Circular No 1055

 

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

Caracas, 15 May 2022. No. 1055

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Dear Friends,

Ongoing news on the Archives and on Fr. Michael de Verteuil an Oldboy.

See:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0xYOvu1j_g

Reminder: This Newsletter is 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 and receive the Newsletter as it comes out of the computer or if you would like to mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.

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Abbey School, Mt St Benedict, Tunapuna - Archives

gregory milne <gregorymmilne@yahoo.co.uk>

Fri, Apr 29,

Dear Fr Imamshah.

Very much appreciated!

Now I can see the exact location of the bridge behind the Abbey School and I can now recollect it perfectly well. 

I remember crossing it many a times!

Thanks once again and God bless,

Greg 

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On Wednesday, 27 April 2022,

Father Harold Imamshah <frharold12@gmail.com> wrote:

The bridge behind the Abbey School and the Swimming Pool have both been refurbished in the last 2 months.

humbly,

Fr. Harold Imamshah

Servant of Mary for Jesus

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FR: MICHAEL DE VERTEUIL mjbd48@gmail.com

In the “it’s a small world category”, it is my understanding that Monsignor Michael de Verteuil is the spiritual director of the Living Water Community mentioned in the article.

Michael was one year behind me in our school.

To my knowledge, he is the only Abbey School non-seminarian student who became a priest. 

I also suspect that some/many of our alumni are members/contributors.  Ed.

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The Founders

Published by CN Admin at July 28, 2017

by Dr Everard Johnston

The Antilles School of Liturgy began in August 1977 as a training programme sponsored jointly by the Abbey of Mount St Benedict and what was then the Regional Seminary of St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs. Appropriately, therefore, the founders were associated with those two institutions: Dom Ildefons Schroots, and Br Paschal Jordan, both monks of the Abbey,

Inspired by the declaration of the Constitution on the Liturgy of Vatican II, viz that “Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy”, a major focus of the school was, and remains, promoting the development of liturgical forms and expressions that best express the character and nature of people of the Caribbean. Below are brief portraits of the founders.

Dom Ildefons Schroots, OSB

Dom Ildefons Schroots, better known simply as Fr Ildefons, originally from the Netherlands, was a senior monk at the Abbey in the 1950s, a time when the Abbey was in the forefront of liturgical renewal in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain. In the Abbey Church, for example, since 1960, Mass was celebrated with the presiding priest facing the congregation, several years before the practice was instituted in parishes in the Archdiocese.

In addition, Benedictine monks have traditionally had a special care for the worthy celebration of the Church’s liturgy, so it should come as no surprise that it was Fr Ildefons who had the idea of a School of Liturgy that would aim at leading all members of the Church of the region, clergy, religious and laity, to deeper appreciation and love for the liturgy and for its faithful and meaningful celebration.

In his later years, Fr Ildefons became very involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement and, knowing his passion for the Bible and his concern for sharing the Word – his watch phrase was a quotation from the great Biblical scholar, St Jerome: “ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ” – it is not again surprising that it was he who had the initial inspiration which led to the establishment of the Caroni Bible Institute. He died in September 1999.

Br Paschal Jordan, OSB

Br Paschal was born in Guyana and lived there until coming to T&T to enter the Abbey of Mt St Benedict in 1964. His musical talent was nurtured from his early years by his mother who was a music teacher of piano and music theory.  With this background, Br Paschal was sent, after his final profession as a monk, to study liturgy and liturgical music at the Institut Catholique in Paris.

On his return to the Abbey after graduating from his programme, Br Paschal was charged with the monumental task of composing music for celebrating the monastic liturgy using texts that had recently been translated from Latin – a task which still occupies him. The then Archbishop of Port of Spain, Anthony Pantin, invited him to join the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission, entrusting him with setting up a Music Sub-Committee, with the specific task of encouraging composition of local liturgical music.

As a member of one of the founding institutions of liturgy school, then, Br Paschal was destined to become the mainstay of the Liturgical Music Department of the school, preparing and animating the celebration of worship services at the school as well as conducting workshops on music composition to assist persons interested in composing new hymns and/or settings for the Eucharistic Liturgy.

Over the years Br Paschal has become well known for his liturgical compositions. More than this, Br Paschal has been able to share his gifts ecumenically and has worked regionally with the Caribbean Conference of Churches and internationally with the World Council of Churches.  His role at liturgy school continues undiminished.

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Nigel Boos <nigelboos@gmail.com>

Jan 24 at 8:50 AM

Actually, yes, Don.

I think he’d be thrilled to realize the connection.

Nigel

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On Jan 24, 2019, at 7:11 AM,

Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com> wrote:

Hi, Kaz,

No, I didn’t have any photos. 

I got the photos in question from Ladislao’s Circulars over time. 

When I left Anguilla for that trip to Port of Spain (I think it was a nephew’s wedding), I had no idea that I would be meeting MJ on that trip. 

I only learned he was next door while I was with Gordon and Joan. 

It was a spontaneous thing to go next door and say hello. 

So, I quite understood that he appeared to have no idea who I was. 

He had no advance warning :-)

Instead of us talking about him behind his back so to say, do you think we could copy him in?

Best,

Don

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From: Kazim Abasali

Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2019

Hi Don,

Did you have those 2 photos to show Fr. Mike to remind him of who you are, when you met him at the Living Water Community?

Maybe, it may have joggled his memory.

Lots happen in life to us after school.

Just my thoughts.

Anyhow, that was then.

All the best my dear friend.

Kaz

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Kazim Abasali <empowerwithart@gmail.com>

Jan 24

Yes indeed Don.

And show the 2 photos.

We can remind him through this digital media we are using now.

We don't always have to meet in person now.

Best regards to Fr. Mike. 

Kaz 

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George Mickiewicz <amickiew@att.net>

Jan 23

As I recall you were in the same class, one year behind my class of 1962

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Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>

Jan 23

I met Fr Mike only once since leaving Mount in 1964. 

It was between 15 and 20 years ago in the 1990s. 

The Living Waters headquarters was and is immediately adjacent to the home of my brother Gordon and his wife Joan in Cascade.  Gordon took me next door to say hello to Fr Mike.  Gordon told me that Fr Mike was then the official priest to the Living Waters Community, which I gather is some sort of evangelical Roman Catholic offshoot. 

Fr Mike was in the residence, but he appeared not to remember who I was and was not very welcoming. 

I felt disappointed, but realised that a lot of time had passed since we last met.

So, I soon took my leave and departed. 

I never met him again.

Best,

Don

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From: GEORGE MICKIEWICZ

Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 11:12 AM

Thanks, Nigel……..

Still the one and only one who became a priest of all the thousand boys who attended the Mount…..

You and a handful of others entered the seminary but ………. 

I never considered it myself.

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From: Nigel Boos

Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 8:59 AM

Yes, Shish.

I believe he’s connected somehow to the Living Water Community in P0S.

I also understand that he’s now been elevated to the rank of a Monsignor.

Nigel

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On Jan 23, 2019

GEORGE MICKIEWICZ <amickiew@att.net> wrote:

Thanks for the update.

Is Father Mike still in Trinidad?

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From: Nigel Boos

Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Thanks so much, Chris.

We’re simply trying to update our personnel records of ex-Abbey School students, and Fr. Mike’s address is one that we needed to complete the job.

I appreciate your kind help.

Love to you and Jean.

Nigel

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From: Nigel Boos

Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Thanks so much, Chris.

We’re simply trying to update our personnel records of ex-Abbey School students, and Fr. Mike’s address is one that we needed to complete the job.

I appreciate your kind help.

Love to you and Jean. 

Nigel

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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 and receive the Newsletter as it comes out of the computer or if you would like to mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.

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Photo:

11LK0012FBFMD, Fr. Michael

11UN0001FMD, Fr. Michael

57LK0001LKEPOOL,  Swimming pool

55HH0011ENGLISH, continuing