Sometimes it is worth to step out of the familiar and face the foreign. There is a lot to learn. About God, about the world, about ourselves. Here in England I just can’t stop feeling that everything is so different.

At home, in Hungary I am Pastor Novotny Dániel, a respected Lutheran priest for 20 years. Here I am Daniel Novotny, a funny little and round guest in the College. At home I preach to more than a thousand people on almost a daily basis as school chaplain of a large Lutheran grammar school. Here I just stumble with English and keep silent for days. At home I give lecture on dogmatics and philosophy of religion. Here I am just a humble student sitting in the classroom, who realizes that knows nothing. At home my house is loud by my four children gathering around their father. Here the only touch is the peace handshake in the Eucharist liturgy. At home I am piled with heavy duties above my strength. Here I got the chance to step out time and space to meet God and face myself in a really radical way.

I came here with a strict plan to finish the writing of my first book, which also should be my PhD dissertation. Instead I found myself in an intense spiritual training about humbleness, self-discipline and mostly about the measurement of the essence of my personal faith. My faith got tested, perhaps like the other Daniel of the Old Testament.

There is a lot I have learnt here. I am so grateful for this to Christ, who came to me through the brothers of the Community, the College teachers and students, the sacramental moments in the Upper and in the Lower Church, through the mystical garden and the blooming spring. Thanks for all.

Dániel Novotny

Recently a party of 9 students, accompanied by Fr Thomas CR made a weekend pilgrimage to Walsingham. Taking all the prayer requests from the board in the College Oratory to include whilst on pilgrimage, we put them alongside our own supplications at the shrine.

With the other pilgrims we entered fully into the life of the Shrine and attended the Pilgrimage Mass, Shrine Prayers, Liturgy of Healing and Reconciliation with laying on of hands, Sprinkling and Benediction.

It was ‘low season’ at the Shrine so we students had the whole of one of the guest blocks to ourselves. We used the spacious and comfortable upstairs living room as our Pilgrimage Common Room where we listened to the two excellent addresses given by Fr Thomas (about two anti-types of Mary, Rebekah and Hannah), and also to relax in at the end of the day.

Many thanks to Fr Thomas for his prayerful leadership of our pilgrimage, to Frs Kevin and Andreas and all the team at the Shrine for making us all so welcome, and of course to our pilgrimage officers, Ben and Max, for organising our weekend of prayer, reflection, fellowship and fun so impeccably.

Mitzi James CoR

 

To read the article in full please click here to visit the College website 

 

 

Il giardiniere invisibile: credere, non credere, cercare, EDB, 2019. (The Invisible Gardener: Belief and Unbelief in Dialogue ).

The Revd Dr Tony Carroll has published a new book which will be launched at Mirfield in June. The book attempts to think anew about the God-World relationship in the context of our Secular Age. It builds on the parable of the ‘invisible gardener’, originally devised by the Cambridge philosopher John Wisdom in 1944, to think about how religious and non-religious people can enter into dialogue about God today.

The book will be launched at the day conference on Ancient and Modern Insights into Human Flourishing on 3 June.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday 30 March the Community opened its doors for an evening of music provided by one of the finest vocal ensembles in Yorkshire. The Tallis Consort is a semi-professional ensemble of 10 singers who specialize in the performance of Renaissance Polyphony. Directed by Chris Why they performed Tomás Luis de Victoria – Tenebrae Responsories (1585) and the Requiem Mass (1603). Many joined us for what proved to be a highly enjoyable, relaxing evening. We would like to thank Chris and the ensemble, we hope an opportunity arises in the future for them to perform in the church again.

The Community and College are looking forward to welcoming Tallis Consort – Early Music Ensemble, to perform in the Community Church on Saturday 30th March at 7.30pm. All Welcome.
www.facebook.com/TheTallisConsort/

For a taste of the Tallis Consort’s music, please follow the link below.
https://www.facebook.com/TheTallisConsort/videos/368333890561741/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A packed church gathered last Friday (1 March) to celebrate the life and ministry of our dear brother Simon.

Fr Simon passed away on Thursday 7 February, at the age of 88 and in the 52^nd year of his profession.

His funeral requiem was followed by burial in the Community cemetery.

We were delighted that so many family and friends were able to join the Community for the occasion. May Simon rest in peace and rise in glory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The arrival in Oxford on Sunday evening for the start of #LifeTogetherOxford saw us all warmly welcomed to our host colleges. Myself and George CR; Judith and Margaret Theresa SLG and Jane ASSP. I was in The Queen’s College – fittingly so for me with its Northern links and long choral tradition. I certainly was impressed by the environment, and remarked when preaching at evensong that night how extraordinary it felt to be there and speak the Word amidst such apparent history and tradition. The aim of the week was to promote the notion of vocation – and specifically of that to the religious life.

We were there chiefly to pray, and so kept a monastic-style office each morning in St Mary’s (the University) Church. This regularity meant that we saw and shared daily with many of the same faces. There were upwards of twenty people there for Morning Prayer each day, which was pleasing, and we had the opportunity to eat breakfast together in the café afterwards. Here there was ample time to initiate conversations and get to know one another. And this set the tone for the daily pattern with us, because subsequently there were talks and meet-a-monk/nun slots to which people we had encountered previously came. So, crucially to good missionary work, there was sound opportunity for follow-up! The days were long but very pleasing on this account.

It was certainly a privilege for my part to experience the life of a university once again – and especially the life of Oxford colleges. The brothers and sisters agreed that the Oxbridge system is ideal to undertake vocation events within, because it allows for the building of relationships and gives individuals in the group continuity with the people they meet. It is possible to make links with chaplaincy teams and clergy which last beyond the designated ‘mission week.’ Indeed, we are already looking to return to the university and are exploring possibilities of a similar event in Cambridge. Watch this space! I was really glad to make the acquaintance of Katherine Price, chaplain of Queen’s College and ex-Mirfieldonian! Great exchange was undoubtedly made! I also hope to go back to Hertford College to preach.

Whilst I couldn’t dine at high table every night nor perhaps keep up with the seemingly insane examination pressure these students are placed under, it was a joyous experience to offer something of my unfolding vocation with men and women likewise discerning theirs in Oxford. Pray that it may yield a harvest to His glory: thirty, sixty – even a hundredfold!

 

 

Br Marc CR

The grounds and gardens at Mirfield are an important part of the character of our site. A special place for the brethren, they are also well used by guests, retreatants, school groups, visitors and many others who value spending time outside while they are with us.

Extending to around 20 acres, the gardens require just as much care and attention as our buildings. Over the years, we have welcomed many volunteers to help in the grounds – some to gain experience, some during retirement and some who simply enjoy gardening! As we move through spring and summer, we are keen to build the number of volunteers, who will work alongside Paul Hatfield and the Estates Management team.

If you would like to volunteer to help (or if you know of others who might be interested) – and to have the opportunity to meet new people in a quiet and peaceful environment – please contact Paul Hatfield on 01924 483347 or email phatfield@mirfield.org.uk