Circular No 966

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 9 of May 2020 No. 966

-----------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

Hear O Lord - A Brand New Canticle by Nigel Boos & The Assumption Chorale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW_ElMntNdw•

--------------------------------------------------.

On 26 Apr 2020, at 11:12 AM,

Ladislao Kertesz <kertesz11@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Harry,

No nickname stuck on me during my stay.

Maybe Laz, Ladi, Kertesz, there were many depending on the classmate.

I am the editor of the Newsletter and I wanted to set straight the information I have.

So please tell me what is true. I graduated in 1960 when the year always ended in December

I would appreciate your CV, and a photo.

Who were your friends?  When did you take GCE??

----------------------------------------------------------------.

On Wed, 29 Apr 2020 at 16:50,

Harry <hvltech@gmail.com> wrote:

Some of what you said maybe correct; you must be mixing me up with some other boy; I am working on “life& times” at the Mount and will forward to you soon - by the way what was your nick name?

Harry

---------------------------------------------------------------.

On 26 Apr 2020, at 11:12 AM,

Ladislao Kertesz <kertesz11@gmail.com> wrote:

I see that you were:

Vice-President of the "MOLDS” (Mount Outside Literary and Debating Society) 1964

Scout - PL of the Robert Falcon Scott Patrol for senior boys.  

President's Trophy for Best All-Round Student 1967.  

Victor Ludorum prize one year.

Lots of achievements.

Can you describe them?  I had left the school in 1960 so I had no idea of you being famous.

Ladislao

-----------------------------------------------------------

On Sun, 26 Apr 2020 at 11:08,

Ladislao Kertesz <kertesz11@gmail.com> wrote:

Thank you for your input, Harry

Maybe you would like to send it to your classmates.

Now can you write a CV for the Circular, maybe with interesting material with your classmates?

Also, two lines or a paragraph on each of the guys on the photo?

The circular would appreciate it.

God bless,

Ladislao

---------------------------------------------------------------

idmitch@anguillanet.com

Sat, 18 Apr, 19:59

Hi, Rafael,

My memory is cracking up.

I know I have written about his visit to Mount, but I can’t even remember where I wrote about it.

I was certainly there and witnessed the visit.

It was in either 1959 or 1960, as I recall.

So, I Googled his visit to Trinidad.  I found this article on what appears to be a Mt St Benedict Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/mountstbenedicttrinidad/posts/dr-fidel-castro-paid-a-visit-to-mount-st-benedict-soon-after-the-cuban-revolutio/1120714761377712/ 

It is difficult for me to tell, since I do not do Facebook.  But, doubtless you can follow it up.

Wikipedia says it was April 1959:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro

Trinidad became independent on 1 August 1962: 

https://www.google.com/search?q=trinidad+and+tobago+independence+act+1962&rlz=1C1CHBF_enAI852AI852&oq=trinidad+and+tobago+indep&aqs=chrome.3.0j69i57j0l6.8442j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I seem to remember a view of him driving in an open-roofed car, standing waving at the boys lining the road just before you entered the school grounds.

But I may be remembering my memory of the visit, rather than remembering a photo.

I remember that we were all very excited.

He had not yet declared himself a communist, so there was widespread support for the revolution throughout the West Indies.

The relationship with our English-speaking islands became more problematic around the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. 

It took many years for me to once again regain my initial enthusiasm for his and Cuba’s resistance to the CIA and Mafia-inspired opposition to the Cuban Revolution.

Now, having visited Cuba a few times in recent years, my admiration for the Revolution and its achievements is wholehearted.

I now believe that what the USA has done to destroy the lives and aspirations of the Cuban people over the past 60 years is nothing short of despicable.

Best,

Don

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------.

From: Ralph Echeverria <ralph.echeverria@gmail.com>

Sent: Saturday, 18 April 2020 12:33

Dear Mitch! ....

A question .... when Fidel Castro visited Mount... were you there?

If so, is there any particular anecdote or memories you would like to share?

I will appreciate very much your input.

I doubt I can find a better source that you.

Thank you in advance.

I also have a confusion whether Fidel visited Trinidad before or after Trinidad's independence.

Do you know?

Thank you, man ....

Rafael 

--------------------------------------------------------------------.

idmitch@anguillanet.com

Thu, 9 Apr, 16:00

Thank you, Jeremy, for the extracts, and it is good hearing from you in any event.

I do not recall seeing them before, though some of the recent photos look familiar.  I have saved them in the Archives files for the Abbey School.

They may be more profitably placed in the hands of Kaz and George than Ladislao or me.  I cannot post .pdf files to the Blog, so whenever Ladislao sends me one for publishing, I have to omit it.

Anguilla is in lockdown, like most if not all the Caribbean.  We have thankfully only had three imported cases, which turned out to be mild, not requiring hospitalization.  Our ports are all closed, as are those of St Maarten/St Martin and Puerto Rico.  St Kitts is I believe still open, if only for limited flights, but it is not possible to get there from Anguilla with our ports closed.  Our fishermen are suspected of bringing friends and family over from the confusion that is St Maarten, but the French, Dutch and Anguillian police and customs boats are patrolling the straights looking for smugglers.  Fishermen were originally exempt from the lock-down but are now banned from going to sea since some of them were abusing the privilege.

Maggie and I keep our heads down and are waiting out the pandemic.  We stocked up on wine enough to last for three months at the beginning of the spread through the Caribbean, as we knew it was only a matter of time.  I am learning to make bread.  Four baguettes were my latest effort.  Don’t try it unless you have an entire day.  It is an ideal quarantine activity and tastes wonderful.

Keep safe.

Best,

Don

 ----------------------------------------------------------------.

From: Jeremy de Barry <tobagojo@gmail.com>

Sent: Thursday, 9 April 2020 15:07

Hi Don,

From a recent MSB post arose the discussion on why The Abbey School crashed.

Following this interesting thread; noticed that there was an informative link posted by one Jan Koenraadt, to some earlier MSB docs that addressed this matter; but that the link had now failed.

In consequent curiosity, got in touch with a surprisingly affable and helpful Jan Koenraadt (Holland), who then kindly sent me copies of his noted pics.

With some caution at this point; noted and raised by Jan himself; where he says “is copyrighted, so please only use them for private” use [at this time]; I should like you to add the attached PDF file to your/Ladislao MSB files, for future reference, as may be required.  It can be shared with any interested members, but again [at this time], should not be posted publicly.

Am considering how to get permissions from the publishers/trustees to allow use of this bit of The Abbey School history, in the public domain. So no promises; but we shall see how this goes, hopefully later.

Find attached:

THE ABBEY Mount St Benedict A Popular Guide Mark Tierney, O.S.B._ Jan Koenraadt image OCR _20200408_Rv03 with pics.pdf, where Jan’s fine images have been processed into a usable research PDF document.

Hoping that you are all well and ride out this sad COVID-19 threat safely.

Enjoy

Cheers

tobagojo

---------------------------------------------------------------------.

WhatsApp:

4/23/20 Arreaza Julio Cesar: 8. Alfredo Montiel, (trophy), 5. Julio César Arreaza B, 3. Jaime Benazar, deceased

4/23/20 Ladislao Kertesz: Thank you Julio César What can you write about that photo? Where were you? Why there are only Venezuelans? What did you think of fr Theo? You are very close to him.

I need something substantial to circulate similar to that what you write in your columns.

4/23/20 Arreaza Julio Cesar: I have a Question: Did you delete your email? , I could not send you more my articles. Thanks for the photo. Good reminiscences No. 10 is surnamed Becerra

4/23/20 Ladislao Kertesz: My emails for the circular is kertesz11@yahoo.com

The one from the office is kaviacion@gmail.com  Let's see if you can write about those times

In what year was the photo taken?

4/23/20 Arreaza Julio Cesar: Ok. Promised friend. School year 67/68. Recent of the historic earthquake in Caracas. In which mail do you receive my columns for Sunday newspapers. This afternoon Dios willing will send you my photo

4/23/20 Ladislao Kertesz: ladislaokertesz@hotmail.com

But I don't use it to make the circulars. I suppose the photo was taken in 1967?

4/23/20 Arreaza Julio Cesar: I think so. Or starting in 68. We started to study that year on September 3, 1967.

4/23/20 Ladislao Kertesz: Ok I will put it for 68

4/23/20 Arreaza Julio Cesar: Right

4/23/20 Arreaza Julio Cesar: Ladislao: remembering and because of the shirt I have on, I think it was a visit by Father Theo to Caracas after the end of the school year. Where in Caracas, there is the detail. I remember that I had already decided not to return, and I started and studied the From III at the Instituto Escuela de Prados del Este. The site is Caracas. : Perhaps Alfredo Montiel remembers: * Ok. I am busy until tomorrow at noon writing my opinion piece for the newspapers on Saturday and Sunday. If there is no urgency, I will gladly take care of that later.

4/23/20 Ladislao Kertesz: Please do it calmly, since you are a good columnist

The picture with the names will appear in circular 968

The photos search code is: 68LK4310FBLCHGRP

4/23/20 Arreaza Julio Cesar: OK

------------------------------------------------------------------.

EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Photos:

11LK1794FBAPL, Plimmer

55LK7951FBPIARCOAIRPORT, Piarco Airport

16LK9882FBAPEPFR, Abbot Perreira and Pope Francis

86LK0549FBJBAGRP, Jerry Bain and Group

Circular No 965 Extra

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 7 of May 2020 No. 965 extra

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

This material was prepared by Jan Koenraadt.  It consists of interesting material on Mt. St. Benedict.  The words in italics are Jan’s commentary, while the plain text is his translation of the originals.

--------------------------------------
This article is written in 1917 by Dom Wilfridus Broens O.S.B. at Mount St. Benedict, Tunapuna in Trinidad.  [After Dom Mayeul de Caigny, Dom Wilfridus Broens was probably the prior of the Priory and did the founding work until he died in 1943.  He was buried at Mount.  After him came Huug van der Sanden who was the prior.  The priory turned into an Abbey, and in 1947 Dom Adelbert van Duin became the abbot.]

The article is written in Dutch for a local Dutch church magazine ‘St. Antonius Bode’ in August 1917 in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands were neutral during the First World War, therefore this kind of communication between Trinidad and the Netherlands was possible.

The article is meant to describe to the Dutch readers what the Benedictine monks are doing in the West Indies.

The Mission of the Benedictines in the West Indies.  By Dom Wilfridus Broens O.S.B. at Mount St. Benedict, Tunapuna in Trinidad, written in 1917.

When St. Benedict lived with his first followers in a cave at Subiaco around the fifth century, he was guided by Holy Providence in a special way to leave this low-lying place.  On the crowns of Monte-Casino, there he would establish his order for good.  Here he wrote his Holy Rule, where all the beauty of his great soul has been worked out.  His precepts, given in the fear of God, are pleasing because of an admirable insight and extend to perfection and Christian love.  This work of great wisdom and human knowledge also has this appeal, that it first and foremost prescribes works of godliness and then allows free development of all gifts of nature, both in the field of hands and mental labour.

According to the circumstances in which Benedict's spiritual sons lived, they have been missionaries, writers, and historians, teachers, and farmers.

Surrounding abbeys with schools and pilgrimage houses, practicing the liturgy, the visual arts and singing, they have brought civilization to the lowest circles of the barbarian peoples.  Half a century after Saint Benedict's death, his order had spread from Western to Northern Europe.  About the end of the fifth century, the first Benedictine missionaries from England came to the Netherlands to bring the true faith.  Many countries in Europe, but especially the Netherlands, have enjoyed much of Saint Benedict's order.

As they up to now continue to work in Europe today, so that God may be glorified in everything, in the same way they spend their powers in the other parts of the world.  In North America they have great foundations with many mission parishes in the United States, in Canada and in Mexico. In South America they have colleges, schools and extensive missions in Brazil and Argentina.  In Australia they have done a great deal for the arrangement of the Church with missions on New Zealand and the Philippines.  In Asia they work with great success on Korea, in China and Japan, on Ceijlan (present Ceylon or Sri Lanka), and in Palestine.  In Africa they have penetrated from Algeria to the Congo state and Zanguebar (present Zanzibar), to Transvaal, and Natal.

In Central America they have started a new mission work on Trinidad, one of the main islands of the West Indies.  A little more about this mission.

Due to the great shortage of priests and monastics in the West Indies, our High Reverend Government decided to apply for a foundation on the island of Trinidad.  Gladly, His Serene Highness, the Archbishop of Port of Spain, gave permission. A piece of mountain land, eighty hectares in size, was purchased from the government.  The plans would then become action.  October 6, 1912, the first missionaries, two fathers and three brothers departed.  They built a small auxiliary church and a house; soon many visited them, whites, coolies, and negroes, some of them out of curiosity, others to seek Jesus Christ in his humble home.  (Coolie is an obsolete and now offensive English term for an unskilled Indian labourer. The word is found in both the Hindi and Urdu languages in the sense of an unskilled labourer.).  The assurance of the started missionary work was that several conversions were taking place, even of Protestants.  Among the newly converted are also young men and that is a very joyful sign.  They are often seen at the Communion rail, despite the long distances they have to travel in the early hours of the day.

The influx of believers was so great that a larger auxiliary church was built twenty-one meters long. More helpers were also sent.  Some of these are active here in abandoned parishes, others are ready for new parishes in the making.

The joint relief buildings of the main foundation are located on the crown of a mountain called Mount St. Benedict, two hundred meters above the ground floor and twenty minutes by rail from the capital of Trinidad, Port-of-Spain.

The second goal is, besides the proclamation of faith, to establish an agricultural colony and craft schools for the West Indians of Trinidad.  The government fully recommends this endeavour.  Crafts should also be learned by the coolies and negroes.  What does it usually give, if they become Catholic and stay lazy and not used to work?  In their doing-nothing their persistence is often unsteady.  The experience teaches it.  Laziness is not always the cause of their little work.

There are those who want to work, but who know their trade so poorly that they are necessarily out of work.  Craft education is therefore very necessary.  They must also be preceded in agriculture.  They say nothing grows on those high mountains.  Fortunately, we can already give an example of this.  Since these few years, we have been working on the reclamation of forest mountains.  We already have cocoa and coffee plantations, cotton and bread trees, which will provide sufficient fruit.  Orange and lemon trees, mango and banana trees begin to rise along the roads in the hillside yard.  Tender green pastures and corn with long, thick ears are proof of the suitability of the mountainous areas.  Agricultural experts who visit us are amazed at what has been accomplished here in the field of culture in such a short time.

As soon as we have enough craftsmen who want to cooperate, not for a Saturday-wage but for a heavenly wage, the vocational schools will start.  To meet that need, a novitiate has also been opened here for students and brothers.  This novitiate has these advantages that the newcomer student and brother become accustomed to the climate more easily, as they are usually still young and do not have to make long journeys at once.  They can effectively prepare themselves for mission life.  They learn the necessary languages almost by themselves and they provide services to the mission early on.

Eight Dutch people are already working, six of whom professed.  In addition to four Brothers from Europe, we have five more natives, including gentile converts, who live together with us as regular Oblates and are examples of godliness.  There are also two natives among the students.

If we can continue like this, after a while it will be possible to start on other islands of the Antilles and on the Dutch possessions in the West.  In Suriname, the desire for such a foundation has already been expressed.

May this civilization work grow and flourish in the glory of God and the development and salvation of the West Indians.

D. Wilfridus Broens O.S.B.

Mount St. Benedict,

Tunapuna

(Port of Spain)

Trinidad, B.W.I.

P.S.  If it is going to be a little bit good, then we have a great future here.  Here too there is a very shortage of good priests.  All Dutchmen from Bahia have moved here.  Trinidad is English, but there is also a lot of French and Spanish spoken.  Let your Mission sisters learn languages, especially English, because they are very useful.  Spanish is widely spoken in these regions.  Since we have learned Portuguese, we now learn Spanish more easily, there is only a small difference.  English is the main language here.

Our mission is progressing well, and if we had more fathers and brothers, it would be even faster.  Therefore, if you Reverend sometimes have suitable youths for as student or brother, we will gladly accept them; we will soon be with at least ten Dutch people.  We have classes for secondary and higher education, where besides our Dutch also some white people from the island take lessons here.

Willing to inquire,

Your Dw*. Servant in J.C.

D.W. Broens

*Dw = dienst willige = willing to serve

-------------------------------------------------------------------.

The following article was written in 1934 by Dom Wilfridus Broens, O.S.B., at Mount St. Benedict, Tunapuna in Trinidad.  It is written in Dutch for a local Dutch church magazine ‘St. Antonius Bode’ in October 1934 in the Netherlands.  The article is meant to describe to the Dutch readers what the Benedictine monks are doing in the West Indies.

The Benedictines Mission on Trinidad.

By Dom Willibrord OSB, Procurator, written in 1934.

From a Catholic point of view, one cannot deny that the last page of Trinidad's religious history fills the heart with nostalgia.  Once so solemnly devoted by the world discoverer Columbus to the most holy Trinity, this island actually belonged to her.  The zeal with which the Catalan Capucines once undertook conversion work here, as well as the strong cooperation of the Catholic Spanish government, had made it into a literal Catholic colony in the literal sense of the word, of which - as we have already noted - no other religion was tolerated; one now finds a mosque in the capital Port of Spain, and a number of pagan pagodas scattered throughout the island, where Siva sits on the throne.  In addition, there are all sorts of religious societies among the Negroes who honour various pagan ceremonies from the Congo.  Christianity itself, in the numerous sects who constantly fight against each other, shows a sad picture of division, so that the benevolent pagans wondering on which side the truth may be found.  The Catholics have been reduced to a minority.  One can therefore safely speak of a "recapture" of this delightful paradise for our King Christ.  That is the field of work that our Benedictine monks saw themselves assigned by God's Provision.  Which role is reserved for them there?  What will their share be in this conquest work?

Before answering these questions, we first want to become acquainted with the past and the development of this undertaking.  The Priory of the "Mount St. Benedict" is a foundation that originated from America's oldest Benedictine abbey, namely "Bahia".  Like several other monasteries of the Brazilian Benedictine Congregation, this venerable foundation was founded by Mgr. Gerard van Caloen recovered from her decline.  The vocations, mainly from Europe, reported numerous times under God's blessing that people could soon start thinking of finding a new field of work.  Attention was paid to the West Indies and soon the Abbey succeeded in finding a suitable place for the implementation of its plans in nearby Trinidad.  This has indeed been chosen excellently.  Located in the north of the island, on the southern slope of the beautiful green mountain range, which protects it against the ocean, it dominates the fertile lowlands from its 250 meters.  In 1912, on the feast day of Our Lady of St. Rosary, the first Benedictine monks landed on Trinidad.  Soon they took possession of their new domain, which has since been called "St. Benedict's Mountain".  The beginnings were modest.  They found nothing but tropical wilderness.  In a pitiful dwelling, or rather a hut, they began their missionary work, after ancient Benedictine custom with the liturgical prayer of the God, God blessed these first attempts.  The mountain, which leads up to the sanctuary in a zigzag way in thirteen turns, did these Benedictines realize at that time the important consequences that this disposition would have for their action?  Who was keen to show her interest by following the progress of this work with sympathetic curiosity, which also laid the foundation for a favorable contact.  It did not contribute much to making the Benedictine Foundation popular.

The road to Mount St. Benedict was now known, and the ancient Benedictine hospitality did the rest.  The monastery soon became a beloved place of pilgrimage, attracting pilgrims of all walks of life and age, pagans as well as Christians of different religions.  They come there to unite with the choir prayer of the monks.  They confidently ask St. Benedict for his mighty protection, while they ask the fathers for advice, information and prayer.

In the year 1915 this young foundation was founded as a Benedictine priory, His High-quality Excellency, the Archbishop of Trinidad, who soon realized the significance of this foundation for his people, and soon sought the influence of the monks in wider circles to serve.  That is why he entrusted them with the care of San Fernando, the second city of the island, with a population of 40,000 souls.  Various Protestant sects develop a very large activity here, especially in the field of education, bearing in mind the principle that who has the child, has the future.  That is why in addition to the parish church, the Benedictines also opened a gymnasium, which is already visited by about 70 pupils, and is highly regarded by the population.

At the request of Mgr. J.P. Dowling, the Archbishop of Trinidad also entrusted the monks with the mission on the island of St. Vincent in 1919.  Here you can still find tribes of the Caribs, who were driven out of the other islands, who managed to survive in the midst of the mountains.  They must still be won for true faith.

Moreover, there are 50,000 inhabitants on this island, of which 5,000 belong to the Catholic religion.  The hurricanes on this island often keep a terrible house, so that the poor churches that were erected there were in a sad state.  The priory sent two monks here for the time being, who had already achieved many good things.

This is in a few aspects the work program that the priory is trying to realize.  I write "try" because, when considered, it surpasses the forces available to it.  So far it only has thirteen priests, a far too small number for such a multifaceted undertaking.  But the demand is so great that it is weekly an art to limit itself.

But apart from this activity, which can finally be granted by any other spiritual society, I would like to ask whether these monks, in their capacity as Benedictines for this population, are of any particular significance?

Saint Benedict gave his sons the "Opus Dei" as their main occupation.  One of their main traits is a life dedicated to the praise of the Lord.  In his famous mission encyclical, our Blessed Father has unequivocally demonstrated to the Pope the importance of which he considers the establishment of such monastic societies in the mission area.  This was already expressed as his dearest wish by the deserving restorer of the monklife in Brazil when he wrote to his Abbot in 1889:

"Consider how it would be beautiful and consoling, for the Church, that for us, to see your holy Order gradually taking root in many countries, where it is absolutely unknown and to become one of the main forces of the. Church, to train indigenous clergy there and to re-worship divine praise, which is impossible for ordinary missionaries."

As such, the priory of Mount St. Benedict may no doubt be assured of fulfilling a message which will bless the people of the island and far beyond.  All the more so since it is the only one of its kind in the Antilles so far.

But no matter how important this Opus Dei may be to the environment Benedictine life also contains other elements that are of no less value to this society.  The purpose of St. Benedict's legislation is no different than to realize the ideal of Christian life according to its supreme form - namely on the basis of evangelical councils - as faithfully as possible.  But this realization is not so much thought of as an individual, but rather as a social one, because he gave the character of a family to his monastery community, with a father as head. Finally, in this way of life, her public and official character is striking, which is evident to the fact that thanks to his spirit of charity and hospitality the holy lawgiver demanded that his monastery should not only be open to fellow brothers, but also for all strangers, rich and poor, who would knock at the gate.  They are not only allowed to share the meal of the monks, but also to conform to the example of their lives.  It is these character traits that, from time immemorial, made the order particularly suitable for the mission which it had set aside in the establishment of a new Christian civilization in Europe.  They are no less suitable for the social conditions that the monks of Mount St. Benedict have found in their field of work.

The latest history of Trinidad has already taught us that we are facing a major but complex problem in the social and religious field.  We find here a young society, mainly consisting of a population, who hardly came to settle there a century ago.  Rarely have people seen such a wide variety of races, peoples and religions within such limited boundaries.  In the interest of the inhabitants, however, it seems desirable that in the long run a fusion will grow out of all these heterogeneous components, so that the bond of solidarity will be tightened more closely.  This is all the more ideal, because on an island people are more dependent on each other.

https://www.delpher.nl/nl/tijdschriften/view?identifier=MMKDC04:001177012:00015&query="Benedictijner+abdij"+trinidad&coll=dts

Click on this link to get to the original article.

January 2020:  A translation with Google Translate by Jan Koenraadt

------------------------------------------------------------------.

EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz, kertesz11@yahoo.com, if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

These are the photoshoped photos in the Essay:

34JK0001MSBEDI, Pax

34JK0002MSBEDI, Bede

34JK0003MSBEDI, Passageway old and new monastery, photo taken from the bell housing.

34JK0004MSBEDI, Church

34JK0005MSBEDI, Lab