Province Day 2009

Christmas, it is said, is a time for family. It's not often that the brothers of the English Province manage to come together as one family, but each year we try to do so around Christmas at a Province Day. We last met on 16 December 2009 in St Dominic's Priory, London, for prayer, recreation and reflection.

Bishop Malcolm McMahon OP, Bishop of Nottingham, joined us for the day and talked to us about his life as a bishop and also as a Dominican. Other talks were given by various brothers about developments at Blackfriars Hall, the challenges of the credit crunch, and our involvement in the international community in Brussels. After a period of silent prayer together in the priory church, the day closed with solemn Vespers during which fr Nicholas Crowe OP was instituted as a Lector.

Below are photos from the day:

Bishop Malcolm McMahon sharing his reflection on the episcopal ministry with his Dominican brothers

fr Benjamin Earl OP, Provincial Bursar, gives the brethren an overview of the financial health of the Province

"The Cambridge Boys": some of the brothers of the Province who are graduates of Cambridge University.

Lunch and coffee breaks are a time to catch up informally

The first snowfall of the season lent a festive mood to the day!

Brothers in choir during solemn Vespers

fr Nicholas Crowe OP is given a copy of the Scriptures as a symbol of the Word which he is instituted to proclaim in the Liturgy and to reflect in his life

The High Altar is reverenced with incense as the Magnificat is sung