AND NOW A NOVICE

17 Feb 2020

Many readers of the website and abbey social media will have noticed a new face over the past few months. Having been with us as an aspirant and a postulant for a while, he began his novitiate last Friday, on the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

The start of the novitiate is signalled by the Clothing ceremony, which takes place in the Chapter Room, witnessed only by the monastic community. In the course of the ceremony the postulant, wearing his own clothes, is asked to state his desire to try his vocation as a member of our community, and the Prior removes the postulant’s jacket and clothes him in the monastic habit – complete with hood. At the end of the short ceremony he is given his monastic name. The community had a number of suggestions (both serious and more frivolous), but our latest novice is called Br Hugh.

Please pray for him and for more men to come and join us here at Downside Abbey. 

To find out more about becoming a monk click here. You can also find more information on a monastic vocation by clicking here.