MSM UK Preceptory July 2012 Chapter Minutes

MSM Preceptory of Great Britain

Chapter and Day of Pilgrimage of 16^th July 2012, Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel                        (Patroness of the Preceptory), Aylesford, Kent

Pilgrimage: The Pilgrimage began with mass at 12:00, at the Choir Chapel.

Following mass, the Glorious (Joyous) mysteries of the Rosary were recited, at the Cloister (Infant of Prague) Chapel, at 12:45.

At 1:30pm, bread was broken together in the Pilgrims’ Hall. The lunch break also provided an opportunity for those who had not yet been on pilgrimage to Aylesford to pray before the Relic of St. Simon Stock.

Opening of the Chapter Meeting: Chapter was opened at 2:25pm.

Attendance: In attendance were: Stephen de la Bédoyère (Preceptor); Andrew Cesana and Jean-Paul Gauthier (Knights); ; Mary Remnant (Servant of Our Lady); and Ian and Maureen Gordon, John Walker  (Friends of Our Lady).

Reading from the Rule: Chapter XIV, regarding the Delicacy to be shown toward Our Lady.

Commentary on the Rule by the Preceptor: The Preceptor began by noting that the Aylesford’s Carmelite Order (a Marian Order) was founded at Mt-Carmel, which is a small and discreet little corner of Creation, just as many of us and our works are. He then recalled the Rule’s requirement regarding the wearing of the Miraculous medal, a sacramental which he compared to the widespread practice of wearing the Brown Scapular in England. He reminded the Preceptory members how the use of the Scapular had been prescribed by various popes and saints. He however admonished the members of the Preceptory to beware of the danger of coming to view such sacramentals as some sort of “catholic magic”, reminding them that their use functions merely an aid to grace and adjunct to “hard work”.

Adoption of Minutes: S.O.L. Mary Remnant reviewed the minutes of the previous chapter meeting and confirmed to the Preceptor that they were accurate. With two members agreeing on the point, they were deemed adopted –a point raising no objections from the membership in attendance.

Agenda of the Chapter meeting:

New Preceptory regulation regarding tithes for those over 80 and other financial matters:

The possibility of receiving Pierre as a Servant of Our Lady, ideally in January 2013, was discussed. He noted Pierre’s stated concerns that he could not afford to pay the Order’s tithes or pay for such expenses as the Pilgrimage to Aylesford. He asked Chev. Gauthier to point out to him that those over 80 would no longer, in the UK Preceptory, be required to pay tithes.
 

Chev. Gauthier noted that he had himself brought along his annual tithes to the Preceptory, as well as a contribution of GBP 10.00 from David Sainty toward the gift the Order was offering to Lanherne Convent on behalf of Fr. Rupert McHardy for officiating at his Reception Ceremony. He further noted that the Master had asked him to paid half of his tithes (i.e. 1% of his net annual income) directly to the Magisterium of the Order, given his particular dual status as a member of the Preceptory and Magisterial Delegate for North America.

Annual MSM Open Day on 29^th September 2012:

The Preceptor began the discussion of this item by stressing the importance of the Open Day.

He noted that a notice would be published in the Brompton Oratory Magazine, and that they could additionally be published in such catholic papers as the Catholic Herald and The Tablet.

He then noted that invitations needed to be sent out on lists compiled by Mary Remant, Jeffrey Monk and himself, and asked for some assistance in cleaning up the lists. Chev. Gauthier offered to spend a couple of hours verifying whether or not the printed lists (from Jeffrey) could easily be digitised but indicated that he was sanguine about this prospect.

Maureen Gordon suggested that she could inform the Association of Catholic Women, of which she is a member, both through Josephine Robinson and Joanne Bogle who are in its leadership, and (nearer to the date) at its AGM on September 26^th 2012.

Maureen Gordon also suggested that the “Friends of Westminster Cathedral” might be informed, through Fr. Tuckwell, as well as the ESBVM.

MSM Outreach Efforts:
It was agreed that the Preceptor and Chev. Gauthier would reach out to and jointly meet Archbishop Smith of the Diocese of Southwark.
 

It was then noted by Chev. Cesana that he knows Auxiliary Bishop Hine, from his organ work in West Malling, and that he could jointly meet him with Chev. Gauthier.

The Preceptor indicated that he would reach out to Fr. Julian Large, Provost of the Brompton Oratory, regarding his possible interest in becoming a chaplain and the possibility of the designation of the Oratory as the Capitular Seat of the Order in the UK.

It was agreed that Chev. Gauthier should reach out to the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham group in Mongeham in East Kent, following the Preceptor’s meeting with Mgr. Newton, and that he would also meet with Fr. Marcus Holden, of St-Augustine’s Shrine in Ramsgate.

Ian and Maureen Gordon indicated that they would send an e-mail to Fr. Pinsent in Oxford, an expert on the subject of the relationship between science and religion –to establish a contact with him on behalf of the MSM which could subsequently be followed up by Chev. Gauthier.

It was finally agreed that members of the Preceptory should keep their ears open regarding any possibility of outreach to the FSSP.

Preceptory Apostolates:

Life: The request by John Smeaton for a SPUC Liaison within the MSM was raised and discussed, with  Maureen Gordon agreeing to act as the MSM point of contact for SPUC, and to report back to the MSM on its initiatives as well as on matters relating to Life in general. It was further agreed that this John Smeaton could be informally of this decision.
 

OLAF: The membership agreed in principle with the idea of a KSh 4000 donation for a Srathmore College Business Training Course tuition bursary. The Preceptor wondered whether OLAF  could be become a Registered Charity, in order to facilitate receiving and distributing gift aid for such projects.

CAFOD: It was agreed that the membership would keep an eye out for advertisements in the Catholic papers for requests for donations of GBP 15.00 or less, earmarked for the purchase of an item such as a bicycle or pigs for a family in the developing world, and consider the possibility of making such donations as they are identified.

World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF): It was agreed that the Preceptory would ask S.O.L Donal Foley what the MSM and WAF could do to be of further assistance to one another. It was noted that there would be a collection at Donal's Talk on the Open Day for W.A.F.

Days with Mary: In discussing whether any formal MSM association with the Days with Mary beyond Chev. Cesana’s individual actions might be possible, it was recalled that they had in fact been initiated by two MSM members; Chev. Martin Blake and  S.O.L. ( now lapsed )Claudio Lo Sterzo.

Our Lady of Ransom: It was pointed out, by Maureen Gordon, that this apostolate was in need of assistance and indeed leadership by willing Catholics.

Aylesford: As per MSM discussions with Prelates such as Bishop Hopes earlier this year, the possibility of the MSM somehow associating itself to an Aylesford Priory initiative was raised for discussion.

General Discussion: At the suggestion of the Preceptor, it was agreed that the MSM should not embark upon any new “Preceptory activities” unless at least 2 members could commit to working on it –lest they be done poorly.

Closing of the Chapter: The Chapter Meeting was closed at 4:05pm to enable members to catch their return trains to London.

Prayer intentions: Permanently on our Prayer List: Pope Benedict and his intentions, Vocations to the MSM and IFCI, OLAF and the children we are supporting, Foyer de Charité movement, Days with Mary, Friends of the Holy Family, Confraternity of St James, Carmelite nuns in Finland and Nairobi, Society of Pewe, WAF, ESBVM, Billings family Life Centre, Fathers and Parishes of the Oratory and St Mary Magdalen’s, Elderly and sick clergy whom we visit, Vocations to the priesthood, religious life and marriage, Bishop Paul Hendricks and his intentions; Mgr. Newton and the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, Bishop Echeverria and the Prelature of Opus Dei, Bishop Alan Hopes and his intentions.