Yahoo News Herefordshire parish priest elected to top role
The Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey have elected Father Brendan Thomas to be their 12th abbot for a term of eight years.
Born in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales in 1964, Fr. Brendan was educated at Belmont Abbey School, and was once a monk at Belmont Abbey for over 35 years. Before his election as abbot on June 4, Fr. Brendan was parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church on Broad Street in the city centre.
The abbot very much enjoyed caring for a large, vibrant and diverse parish, saying how “honoured” he was “to be elected abbot by my community and given the trust to lead them.
“I will really miss the people of our parish and school as well as the close relationship we have had with Hereford Cathedral," he said.
"However, my new role as abbot means I now have overall care of our parishes in Herefordshire and beyond, so I look forward to maintaining and building on friendships made over the years".
Belmont Abbey, home to some 30 monks, was founded in 1859 and follows the rule of St Benedict. The monks are involved in the pastoral care of parishes throughout Herefordshire, and one of Abbot Brendan’s very first tasks in his new role was to open the annual Belmont Abbey Fete.
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“An essential element of our life at Belmont is hospitality, and one of the first projects we hope to complete is opening a new guest house in autumn 2024. Many people like to visit our monastery as a place of quiet and reflection,” said Fr. Brendan.
Fr. Brendan will be formally blessed as an abbot on Friday, July 12 by The Archbishop of Cardiff, Most Rev. Mark O'Toole
Via the Archdiocese of Cardiff website, the archbishop offered his “warmest congratulations to Dom Brendan Thomas on his election.
“Dom Brendan brings many gifts, great faith and spiritual depth, as well as a generous and warm priestly heart to his new responsibilities. He can be assured of the prayers of all of us across South Wales and Herefordshire,” said the archbishop.
