezuela and his name was Raul Colmenares. The old man that was murdered next to her apartment , was from Carupano venezuela and with us he was an excelente friend . He used to give is food bread and butter , crackers,beer, soft drinks . We use to call him Carupanero.

18/2/20 23:59 - Msbu coscarart salvador: May rest in Peace .

19/2/20 00:21 - Msbca Chin Cham Gerry: Yes..l recalled that he was a Spanish  gentleman and had a friendly relationship with some of the boys from Venezuela. God bless his soul and that he is still remembered.🙏🏻

19/2/20 00:33 - Msbtt Habib Joseph: https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/burning-body-murder-at-mount-st-benedict/article_036a28c8-524a-11ea-b02a-f326bb6e4bb2.html

19/2/20 05:48 - Msbu Azizul Mohammed: Did not know that u can read

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to subscribe for a whole yea and be in the circular’s mailing list or if you would like to mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.

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Photos:

15LK0123LKEGRP, in Colombia

22UN0001FAU, Fr. Augustine

06LK1402DINNER, Kendrick Allum, Isaias Farcheg and Roberto Liupawski

06LK0001LKGRP, Peter Morvay, Ladislao Kertesz and Andres Larsen

 

 

 

 

  

Circular No 1069

 

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 1 November 2022. No. 1069

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Dear Friends,

News on the funeral of Fr. Augustine. He was the last surviving teacher of my time at Mount.

I am including some emails dated as far back as 2002.

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Caracas, 28 of March 2002.

Dear Fr. Augustine

I am resending my 1 of February email to you, since I do not know if you have received it.

There has been no communication between the Monastery´s computer and our group or in that case with me.

Please send us a short note indicating if you are well or any news that you might want others to have.

1 of February 2002.

This is the first time I write to you since my visit to TT.

The visit brought back good memories and as you see in my lines written for msb oldboys and the web page there is a movement to inquire about old friends and classmates.

Your Guava Jam was very good, I left some for the Vaughan family!!!.

I am glad to have been able to meet you and have the conversation,

I am sorry that the time was short and that I could not exchange all the ideas that were in my head as I was being escorted by the friends where I stayed, and I did not want the take more of their time than would have been excessive.

By now you must have read several of my circulars.

I hope that you like them.

In my addressing system I still do not know how to separately address the circulars so that Fr. Benedict would get his personally and Fr. Cuthbert but some day.

I write to all of you with the same kindness.

I would like to get the address of Fr. Paul and Fr. Francis, whom you said to be still living and in a retreat house.

Of course if there is an e-mail it would be good and if you could send some lines for those dead, the year, where, and how, that would be interesting.

I remember you answering to my questions but my hard drive was full and cannot reproduce your answer for my circulars.

I am including the general list of msb students,

I am sure you can add some more and eliminate those that were not.

I shall keep you informed if new ones appear.

The biggest problem is to find out the Form V graduation year because of the Hi C  and other additional courses that were given after the Oxford and Cambridge exams.

Maybe Miss. Markus can help with the list that she worked on.

Do you show her the circulars???.

How can I get an access to her year listing???.

Don Mitchell who visited you last May told me that Fr. John offered the listing and photos from Fr.Bernard??.

Maybe you can follow up.

I am in constant contact with Dr. Isaias Farcheg whom you know and he send his best greetings.

I need a two line information on those that have been in contact with you during these last years.

Many of us have lost contact with others and are curious.

Has there been a book of magazine written about the mount, outside the Jubileum issues??

It is interesting that when I was in TT I have heard promotion to visit the mount in a radio station but no information appears in the internet??.

This part is new: I hope that you are well and that you get my circular every week.

The circulars are for all of you although I do not address them to anybody in particular.

My system does not allow this.

God Bless

Ladislao

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From: Nasser Khan <nkhantt@gmail.com>

Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2018

On February 19, 1947, a twenty-two year old Dutch youth arrived on the shores of Trinidad and Tobago willing to give his life completely to God.

He was a long way off from his homeland in Holland, which he left during the Second World War, but very excited nonetheless by the novelty of the experience and the reason he had made the long voyage by sea.

On Wednesday 16 May 2018 he will be celebrating seventy years of monastic profession in the monastery of Mount St Benedict in Tunapuna.

On 15 October 2018 he will be celebrating his ninety-fourth birthday and so has spent more than three-quarters of his life at Mount St Benedict Abbey living the life of a Benedictine monk.

Peter Schreurs was from a family of ten siblings.

The name given to him in the monastery was Augustine.

Today he is known as Fr. Augustine.

He lived with his family in Tegelan, province of Linburg in the Netherlands, close to the German border.

His secondary education was interrupted several times as a result of the German occupation of Holland.

The Gestapo had closed down the school he attended as they had done with so many schools.

These schools were closed so that Germans could obtain young boys of school age to work in their factories in Germany.

A decree was issued which mandated that all Dutch men between the ages of 18 to 45 who were not working were required to go to the labour bureau to be registered.

After registration the men would be called on to work in German factories and would be transported by train, under the watchful eye of German soldiers to work in Germany.

Men who attempted to jump off the train were shot at once.

Peter obtained a job in a German hospital near to his home and was fortunate enough to secure a permit to return home every weekend.

In the hospital he worked as a jack-of-all-trades and struggled to get a secondary education in between.

Life was difficult and very uncertain.

“You never knew if a bomb was going to drop on your home.”

Some people had a very hard time to get food especially in the winter because often there was no electricity, no oil … especially towards the end of the war.

There was a procurator priest in the Netherlands who was from Mount St. Benedict.

He would go to schools and speak about Trinidad.

His base was with some Benedictine sisters who were neighbours to the Schreurs family.

Peter soon became an acolyte at the Benedictine convent.

It was there that he first encountered Fr. Willibrord, the procurator from Mount St Benedict.

Fr Willibrord had several albums about the Benedictine monastery in Trinidad and its mission in the island of St. Vincent.

Fr Augustine was soon captivated by what he saw and heard.

Before long he was on his way to Trinidad together with the late Frs. Cuthbert van de Sande and Jerome Koot.

We thank God for Fr. Augustine’s life of dedication and for answering the call of God to become a Benedictine Monk.

In spite of his age, he makes every effort to be present at our community prayer and meals.

He is well loved by all the monks.

May God continue to bless you!!

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Nigel Boos

Thanks, Geoff,

I certainly do remember “Rughead.”

He was a serious man, with hardly a sense of humour, but always in control of his emotions.

He spoke clearly, distinctly and sharply, expecting an immediate obedient response from the object of his attention.

He often supervised the refectory together with “Duck” (Fr. Gregory), and one had to recognize him as someone who commanded respect.

What an interesting collection of Dutchman we were fortunate to have as our exemplars during the 1955-1960 era  - good men, all, each with his particular foibles, idiosyncrasies and stories.

Think of them:

“Abbot” Fr. Adelbert van Duin

“Bobo” Fr. Bernard - The Friendly Principal, but don’t cross him 

“Scrutz” Fr. Ildefons - The Stern Scoutmaster, the Woodsman

“Voosh" Fr. Benedict - The Mad Scientist

Fr. Jerome - The Mathematician

Fr. Paul - The Chess Player, another Mathematician

Fr. Lee Sing - The Cricket Fanatic - Perhaps he was a Trini? 

“Mozart” Fr. Forgot His Name - He may have been Guyanese. 

“Duck” Fr. Gregory

“Rughead” Fr. Augustine

“Cutty” Fr. Cuthbert - Scout Master, Friend, Kindly man, who loved being with his boys

Bro Gabriel - The Magician and Builder of the Mount

Bro. Anthony - Thin, quiet man, in charge of the tourist shop in front of the Abbey Church

And there were also some interesting Trini characters as well:

“Bro. Vince” Trini,  - Friend to all, a kind, loving man. Eventually he became a lawyer, married and has 2 daughters, currently living in the US (Louisiana?)

“Swa” Trini or Guyanese? - In charge of PAX Honey and the many mango trees

Tailor Bro George - Always had a yellow canary in his little tailoring room, to keep him company with its whistling

Scoutmaster Bro. Francis - Scout Master, later Fr. Francis, and currently Bishop of Guyana

I’m sure there were others, whose names I cannot now remember, . If you do, please fill them in for me.

So, “Rughead” is now hitting 93 and will turn 94 in 2018 October.

Great innings, old fella, and may he live for many more years too, to hit the big 100. 

May God grant him peace and a quiet certitude that he has lived a good life, been a friend to many, has served his Lord and Master with love and devotion all his days, has kept faithfully to the Rules of his Monastery and is now ready to stand before His merciful judgment.

Nigel

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On May 15, 2018,

GEOFFREY GOLDING <geoffreygolding@rogers.com> wrote:

Hi Stuart,

Thanks for forwarding this info about Fr. Augustine, better known as "rug head" by all of us who attended his classes. 

I remember him well. He was an excellent teacher but really touch on you if you did not pay attention or was disruptive in class.

You would quickly see the black board cleaner coming your way!!!

He was probably the strictest teacher.

He also had an expression,  -  "ats - ats".

Can remember what it meant or in what context it was used but it was in response to something we had done or said.

Does anyone remember that???

He looks good and may God bless him with many more years.

Regards,

Geoff

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Nigel Boos <nigelboos@gmail.com>

            Sat, 6 Aug,                   

Hi Csaba,

Tks for your email.

I was wondering what had happened and why I hadn’t been hearing from you so thanks all the same.

I’m glad to know you and your family are all right and well.

I’ve been laid up for the past 32 months in the aftermath of a Whipple operation for pancreatic cancer (suggestion: google “Whipple”) and in my case the surgeon removed my stomach, my spleen, my gall bladder and half of my pancreas.

My other medical problem is called Ankylosing Spondylitis. (see: https://secure.naturalhealthreports.net/products/185/sp-worst-foods-b-vsl)

Please say one for me. I could use the help.

Best wishes,

Nigel B

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On Jul 27, 2022, <csabajakobszen@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Nigel,

Thanks for all the e-mails which you´ve sent during the past 7 weeks and to which I haven´t reacted.

The reason for that was that I was unable to either receive or to send e-mails.

My son Gabriel, who is a big IT specialist was in touch with me via “Team Viewer” and he checked and double-checked every detail.

At the end it turned out that the reason was that I hadn´t paid the license fee to Google and instead of sending me a message they just cut me off. 

I had switched over from yahoo to Google 3 years ago and the local IT people mentioned that some day I might have top pay something.

How are you doing? How is your health?

Here in Spain we are in a mess.

At this time of the year, we usually get a heat wave coming over from Africa which usually lasts 1 or 2 days.

This year, it is already lasting 21 days and the heat is horrible

Here in the Valencia area we are having temperatures between 27ºC and 40ºC !!

In Sevilla, during the last 21 days, the temperature surpassed the 40ºC level every day and got as high 45ºC various times.

One of the results of all this is that we are having forest and bush fires all over the place.

Yesterday in the province of Malaga 12 different fires have been started and a couple of days ago there were 36 fires burning all over Spain simultaneously!!

Take good care of yourself and your family and let´s keep in touch.

Best regards

Csaba

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to subscribe for a whole year and be in the circular’s mailing list or if you would like to mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.

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Photos:

22JH0256JHAGRP, attending farewell Mass.

22JH0419GALIGO, attending farewell Mass.

22JH0613JHAGRP attending farewell Mass

22JH0940FAU, Memorial Fr. Augustine