200TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Matthew Power SJ
The events to mark the 200th Anniversary of the Restoration of our Province got off to a great start at the Easter week meeting of Province members at Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds. Bishop David Konstant was the main celebrant at a Thanksgiving Mass followed by a celebratory meal. On 18th May a memorial was dedicated by Father Provincial at another Thanksgiving Mass.
Here Matthew Power SJ gives details of the event On 24th May the Sacred Heart Wimbledon held the first of the London Masses and on 28th June Archbishop Patrick Kelly gave thanks at a Mass in St Francis Xavier's Church, Liverpool followed by a strawberries and cream reception.
Further events are listed below.
The Bicentenary of the Restoration of the Province was celebrated at Stonyhurst on 18th May.
It was a happy and moving day. I don't suppose there were any of us there who were not consoled by hearing the story of Marmaduke Stone and William Strickland and their companions. In the Provincial's homily, in the General's letter (see centre page), and in the dramatic piece performed in the Top Refectory, there came through a strong sense of how God had been gracious to those men of humble faithfulness to the way of St Ignatius. The celebrations began with High Mass, during which a plaque, commemorating the anniversary of the restoration, was blessed by the Provincial in the presence of the Jesuit guests, the Headmasters of the College, St Mary's Hall and St John's Beaumont and other representatives of the Stonyhurst community. The wording on the plaque reads;
In thanksgiving for the 200th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Society of Jesus in Britain, Stonyhurst May 1803.
It rests beneath a 19th century memorial dedicated to Marmaduke Stone. The Provincial had spoken in his homily of how the events of 1803 encourage us to trust today in God's providential care; the words of the blessing expressed the hope that the commemoration of the anniversary might be for a ‘sign of (God's) generous love.' More light was shed on what took place (or what might have conceivably have taken place) at Stonyhurst in 1803, and who was involved, when after Mass a dramatic piece, written by Francis Brinckley, a current Rhetorician, was performed in the Top Refectory. It conveyed very effectively the companionship of the men seeking to renew their vows, the quirkiness of their characters, the quality of their faith, all done with wit and insight and an engaging sense of affection for the Society.
It was altogether a memorable day and our warmest thanks are due to the pupils and staff of Stonyhurst and St Mary's Hall for all they did to make the day such a fitting celebration.
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF THE BRITISH JESUIT PROVINCE FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Sunday 7th September at 12 noon St Aloysius Church, Glasgow - Mass and Reception
Saturday 27th September at 3pm Anniversary of the Restoration of the Novitiate Manresa House - Birmingham - Mass and Celebration
Wednesday 3rd December at 6pm Farm Street Church, London - Mass and Reception
Saturday 6th December Heythrop College. London Bi-Centenary Lecture by Fr John Padberg SJ
Here Matthew Power SJ gives details of the event On 24th May the Sacred Heart Wimbledon held the first of the London Masses and on 28th June Archbishop Patrick Kelly gave thanks at a Mass in St Francis Xavier's Church, Liverpool followed by a strawberries and cream reception.
Further events are listed below.
The Bicentenary of the Restoration of the Province was celebrated at Stonyhurst on 18th May.
It was a happy and moving day. I don't suppose there were any of us there who were not consoled by hearing the story of Marmaduke Stone and William Strickland and their companions. In the Provincial's homily, in the General's letter (see centre page), and in the dramatic piece performed in the Top Refectory, there came through a strong sense of how God had been gracious to those men of humble faithfulness to the way of St Ignatius. The celebrations began with High Mass, during which a plaque, commemorating the anniversary of the restoration, was blessed by the Provincial in the presence of the Jesuit guests, the Headmasters of the College, St Mary's Hall and St John's Beaumont and other representatives of the Stonyhurst community. The wording on the plaque reads;
In thanksgiving for the 200th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Society of Jesus in Britain, Stonyhurst May 1803.
It rests beneath a 19th century memorial dedicated to Marmaduke Stone. The Provincial had spoken in his homily of how the events of 1803 encourage us to trust today in God's providential care; the words of the blessing expressed the hope that the commemoration of the anniversary might be for a ‘sign of (God's) generous love.' More light was shed on what took place (or what might have conceivably have taken place) at Stonyhurst in 1803, and who was involved, when after Mass a dramatic piece, written by Francis Brinckley, a current Rhetorician, was performed in the Top Refectory. It conveyed very effectively the companionship of the men seeking to renew their vows, the quirkiness of their characters, the quality of their faith, all done with wit and insight and an engaging sense of affection for the Society.
It was altogether a memorable day and our warmest thanks are due to the pupils and staff of Stonyhurst and St Mary's Hall for all they did to make the day such a fitting celebration.
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF THE BRITISH JESUIT PROVINCE FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Sunday 7th September at 12 noon St Aloysius Church, Glasgow - Mass and Reception
Saturday 27th September at 3pm Anniversary of the Restoration of the Novitiate Manresa House - Birmingham - Mass and Celebration
Wednesday 3rd December at 6pm Farm Street Church, London - Mass and Reception
Saturday 6th December Heythrop College. London Bi-Centenary Lecture by Fr John Padberg SJ