The Current

The School has been welcoming parents in a new way this year, from October 15-17, for a Virtual experience of Parents' Weekend, which includes receptions, teacher meetings, and other gatherings held through Zoom. For the monastic community, involved in the classroom, administration and operations, chaplaincy and liturgical life of the School, this marks an active weekend. The School has invited parents to "conference with your child’s teachers, meet fellow parents, gather information from various departments, and join us at the School Mass." Through these distanced events, parents have been welcomed to, "join us as we continue to strengthen and build our community until we can safely gather together on campus." The weekend Mass schedule will remain in place, as students remain on campus during this year's virtual gathering. Prior Michael Brunner celebrated the Confirmation Mass on October 15 with the 2019-2020 group (see the article below), while Abbot Matthew Stark serves as principal celebrant for the School Mass, divided over Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

On Sunday, October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis signed his most recent Encyclical Letter entitled: Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship. The title is taken from the "Admonitions" of St. Francis to “address his brothers and sisters and proposed to them a way of life marked by the flavour of the Gospel” (Par. 1). Join the Portsmouth Institute for"Towards Fraternity: Reflections on Fratelli Tutti" to critically engage the themes of the Encyclical and how they can by integrated into ordinary relationships and society at-large. Four panelists from various disciplines have been invited to participate in a discussion and examine the Encyclical in light of their respective fields. The panel features: Erika Bachiochi of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Louis Brown of the Christ Medicus Foundation, Kim Daniels from Georgetown University, and Timothy P. O'Malley from the University of Notre Dame. the discussion will be moderated by Elise Ureneck of the Catholic New Service. This exciting event will take place via Zoom on Thursday, November 12th at 7:00pm ET. 

SEE EVENT DETAILS AND REGISTER HERE TODAY!

Parent and Alumni Lecture: Dr. Steve Barr on “Science and Religion: The Myth of Conflict”
Time: 7:00 pm ET; Location: Zoom;
*Registration required
 

The 2020-2021 Science and Spirituality Lecture Series: On Creation and Contemplation is an initiative of the Portsmouth Institute’s Center for Science and the Liberal Arts, whose mission is to inspire the knowledge of and a sense of wonder towards God and the created order. The series is made possible by a generous grant from Marshall and Margherite McComb Foundation. The Center is co-sponsored by the Department of Science at Portsmouth Abbey School.

Prior Michael Brunner has accompanied last year's confirmandi class to the culmination of its 2019-2020 preparation, with the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday evening, October 15. The group had been preparing with Fr. Francis Hein during the last academic year when the emerging health crisis pushed the School suddenly into distance learning. With Fr. Francis now residing in St. Louis, Prior Michael completed the group's formation and preparation process, and is pleased to be able to at last celebrate the sacrament with them. While the group's non-faculty sponsors and families remain off campus, they are supported here by their Advisors and other faculty members. This mode of conferring the sacrament marks yet another first for the School, and a further example of the adaptation the pandemic has imposed upon liturgical life. A special celebratory meal was arranged for them in the dining hall after the Mass. Prior Michael is also in the midst of the preparation for the 2020-21 group, with plans still in place for their reception of the sacrament next spring. So, we ask doubly for your prayers of support, for those just having received their Confirmation, as for those now in preparation.

Read Prior Michael's Confirmation homily