06/09/2026
Ann and David have spent a few days at Ampleforth Abbey this weekend taking part in a retreat for Ampleforth Oblates:
“We remembered all parishioners in our prayers, and lit candles in the Lady Chapel for your intentions.
The weekend was also an opportunity to catch up with familiar faces including Fr Bede, pictured here, Fr Bernard and Fr Xavier.
Today, Sunday 6 September has been the Solemnity of the Dedication of the Abbey Church, which, at Ampleforth, has superseded the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time celebrated elsewhere. There are some photographs of the dedication ceremony on 6 September 1961.
To celebrate the Dedication, as well as the centenary of the consecration of the monastic choir, the Abbey Church has been hosting an international exhibition of 20 informative banners which depict and celebrate Eucharistic Miracles of the World.
This interesting exhibition was designed and curated by St Carlo Acutis when he was just 11!
We were also the first group to pray the Stations of the Cross removed from the now closed Chapel of Ease of St Aidan in the neighbouring village of Oswaldkirk.
We were led in this by Fr Chad, the Oblate Master.
The Stations have been restored and erected in the Newman Room where guests enjoy their meals. They were carved for St Aidan’s in 1969 by local artist, John Bunting, whose work is an important testament to the vibrant religious and artistic traditions of mid-20th century rural North Yorkshire.
Also on retreat for the weekend was a group of Provincial Grand Knights of the Knights of St Columba and it was a blessing for us all to be able to join the monastic community for the daily offices, particularly the beautiful office of Compline (night prayer).
We were lucky to have warm sunshine and bright skies for most of the time and there is really nowhere better than the beautiful and peaceful Ampleforth valley for a few days away from it all”.
