By Dominic Redcliffe

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Hello from Rome to you all at home.

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In my second year here at the Beda College, my continued formation has been greatly influenced by my house job. Each seminarian has a role that they undertake in college in addition to academic studies. These include the infirmarian, librarians, sacristan with his team of assistants, and my role this year, Master of Ceremonies (which is shortened to MC).

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Being in this role has been a massive learning curve for me. I have to ensure that preparations are made for liturgies such as daily Mass and morning or evening prayer. I prepare the missal for the celebrant at Mass and the lectionary for the lectors. Each week, I publish a timetable listing who is doing what at each liturgy. Additionally, I also list who the celebrant is and the deacons who will be assisting.

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Holy Week last month was a challenge for me, but with good advice from people in college and from friends at home, the liturgies ran smoothly. For some reason though, my idea of having a donkey for the Palm Sunday procession wasn’t approved - I can’t think why!

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As the seminary year has progressed, by carrying out my house job, I have learned a great deal about how the liturgical year continues. This is all part of my overall formation as a seminarian. This type of learning and formation is ‘hands-on’, rather than the other learning that is done in the classroom. During this month, I’m working with the liturgy team to prepare for the college’s Patronal Feast of Saint Bede on 25 May. We will have Mass followed by what is called a ‘festal meal’.

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Saint Bede, often known as the Venerable Bede, stands as one of the greatest scholars of the early Church in England and a figure of importance for Catholic life and learning. Born around 673 in Northumbria, he lived in monasteries in Jarrow, where he spent almost his entire life in prayer, writing and in studying the scriptures. The legacy of Saint Bede is not confined to the early medieval Church, but continues to shape priestly formation today here at the Beda College. Like Bede himself, the college is dedicated to the integration of prayer, study, and pastoral formation.

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St Bede, pray for us.

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Dominic