Match Report: Newman House vs Blackfriars

Newman House and Blackfriars struggled through the mud at Regent's Park last Saturday in a keenly fought contest which saw the London Student Chaplaincy side come out victors by six goals to four.

The game began in a blaze of goals as the athletic Newman House forwards overran the Dominican defence. Despair was beginning to overwhelm the Godzdogz faithful when an observant spectator spotted that in fact the chaplaincy students had, accidently, been playing with one extra man. Sportingly, Newman House agreed to return the score to 0-0, and immediately set about terrorizing the Blackfriars defenders with renewed vigour, quickly finding themselves 2-0 up once again.

Even the early introduction of Jeffries, returning as a Dominican to his old stamping ground as a student, could not stem the tide and as half-time loomed Newman house were 4-0 up. Blackfriars' only consolation was a late goal from Bungum, Blackfriars' top scorer this season, who headed home Gay's penetrating cross from a set piece to leave the score 4-1 at the break.

At half time, following a meeting between the two captains, it was agreed that Geoffrey swap teams and join the Dominicans (at least for the duration of the game), one of the few occasions when a transfer between two clubs has taken place mid-match. Geoffrey gave Blackfriars a desperately needed attacking outlet and his introduction completely changed the nature of the game. Suddenly the Dominicans began to string passes together and soon had pulled two goals back leaving the score 4-3.

The pitch (described as 'chewy' by one Friar who inadvertently swallowed a mouthfull of turf whilst taking a tumble) had by this point begun to resemble the Somme, and both teams were obliged to make use of the long ball as the game became more of a physical battle. Newman House extended their lead to 5-3, but Blackfriars hit back almost immediately, Geoffrey completing his hat-trick, to leave the score 5-4 with full time approaching. In the end Newman House held on to their lead comfortably, even adding a sixth, as the Dominicans tired in the closing minutes.


After the game we headed back to Newman House for the now traditional post match beer and pizza. Thank you to our hosts for their generous hospitality and a good game!

Join us for Compline

Blackfriars Christmas Fair

To prepare for Christmas and raise funds for the Priory Renewal Fund, Blackfriars held a Christmas Fair on the second Sunday of Advent. The event was well attended with a multitude of children designing Christmas cards, decorating biscuits and cakes, and making delightful Advent and Christmas decorations.



As it was also the feast of St. Nicholas, old Sinterklaas, with his mitre and crozier, made an appearance accompanied by his elf-helper and took up residence in a wonderfully designed grotto. Here he received visits from the children (and even from some friars!) and tested that they were well prepared for Christmas. He found them all to be so knowledgeable and aware of the true meaning of Christmas that he distributed oranges, star-biscuits, and "St. Nicholas" sweets in the shape of a crozier.

Institution of Acolytes

On Monday 30th November, the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, three of our brothers, fr Graham Hunt OP, fr Mark Davoren OP and fr Gregory Pearson OP were instituted as acolytes by the Prior Provincial, fr John Farrell OP, during the Conventual Mass.

The acolyte's function is to assist the priest and deacon: "it is his duty therefore to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, especially in the celebration of Mass". The acolyte is instituted to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion when there are not enough priests and deacons, to take communion to the sick, and to expose the Blessed Sacrament for the adoration of the faithful. However, the acolyte may not give Benediction. For clerical brothers of religious institutes and seminarians, being instituted as an acolyte is seen as a step towards ordination, God willing, that enables the brother or seminarian to take a more active role in the sacramental and pastoral service of the community.

As he passes from lector to acolyte, the increased intimacy with the Sacrament of the Altar that comes with his being instituted, requires of him a greater

love for the Lord and his Mystical

Body, the Church, so that what is symbolised in the Sacred Liturgy might truly represent the reality of the community. So the acolyte not only assists at the Eucharist but also brings Holy Communion to the sick and housebound helping them to maintain their link with the sacramental life of the Church.

In his homily and address to the candidates, the Provincial pointed out that it was apt that the brothers should be instituted on this feast day, as St. Andrew is shown as the "first acolyte" when he brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus before the feeding of the five thousand. He went on the instruct the candidates to serve at the altar and in the Church community gracefully and with love.

Friars Go Down Fighting

The home team came out on top in a tight and tense encounter at St. Mary's. Two defensive errors from the visiting Blackfriars team allowed Oscott to net a goal in each half, much to disappointment of the Friars' supporters. The fluid wing-based Oscottian passing game met with the methodic safeguarding tactics of the Oxford-based friars, creating a white-knuckle confrontation that, whilst uncomfortable for fans, was a treat for the neutral.


Blackfriars' keeper Robert Verrill was kept busy but was solid between the sticks and was well supported by the Irish backline. By adopting a 1-2-3-1 formation the midfield became a battle ground, as the friars tried to stop the Oscott playmakers Pius Amoako and Henry Whisenant penetrating their half and utilising the speedy wingers Linh Ta Hanh Nguyen and Long Hoang Nguyen. After ten minutes of end to end action Oscott got their break and slipped one home.

The Friars came straight back at the home team with Crowe making numerous infiltrating runs into the opposition territory to play in the Altrincham kid, David Goodill, but bad luck and pressure from the home defence meant they failed to produce a goal. Pearson held the ball up well on the right wing and set up Welsh Wizard Bobby Gay with a fine ball that just missed the inside of the post.Tactical changes at half time did not bring the away team's deserved goal but Oscott's wing was tempered by Daniel 'muscles' Jeffries and the midfield was bolstered by the inclusion of no-nonsense centre-half David Barrins, who showed some nice passing and dribbling as well as a steel-like challenge. An Oscott counter-attack from a corner, in the dying seconds, resulted in their second goal just before the final whistle.

Although the play was intense, the game was an example of great sportsmanship and after the boots had been taken off, both teams met up in the college bar for beer and banter. The Blackfriars' students would like to thank the Seminarians for organising such an enjoyable day and we hope that there will be more to come. They should remember however that given the chance, the Dogs will bite back.

UPDATE: An alternative match report can be found here

Some more photographs from a very enjoyable visit to Oscott:

Saturday Football

Oscott 2 - 0 Blackfriars, more later ...

Young Dominicans in Cairo

From 31^st June to 16^th July, eighteen young English-speaking Dominicans, both students and young priests from all over the world met in Cairo, Egypt for a workshop on Islam. The Master of the Order was represented by Fr Prakash Lohale, the Socius for Apostolic Life. The conference was organised by Fr Jean-Jacques Pérennès, the Order's Vicar for the Middle East and IDEO, the Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies. IDEO is a project of the international Order and is mostly staffed by brothers from the Province of France.

The Province of France opened the priory in Cairo in 1928, intending it to be an extension of the Ecole Biblique, the prestigious centre for Biblical Studies in Jerusalem, but international events prevented this plan from being realised. In 1937 the friars decided to use the priory as a centre where they could study Islamic religion and culture, since Al Azhar, one of the most prestigious universities in the Islamic world is located in Cairo and Egyptian culture is also highly regarded in the Middle East. The inspiration of Fr. Georges Anawati O.P. and the other founding friars was that the approach should be non-polemical, for as they looked around the Church they could see that there were many groups that sought to convert Muslims, but none that sought to understand Islam better. They felt that only a centre that did not seek to produce polemics against Islam could come to an in-depth understanding that would be taken seriously in the world of Oriental scholarship. Fr. Anawati’s vision was affirmed by the Second Vatican Council in its document on non-Christian religions, Nostra Aetate (In our Age), a document that proclaimed a much more positive view of Islam as a monotheistic religion than had previously been the case.

As our world faces the threat of terrorists who would attempt to use the teachings of Islam to justify their horrific acts of violence against innocent civilians, the approach pioneered by IDEO, of seeking better to understand Islam as the religion that gives spiritual nourishment to over 1.5 billion people, has never been more necessary. This was the message that the IDEO members and their many Muslim friends in Cairo were keen to get across to us new arrivals to the Islamic world.

As I stepped out of the airport into 42C it was immediately clear that I was in a very different environment from the UK. The intensity of the daytime heat meant that the busiest time on the roads and in the street, by far was the night. This made for a noisy nighttime, as a seemingly endless stream of cars and lorries rattled past the Priory, cheerfully hooting to each other as they went by. As I walked the short distance to the Priory from the guesthouse in my habit, I was struck by how friendly and welcoming were the people I encountered on the street, often saying good morning, clearly totally unphased by my Christian garb. That Christians and Muslims are able to live together in relative harmony in Egypt is something that I think I can say impressed all of us who were first-time visitors to the country. I shouldn't have been surprised, however, as I came to discover that in fact there are approximately 12 million Christians in Egypt, 95% of whom are Copts.

The days in Cairo were structured so as to give us maximum exposure to the Islamic world. The mornings were spent visiting religious and cultural sites such as important and historic mosques, Al Azhar University and places of interest like the Pyramids! The afternoons were the academic side and consisted of two lectures with a short break in the middle. We were fortunate enough to be taught by experts in fields as diverse as Quranic textual criticism, Sharia Law and the socio-political state of Egypt. The lectures also included presentations given by Msgr. Antonios Naguib, the Catholic Coptic Patriarch and Msgr. Michael Fitzgerald, the Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt. This was our program for two weeks and it was followed by three days visiting the Red Sea and Mt Sinai. At Sinai we visited the breathtaking St. Catherine's Monastery.

Having spent 17 days in an Islamic milieu, I came away feeling that I had for the first time a grasp of what Islam was really like, at least in one Islamic country. This was the first time that the IDEO centre has ever organised a conference like this and I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn about and experience Islam first hand, it is an experience that I'm sure will be extremely useful in my Dominican life.

The photo above is used with the kind permission of our brothers in the Province of St. Joseph.

Remembering ... Bishop Justin Field OP (1899-1969)

James Field was born near Cheltenham in 1899, and, much to his parents' distress, was received into the Catholic Church at the age of 16. Four years later, he entered the Dominican novitiate at Woodchester, taking the name Justin: he made his profession in 1921. By the time he was ordained a priest in 1926, both his parents had followed him into the Catholic Church.

Following the completion of his studies in 1928, he was sent to Newcastle to work on the parish: here he was able to put to use his great musical talent, playing the organ and direct the choir, which enjoyed considerable renown in the North East of England. On account of such musical skill, Bishop Felix Couturier OP, another English Dominican who became bishop of Alexandria in Canada, the following year asked the Provincial to send Fr Justin to Canada to serve as his private secretary and assist him in improving the standard of liturgy in his diocese. During this time, Fr Justin published a book encouraging the use of plainsong in parishes.

After two years in Canada, Fr Justin was sent to the Province's mission in Grenada, where he was to spend the rest of his life. He developed a great loyalty to the island and its people, and it was fitting that, when the Diocese of St George's, Grenada, was founded in 1957, he should be appointed its first bishop. He received episcopal consecration from Archbishop Finbar Ryan OP, the Archbishop of Port of Spain (Trinidad), where the Irish Dominicans had a mission.

During the following twelve years, the newly founded diocese saw great progress, led by Bishop Justin in his unwavering ambition to spread the Gospel in the island.

He died as he had wished on 4th August (then kept as St Dominic's day) in 1969, aged 70. He was professed 48 years, a priest 42 years, and a bishop 12 years: he was buried in his cathedral in St George's.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God,

rest in Peace.

Amen.

A Playlist for the Feast of St. Cecilia

Music is great gift from God that brings a wide range of emotional responses. Humanity's ability to make, perform and listen to music is one of the obvious distinctions between us and the animal world. I have always found that the natural musical attributes of humanity point to the essential truth that all of humanity is created in the image of God and therefore shares a common bond. The power of music to cross cultural, linguistic and stylistic boundaries is constantly seen: certain chords will always bring tears; certain melodies will stick in the head of any listener; and the timbre of many instruments will send shivers down the spine.

In celebration of the feast of St. Cecilia, the patron Saint of musicians; the Godzdogz team have compiled a playlist , made up of each brother's three favourite pieces of music and two bonus tracks. The spectrum of musical taste (or 'lack of' depending on your opinion) ranges from the ancient chant of the Russian Orthodox Church to 21st century electro-pop revival; from smooth jazz classics to London-Irish folk-infused punk; and from Cool Britannia rock to Classical era opera.

The playlist is best heard on Spotify, the Scandinavian music-streaming service but because they have changed their access policy of late, it can also be heard on YouTube. Please click on your preferred link below and enjoy!

Remembering ... fr Bernard Delany OP (1890 - 1959)

fr Bernard Delaney was baptised Francis Kieran and was born in London on the feast of the Epiphany in 1890. Like those wise men who came in search of Christ, he spent his life in "quiet, unflagging resolution" in his quest for Truth, for which the Order of Preachers is famed. As he wrote in 1920 concerning the work of the Order: "The divine truths contained in the treasury of Christ's Church and their bearing on men and things will be our primary concern". He was also noted for being gifted with wisdom. After all, this talented man, who was professed in 1908 at Woodchester, was entrusted with much by his brothers in his 50 years in the Order.

After his ordination in 1914, he served first as a military chaplain in France during the First World War, where he "went through all the horrors of the trenches", and was later sought out by men of all ranks with whom he had served. After the war, he graduated with a B.Litt. from Oxford University in 1924 and he so distinguished himself in medieval studies that his academic supervisor lamented his not being allowed to make medieval studies his life's work!

Between these two milestones - one pastoral and the other academic - he was appointed the first editor of the journal of the English Dominicans, Blackfriars, in 1920. According to John-Baptist Reeves OP, he was chosen by fr Bede Jarrett OP for this position because of the "conformity of his life to the Rule of St Augustine and the ascetic discipline of the Dominican constitution". And this way of life also led to years of faithful service as a superior, which he accomplished with admirable humility. It was thus said that "he never expected good of himself or praise from others" and "he was too humble already" to be discouraged by humiliations or failure. During his time as editor of Blackfriars, he won the admiration of such writers as Hilaire Belloc, G. K. Chesterton and Ronald Knox and set the journal on a sound and respectable footing.

His "exemplary Dominican life" was also appreciated by the brothers, for in 1927, he was elected Prior of Hawkesyard but was later moved to Oxford by the vicar of the Order who on 28 May 1929 appointed him the first prior of the Priory of the Holy Spirit in Oxford. On the left is a photo from the opening Mass in the new priory church in that year. Given the importance of this re-foundation for the Order and the Church, his appointment was a sign of the confidence which the brethren had in him, and this was confirmed by his election as Prior Provincial of the English Province in 1932 just months after his election to a second term as Prior of Oxford. fr Bernard served as Provincial for ten years during which time the Dominican house at Cambridge was re-established. Subsequent to his time as Provincial he was elected Prior of London and later served as superior in Cambridge and Edinburgh.

In 1951, he went out to South Africa - then a vicariate of the English Province - to serve as chaplain to the Dominican sisters at King William's Town. He did this until 1954 when he was appointed student master at Stellenbosch. He returned to England in 1958 for the Provincial Chapter but fell seriously ill. He endured a long sickness with admirable patience, and it is reported that when he was told he was dying "he was for a moment incredulous. Then at once his spirits rose and remained high [for] he was no longer responsible for anyone or anything in this world"! He died in London on 7 February 1959 and he is buried in Woodchester (shown on the right).

Perhaps on account of the burden of office and responsibility, which he was never without throughout his Dominican life, it was said that fr Bernard, "often seemed a victim to his moods", perhaps prone to "the pessimism of world-weary old age" and "low spirits". Nevertheless, fr John-Baptist, his biographer, writes that "deep in his heart there was a perennial spring of happiness, a firm and undaunted moral resolution, a sensitive affection for his fellows, men, women and especially children; a keen sympathy with suffering; a horror of sin; a genuine poetic vein; a frolicsome spirit of fun. Those seniors and contemporaries who were intimate with him were aware of all this".

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
And may our brother, Bernard, who laboured in the vineyard of the Lord, rest in the light, happiness and peace of Christ.

Footballing Friars aim to Sink Seminarians ...

The gauntlet has been thrown down.

The seminarians of St. Mary's College, Oscott, have challenged the student brothers of Blackfriars Oxford to a football match. It will take place on 28th November. Needless to say, the challenge was accepted, and some training sessions rather hastily arranged ...

We will keep you informed during the build up (without revealing any of the secrets of the training camp, of course). It promises to be a keenly fought encounter ...

Our span is seventy years...

On the 5th of November, as the fireworks and bonfires blazed around Oxford, the Blackfriars community was also celebrating. It was not the events of 1605 that we remembered, however, but rather another great event, in 1939. We were celebrating the 70th birthday of our brother, David Sanders.

Coincidentally, the psalm appointed for Vespers that evening was Psalm 131: 'O Lord, remember David and all the many hardships he endured...', and at Matins we had sung that 'our span is seventy years or eighty for those who are strong'. With this in mind, we raised our glasses to fr David, and wished him many more years of joyful service in the Order, despite all the hardships he may yet have to endure!

l. to r.: fr David Sanders, fr Vivian Boland, Professor Edmund Pellegrino (who was in Blackfriars to lecture the following day on Catholic bioethics), and fr Richard Conrad

Remembering ... Br Frederick Peter Canisius Fewell (1902-1989)

Br. Peter was a co-operator Brother who put his passion for liturgy as well as his professional skills to good use during his life as a Dominican.

Originally from Cardiff where he was by trade a cabinet maker, he followed his mother to Bournemouth and there became Master of Ceremonies at the Jesuit Church. It was there, ironically, that he first came in contact with the Dominicans. The great Provincial of the English Province, Fr. Bede Jarrett OP (pictured right), was invited by the Jesuits to come to the church and preach, and perhaps inspired by this man's words the young Peter Fewell later applied to join the Order. He received the habit in 1926 at Woodchester and made his profession one year later.

When his formation was complete he was assigned to Blackfriars, Oxford where he busied himself with making furniture for the still relatively new priory. The two vestment presses found in the sacristy are his handiwork, as well as a number of other items that are dotted around the house. In 1930 he was moved to St. Dominic's Priory in London (the priory Church is pictured left) where he was made Head Sacristan. During this time he organized a vast number of altar servers into a crack altar servers guild, and he carefully trained them in all the intricacies of the Dominican rite. Later he became Refectorian and then Porter at St. Dominic's, the first point of contact between the priory and the outside world. For much of his life he had a great desire to join the missions and on one occasion was packed, toolkit and all, ready to leave for South Africa. At the last minute his superiors changed their minds and, much to his disappointment, he was refused permission to depart.

Br. Peter was a private but kind man, a rock of support for his bretheen during the difficult years of change following the Second Vatican Council. At the age of 82, with his health failing, he was moved back to Oxford so that he could be better cared for by his brothers. He died on the 20th August 1989 aged 86, 62 years after his profession.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God,

rest in peace,

Amen.

Remembering ... fr Sylvester Basil Baxter OP (1907-1979)

In the month of November particularly we pray for the dead. Godzdogz commends to your prayers the deceased Friars and Nuns of the English Province as well as the Dominican Sisters, priest tertiaries, and Dominican Laity who have lived and worked in England, Wales and Scotland. We will recall the life stories of a number of the friars, representatives of the 'great cloud of witnesses' that has gone before us.

fr. Sylvester Basil Baxter was born in Bradford in 1907. He was clothed in the habit of the Order at the age of 19 and made profession in the September of 1927. He completed his studies in Oxford and was ordained to the priesthood in 1932. In 1933 he was sent to be curate at Woodchester.

He excelled in this role and the prior Hyacinth Koos OP declared him the best curate he had ever had. In 1934 he was sent to the mission in Grenada but was struck down with a severe bout of malaria. He spent four years in the West Indies but never really recovered from the initial attack on his health. He returned to England and his health improved.

On his return he was sent to Leicester and worked in the Royal Infirmary. In 1943 he moved to Pendleton, where he served as subprior. He was then assigned to London as bursar. In 1956 he returned to Leicester and his beloved ministry to the Infirmary. He was a devoted chaplain but suffered a stroke which greatly reduced his mobility. His condition deteriorated and he had to spend his last years in a nursing home. He died on the 10 September 1979, aged 71 with 51 years of profession and 47 of priesthood.

fr. Sylvester was a shy and private man. He was not a renowned formal preacher but preached the Gospel by his dedicated priestly service. He was considered a reliable and loving pastor by both his flock and his brothers.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God,

rest in Peace.

Amen.

Godzdogz Team 2009-10

The Godzdogz team for the current academic year (l. to r.) Brothers Gregory Pearson, David Barrins (Province of Ireland), Graham Hunt, Nicholas Crowe, Frank Everszumrode (Province of Teutonia [Northern Germany]), Robert Gay, Mark Davoren, Robert Verrill, Daniel Jeffries, Vivian Boland (Master of Students) and Lawrence Lew.

We are looking forward to keeping you informed and perhaps even inspired over the course of the next few months. Please pray for us as we will pray for you.

Academic Mass - 12 October 2009

The academic year at Blackfriars began with a votive Mass of the Holy Spirit and Vespers. It is very apt to begin the year by asking the Holy Spirit to fill us with wisdom and understanding, to enlighten our minds and to aid our studies in the year to come. It is also a good opportunity for the new students to meet each other and the friars. In his homily, the Regent of Studies, fr Richard Finn, pointed out that the close proximity of the church and the library at Blackfriars is no coincidence since the practice of religion and academic study are closely linked and complementary as they all point to the truth and to Truth itself.