Circular No 734

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 28 November 2015 No. 734

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Dear Friends,

I must comment that the following is an exercise from those that got mesmerized on the purest Catholic faith, as we got from our stay at The Abbey School, and those that are on the other extreme, non-believers to these ideas.

I am in the between group, because I have met many worshipers from other religions and tried to understand their beliefs.

My mother was a Calvinist, my father was Catholic, and in those days, 1941, the Catholic Church required that for them to marry the “disfaithful” had to sign a letter in which promised that the future children must take up the Catholic religion.

During my University time in the Catholic University of America, we had a course, in which a Catholic Jesuit Theologian with a Doctorate degree, give us a run down on the myths and fibulae of the Bible. He warned us that during the semester what we were to experience would be disconcerting but at the same time gratifying because he assured us that it would make us better functioning human beings.

And yes, he opened my eyes to the effect that when we finished, I was bewildered as to the future of my Catholic faith, he destroyed the foundations over which I truly believed that my faith was built upon.

I had to start rebuilding my Old Catholic faith to the New Catholic faith using the new information and tools. It was not difficult but it opened up new horizons and made me free to accept the teachings and accept other religions

Did this make me a BETTER Catholic of the purest form, NO, but it made me a more balanced individual.

I read books and participated in other religious faiths services, in all cases as an observer or a curious human, and this moulded my particular faith based on the Old Catholic faith. I have a modified faith under special rules, my motto “trying to help others as I would like others to help me”.

I did not want to write this, but I wanted you to know that I too have a special way of looking at religion or atheism. I also have arguments against atheism based on a simple mathematical assumption, zero just as infinity, do not exist. Either are extremes, zero is nothing ??  or it is an extremely small number??  Just as the other is an extremely large number.

Thus Atheism is a way of saying, “not being committed to a religion” and since religion is acknowledged then the atheist have something of a minimalistic religion, each to his own,

Ladislao

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PPS. Don,

I am disturbed that you continue in your rejection of one of the most important tenets of our Christian faith - belief in the Holy Spirit - and, it would seem, from your previous correspondence, belief in the entirety of the Christian faith. It would not be the first time, unfortunately, that someone who had received a Catholic education had rejected the teaching of the Church in which he/she had been baptized. I am very sorry to know this, and I shall keep you in my prayers. Perhaps others might like to join me in this little prayer time?

I believe that Jesus really died, after he had been brutally whipped, crowned with thorns, carried a heavy cross on his bleeding back, been nailed to the cross, hung for three hours and eventually expired through loss of blood and asphyxiation. I believe that he was truly buried in haste because of the imminent Sabbath hours. I believe that three days later, exactly as he had foretold, when the women who had accompanied him returned to his tomb to embalm his body and were wondering who would roll back the tombstone for them, they found it already rolled back and that Jesus’ body was no longer there, in spite of a Roman guard having been placed at the site, to prevent the possible theft of his body by his disciples.

Apart from his verbal claims, his teachings, his prophecies and his miracles, the fact of Jesus’ resurrection is the most important single proof of his claim to divinity. If Jesus had not been raised from the dead, then the faith of Christians is nonsense. He had predicted his death and resurrection, and this is extremely important, as you would be aware, in your professional capacity as a Magistrate.

I believe that Jesus appeared on a number of occasions to his disciples in his resurrected body, and on one occasion, to more than 500 people at the same time. I believe that Thomas, one of his disciples, refused to accept the thought of his resurrection when told about it by his friends, the rest of the group of apostles, unless he could put his fingers into the wounds of Jesus and into the hole in his side, caused by the thrust of a lance. I believe that Jesus immediately stood before him and invited him to do just that. I believe that Thomas was so overcome by this realization that a man who had died was alive and talking to him a few days after his death, that he confessed him to be “My Lord  and My God”.

I believe that God does not and cannot lie. He is diametrically opposed to sin, and therefore, if Jesus has told us about his Father and the Holy Spirit - “Go. Baptize in the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit” - then the Holy Spirit is a fact. The Holy Spirit lives and is continually active in the life of the Church and of the world.

Your friend.

Nigel

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From: Don Mitchell

There isn’t any holy spirit, George, that is just a silly myth.  

In my case, there is only someone with an obsessive personality who decides to obsess over the Circular like Ladislao does. I don’t know any of the younger generation who has any interest in this exercise. But, perhaps Kazim or Glen does.

Keep well.

Don

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Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>

Nov 30 at 3:22 PM

Hi, Ladislao,

The guys seem to think that you have given up.

What would you like me to do about the two latest Circulars that are awaiting your correction before they can be put up on the Blog?

Keep well.

Don

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Glen Mckoy <mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>

Nov 30 at 2:44 PM

Dear Sirs, 

Thank you all for your honest replies. I too have my beliefs; however our beliefs should be our personal business and shared with those that share same. We are the alumni of a Catholic school; however we are not a church.    Our members share equal status and respect despite what their beliefs; we had Hindus, Muslims a couple of Jews. Atheist & Christians students.

Should any of us have personal opinions, we should be very careful of the impact, it can have on our group.

Now with Transfer of Responsibility.   Please put me down to take it over, if no one step up to the plate.

I have a very busy life, however, I will try to do what I can. I will try to find others to help as we have many brothers that matter, we are not looking for numbers, we are looking for the best, in honour, loyalty and connection, if you not connected with us and it’s your choice to be out of the loop. We have a wonderful group of very interesting brothers. Some of us are happy with how things are shaping out, even if it’s just saying hello to a buddy on the other side of the world, but thru our media networks this is possible.

I am surprise that some of our most embarrassing situations, were by boys that are now over 65 years old.

Now some of the worst disagreement are from some our most educated & senior brothers.  I don't know why this is how it is, may be because they were the boys that were flogged, they have more resentment, still carrying old grudges, anyhow none of this will be tolerated and all such emails will be deleted. We are gentlemen and we demand the upmost respect of each other, I don't care who you are, the Club comes first, your opinion 2nd. This is what baffles me, we have about four brothers over 80 yrs old, just love what's going on, then we have guys in their early 70's saying, we don't have an Alumni, well we at the Club, do pay attention to our numbers which is over 111 connected member, and that's only face book. 

Wishing all a wonderful day, thank you for just being here, the fire is still burning strong,  Long Live The Mount.

Best Regards To All Knights - we are looking only for a few good men,

Adios, Glen.  

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Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>

Nov 16 at 5:14 PM

Hello, Nigel,

No, I don’t think there is anything about religion that I fear. Obeah is based on no truth at all, and is complete stupidness.  Its believers and their rituals are entitled to the same respect as the believers and rituals of any other faith, ie, none. 

Prayer has been proved to be very effective. It works by acting on the brain, and stimulating the body’s auto immune mechanisms into play. Prayer is wonderful, for believers. So are the placebo tablets handed out by doctors, and the homeopathic potions handed out by quacks to their faithful. None of it is based on science, and is therefore worthless to those who are not filled with the necessary faith.

Keep well.

Don

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Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>

Nov 13 at 1:13 PM

Hi, Nigel,

I don’t like it when anyone tries to put obeah on me. It is some sort of violent reaction. I don’t know. I must be sensitive to superstition, I suppose.

Keep well.

Don

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Jon Golding <jon@goldings.net>

Nov 13 at 4:56 PM

Don

I think out of respect for the majority, if not all, of the other members of this virtual club of old boys, you should keep your disbeliefs to yourself or on another blog.  

I know you and your wife have been professed atheists for many years.

But we who continue to keep in touch, and cherish the memories of our growing up days at MSB, (and thanks Joe for the great photo), would like to maintain out ‘faith’ in brotherhood and forgiveness for all the shit and shitongs we had to put up with on the mount for so many years; and not getting any parenting love from the monks (thank God for that by the way!!!).

Boarding school was really where we were sentenced by our parents. But most of us not only survived but grew up as strong-character young men which is what had made us who we are today. And the peer to peer evaluations we make on one another, through blogs like this one, are where humility, generosity and honour are shared and respected.

We all have egos and like to show off from time to time but when the chips are down are we really buddies who any of us can rely on?

Sad to hear about Laz and the Benny Whaler disaster but we must offer a hand to our devoted brother and help him in any way we can.

Any suggestions?

So if you want to profess you un-faith then do so among your like-minded friends and family but please leave it out of our commentary.

I meant to write tis note to you a long time ago. But today I’ve has enough and I know I speak for many who prefer not to articulate their feelings.

Don, I really love you as a Special Bro’ and we cannot escape our bonded relationship of well over half a century! No matter how angry or disappointed we may become with each other.

And I feel the same way with so many who are in this circle who were part of my growing up on the hill!

I believe we are all going to meet up again in the next life and I look forward to that very much.

As a terminal cancer temporary survivor I have made my peace with the Good Lord and thank Him (and the Holy Spirit) every day for the answer to trivial daily prayers I make which continue to amaze me at how they are answered. These are no ‘coincidences’ since they are far too many to count over the past 5 years when I went under the knife!

Do forgive me if I pray for your restoration to our family of faith. Something pretty bad must have caused your turnaround but it ain’t over yet.

God bless you and I know we will meet up again in eternity.

Warm regards

Jon

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From: Joseph Berment-McDowald [mailto:bermentmcdowald@yahoo.com]

Sent: 13 November 2015 18:00

I thought that you would have some interest in this exchange of correspondence.

Sincerely

Joe

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On Nov 13, 2015, at 8:50 AM,

GEORGE MICKIEWICZ <amickiew@att.net> wrote:

Hi Guys

Have been reflecting on Don’s note while waiting for a potential reply from Ladislao.

My suggestion is that we need to transition to a new owner of the Circulars, or whatever is deemed to be the most valued communication mode, while the major original creators/leaders/supporters are still around to assist in the transition (Ladislao, Don, Nigel, etc.). my believe that this transition would be appreciated and valued by the original creators.

Ideally, new owner would be a member of the last graduating class or so……highest probability of being alive for the next few decades…..but has to have love, value, pride for the Abbey School and all who walked in that beautiful mountain environment.

My simple thoughts after reading the tea leaves and recognizing where we are today versus 15 years ago when this tremendous effort was initiated.

May the Holy Spirit inspire and guide our alumni group in this resolution,

George 

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Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>

Nov 13 at 9:27 PM

Hi, Jon,

Good to hear from you, as always. 

The only appropriate response is the one I gave Nigel earlier, but which is not in Joe’s circular. It is:

I don’t like it when anyone tries to put obeah on me.  It is some sort of violent reaction.  I don’t know.  I must be sensitive to superstition, I suppose.

Keep well.

Don

Please, George,  don’t include me in any future obeah incantations.

Don

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GEORGE MICKIEWICZ <amickiew@att.net>

Nov 15 at 7:22 AM

Hey Don

I did not know what “obeah” meant, so I google it:

Obeah (sometimes spelled Obi, Obea, or Obia), is a term used in the West Indies to refer to folk magic, sorcery, and religious practices developed among West African slaves, specifically of Igbo origin. Obeah is similar to other Afro-American religions including Palo, Vodou, Santería, and Hoodoo

Am I to interpret that these are your spiritual related beliefs and practices today?

Not trying to “convert” you……Just trying to understand where you are coming from, my good brother,

George

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz

Send information to: kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include.

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Photos:

Bandit p58x p59 The Early Times

12NB4754AJAXREUNION,

13LK6983FBPKEFAM, Pablo Kecskemeti and Family

72HH0889HHO, Howard Ho