Page 68 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2019

RATCLIFFE LINKS

THE ROSMINIAN ORDER & ROSMINI CENTRE:
AN UPDATE

The Rosmini Centre at Ratcliffe, based at the Old Farm House on the aerodrome, is now our English Irish Province novitiate, as well as
the Rosmini Prayer Centre. I am the novice master, and I am in charge overall at the Centre. Also in the community is Fr Ted Mullen (60),
who goes out daily to care for the local parish at Birstall’s St Theresa’s and Rothley’s Sacred Heart. Fr David Tobin (59) looks after and
arranges the programme and speakers for the Rosmini Prayer Centre. Fr Tony Furlong has retired for health reasons, but he formerly
taught at Ratcliffe before becoming involved with his parish work. Though retired, he is an important member of our community.
Fr Philip Sainter (69) is Father President of the College, and he effi ciently looks after the administration of our Rosmini Centre and the
care of the grounds. Br Nigel Cave (72), too, is a member of our community, and he lives in one of the cottages belonging to the trustees,
on the side of the Fosse by the College. Br Nigel does great work editing books on the First World War battlefi elds, leads tours there, and
has responsibility for our Province archives.

Br William Rees received the clerical cassock on 19th September, marking the completion of his fi rst year in the novitiate of the Institute
of Charity. He is a graduate from Dulwich College and a Classics scholar; he later qualifi ed in Law and, for some years, practised as a
barrister. In his second year with us, he will remain based at the Rosmini Centre, whilst going out on various pastoral placements to live
and grow in his vocation.
We have an Institute and Province project in the planning stage to convert what was formerly the Offi cers’ Mess and then milking
parlour of the aerodrome farm. Our plan is to house there our Rosmini Publications Centre, currently in Mansfi eld, as well as to provide
accommodation for our novitiate. This will release the present novitiate building for guest accommodation.

Frequent Rosminian visitors to the Centre are our brethren from Loughborough, Fr Paul Gilham and Fr Simon Giles (60); from Grace
Dieu, Fr Denis Labartette; and from Rugby, Fr Tom, Fr Shinto and Fr Jose (three of our Indian Rosminians working in Rugby), Fr John
Bland (53), Fr Charles Sormany (48), Fr John Buckner and Br Joseph Gardner.

Also resident in the parish in Rugby is our Father Provincial, Chris Fuse. Many of the brethren from Rugby come to the Rosmini Centre
on Monday evenings for fi sh and chips. Arrangements are also currently being made for Fr Denis Labartette to leave the Lodge at Grace
Dieu and take up residence in a semi-detached house at the College, which is the property of the trustees.
For more information about the Rosmini Prayer Centre, please visit our website, www.rosminicentre.co.uk.
Fr Anthony Meredith (57)

68 The Old Ratcliffi an 2019