Saturday, 17 August 2019

Circular No 928







Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 17 of August 2019 No. 928
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Dear friends,
This one is about the following words, RE: THEN
Some years back we tried to help out with the technicalities that have affected the economics of the Mount St. Benedict structure.
As you read along you will find interesting facts and may even have new ideas.
But those that spent time in reunions with the Abbot etc. forgot about the executive committee that rules all business and charity of the Monastery.
The members of this learned group are in charge of all decision making.
Even those contracts that are economically unfavourable.
So, read on.
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3/08/12
glenmckoy
Dear Brothers,
The Circle has made a decision, to give up on this cause; no actions must be taken, at this point without permission.
If acting on behalf of the general alumni, both Ladislao and Nigel must agree after consulting with a few other founding members in order to do anything that could jeopardise the entire alumni.   
The silence we already have, we cherish.
All ideas have been noted, and will be taken into consideration, our elders know what is going on, and we do belong to a true Club, with true Order. 
Our Elders are the Voice of the Alumni, what can I say.
This is the Club, and the vote is no, it’s out of our hands.  
All letters that were exchanged must be kept in this circle, and respect as a Knight of course.
When Ladislao has ascertained enough on same, we may read what the result of our study, concluded.
Thanking all for their full support on this matter, the time it took to write these arguments, opinions and suggestions.
It gives me no pleasure in sending this email, all my bags are packed, I'm ready to go, because I'm leaving on a jet plane, do you think I really want to say good bye to the Castle.
No, but I have to......
GoodBye...Glen McKoy.

Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 11:27:48 -0500
From: oscar_cantore@aincosa.com
Glen,
I appreciate your sincerity, but as a member of the MSB Knighthood, I believe we should approach the subject a different way, since the approach via the Abbot has not delivered a positive answer.
Let’s find out who the head honcho is, his address etc let us write him a letter in the name of the Old students and present him with the offer or letter of intent, they might answer positively and say that someone will be coming for the celebrations and he might have the authority to discuss the matter, what is there to lose?
We might get a surprise.
We are not investing but a little time and effort, maybe Fr. Cuthbert can give us a lead in finding out who to contact.
Saludos
Oscar
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2012/3/8
Glen Mckoy<mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>
Shaun & Oscar,
A guy is coming from Ireland sometime this year to plan the celebration,  a dialogue could be opened now, with an appointment booked when he comes, nothing to lose, so this is a choice, he may even want to sell the whole thing, which may be costing them, to up keep.
I understand exactly how you guys feel, so do what you must.
Best regards
Glen
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From: sgianetti@mac.com
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 09:36:17 -0400
I agree with Oscar
Alternatively, when Jon approached the Abbot, maybe the monks hadn't reached the peak of desperation yet.
Timing is everything.
A lot of time has passed since.
Shaun Gianetti
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On Mar 8, 2012, at 8:58 AM,
Oscar Cantore wrote:
I say we must go on and get hold in Ireland the head of the order and propose to them the rescue plan.
Maybe the Abbot never talked to the head honcho about it.
My impression!
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El 03/08/2012, a las 06:22,
"A Mickiewicz" <amickiew@att.net> escribió:
Agree
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From:Nigel Boos
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2012 10:23 PM
Wow !!
This sure puts things in a different light, doesn't it, fellas?
When you explain the painstaking work you and great minds like Brian Lewis, Brendan Garcia, Carl Hudson-Phillips et al have already put into the concept of restoring even a part of the Abbey School buildings or grounds,
I realize that the idea must all be a pipe dream, one destined to live only in the never never land of our collective imagination.
This is very sad, indeed, but I can appreciate the frustration you have endured with the seeming lack of any will on the part of Abbot Pereira to cooperate with us on this interesting proposal.
I've had something similar happen to me, in that the Abbot is yet to respond to a letter I wrote to him since January offering the assistance of the Old Boys in various ways during the 100th Anniversary celebrations of MSB due to take place this year (2012).
Laz, in light of the rather numbing report sent by Jon, it would appear that we aren't going to get very far with the Abbot, and you would be entirely within your right to decline the confidence reposed in you to represent the Old Boys in a presentation to him.
Thank you, Jon, for your input and for injecting a strong dose of reality into our discussion.
Gentlemen, we aren't all in the same room, to be able to vote, but if we were, I guess I'd have to recognize Jon's input as a damning indictment of the MSB authority, and as such, I see no real purpose in continuing this discussion any longer.
How say you?
Nigel
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On 2012-03-07, at 10:09 AM,
Jon Golding wrote:
I do not want to pour any cold water on this hot topic but let me add my two cents to give you a more informed reading on the situation.
When I went back to TT in 2002 (for 8 years) before heading back to UK for family reasons, I too have a similar wish to see revival in the old school if only for the vain hope that one’s kids or grandkids could follow in our paths and get educated there.
I did quite a bit of private canvassing among the old boys from my era (1955 – 1961: same time as Nigel and Ladislao).
I got mixed reactions! 
Some of the guys just did not want to know.
They still carried bad memories of their years on the hill of the only school in TT which was run seriously like an institution (ie no go home time – one mid term let out for one weekend).
The ones who were lucky to have brothers (like Nigel and myself) were not as affected since we had at least one ‘friend’ when things got tough with the ‘Anglo vs Panyol’ culture that was always there.
The only thing that bridged this gap and created some cross-culture friendships was team sport and the Scouts and the Scout band which Nigel and I belonged to for the duration.
The only exception was the Syrian crowd who stuck together as they do and became the only significant clique. 
Reason was their fathers all knew one another and did business together so it was the only ‘family’ within the group.
The boys from BG stuck together as did the St Lucians.
The only sane group (as become evident years later) were the day boys.
They could go home in the late afternoon and chill out at home with Mum cooking a nice dinner while we had to digest a bland fixed menu – take it or leave it!
So it was luck of the draw, especially for the less tough kids who found themselves solo and either grew up and learned from the experience or, as many did, left the school after 1-2 years.
I suspect the die-hards who are on this mailing list are the long term inmates who got through the first 3-4 years. 
After that you were well seasoned and mature individuals who could hold you own anywhere in the world.
That was the real ‘graduation’ from the Mount!
Those who I reconnected with who complained and bitched were either part of the problem or could not take the pressure of ‘graduating’!
OK, so I found some supporters for taking an interest, I visited the Mount a few times, spoke to Fr Cuthbert, Fr Augustine, Fr Benedict, Bro Vincent and the new young Abbot, a totally different culture from the real Fr Abbot, Adelbert Van Duin!!
I took my kids up the bush track to the ‘Reservoir’ which was nothing to see anymore.
I also saw but did not go into the gated compound which was now a half derelict rehab centre and the refectory Building was being rented by some commercial guy in PoS who was ripping them off with low rent and late payments.
I formed an unofficial committee with another old boy, top architect, Brian Lewis, Fr Benedict, Bro something (can’t remember name) and my CIC lawyer friend Brien De Gannes and another CIC friend who’d been doing more for the Mount and Monastery than any of our old boys, Brendon Garcia.
Fr Abbot sat in to most of the 4 or so meetings we have and I even wrote up and circulated minutes.
We discussed the many problems they were having like squatters all over the lower area by the field where we used to go up the track and go swimming where Daniel de Verteuil cracked open his head (badly but not fatally) diving into the natural pool in the river stream.
Brian gave them some good legal advice and J D Sellier (His firm ) took action and got results eventually but not totally.
Next was the couple who did a deal with the Abbot to live in the flat above the Holy Shop (next to the Monastey Church). 
These shrewd buggers also ran the shop
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3/08/12
 Jon Golding
Guys
As you can see from my account, I have probably spent more time, effort and own money without looking for headlines than anyone on this circulation list. 
So I wish to pass on what I truly see it to be.
Therefore, I would advise against any knee jerk, tear jerk or uninformed actions being taken -  however well-intentioned -  since it will only reduce the credibility of whatever is left of the old boys (Active) circle.
The reality 4-5 years ago was (which is even more real now) that MSB had become a retirement community for retired monks, retired loyal staff of semi –retired monks.
These people had nowhere to go and the policy was clearly to house and care for them until time to go Upstairs.
The retired ones that I knew from the old days who I was surprised to see when I returned to TT on 2002 – 38 years after I’d left, were: 
Fr Benedict, Fr Augustine, Bro Joseph, Bro Ignatius and other oldies I met in their private refectory when invited to lunch and three well known ones whose names I cannot place right now.
The semi-retired ones were Fr Cuthbert and Bro Rupert. 
They all lived in the 50% empty monastery building above to the Church. 
There were very few new Brothers in residence and no new priests except Abbot Pereira.
The ex staff I knew well were, Kitty Marcus and Miss ??? Chinese lady refectory manager whose name escapes me now (getting old like them).
When I was there Bro Ignatius (Swa!!) died and Kitty passed away last year.
2 down, about 6 to go.
The Abbot admitted to me that most of the monks and all ex staff were totally retired and simply marking time to when they would leave for a better place so if you count the actual number of working monks you’d be lucky to get them on one hand!!!
Compare that with the 150 or more that were active in our day.
Bottom line, in my view, is that when they do not have enough religious Benedictines to sustain the place and manage the support staff (for what, I ask you?)
The Irish Board of Trustees (not any one individual in Ireland or Rome ) will make the decision to sell of the excess land and facilities including the sports field and pool as well as the old school, scout hut and refectory to the Trinidad government or maybe the Catholic Church in TT (and many of us know the Archbishop who lives in a luxurious Palace next to the Prime Minister’s Office on the Savannah).
It would make sense to take the proceeds and set up a TT-based trust fund which would include trustees from the Catholic Church in TT.
The money or income from that endowment could then be used to support the Church and Holy Shop and cemetery which they would never allow to be shut down.
They might even support a small MSB Museum which is already there in basic form to continue the legacy of the original Benedictine Fathers who fled to TT from South America and set up the monastery.
One thing they would not do is continue to own the school, related buildings and the ex chicken and timber warehouse which I think they sold or leased to build a HIV care home.
HIV is not the problem it used to be with medical advances so long term care is not needed as much. 
So that facility may be obsolete in 5 years. 
The Irish Trustees would not want to try to oversee the rehab and HIV place etc without a strong staff team in TT so they will be sold off in my view. 
Sorry guys, but that is where I see the school ending up. 
The buyers MAY be interested in doing a school again but it would be a mammoth task of organisation, teacher and pupil staffing as well as managing sports and kids security.
Forget it!!
These are just no-brainer decisions that would most likely be made as soon as it was appropriate to give the last rites to the final survivors from the old days. 
I give it no more than 3-5 years when that generation will be gone to a better place.
There is no way I can see the Irish Board of Trustees disturbing the status quo as long as these old timers are living out their last days.
The Abbot will be moved on, like the last one, and local priests will take over the Church as it becomes a new Parish Church, no longer a monastery church.
The monastery building will become a retreat centre which it is fully equipped for already with kitchen and good residential facilities in solid brick condition built by the monks and good to last for another 100 years.
The rest of the buildings including the yoghurt factory will be demolished and made into a car park for large scale retreats and Catholic conferences.
Let me not go any further except to say that for a meek nostalgic attempt by a few old boys who do not have several million US$s at their disposal to try to alter the destiny I see above would be academically interesting and amusing but very expensive on time.
So I hang my hat now. 
I have contributed the best of my knowledge and experience that I see on this topic in good faith but that’s as far as I have the time to go.
I wish it as not this way but we need to be realistic and not get mature people running down blind alleys.
Best wishes and an extended hand of friendship to all concerned.
Jon 
BOWING OUT....‏
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3/08/12
A Mickiewicz
Hi Folks
I am bowing out based on my respect and value for my friend Jon’s assessment (Know Jon as I was at Mount ‘56-‘62). 
His sharing is based on what he personally experienced while in T 2002-2010. 
This is just a few years ago; doubt very much that any significant changes or positions have taken place since then. 
I wish y’all who continue the journey my very best and I will pray for God to guide you.......God bless y’all, all MSB boys and the priests who were there yesterday and are there today, 
George (Shis)
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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list it is a question of subscribing to receive one year’s worth, for 52 USD. Inquire to how you can contribute.
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Photos:
09GI0005SCOUTBADGE, by George Iwaskiewicz
05LK0012ESD, Eugenio Sol
06LK0104FBMSOGRP, Matthew Sorano and Marion Morris
18UN0123DALGRP, Damian Ali, Christopher Whiteman and Dexter Barnes





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