The Team
The UK Oblates Team are a small group of volunteer oblates from various monasteries who, since the first World Oblates Congress in 2005, have formed a team to act as a conduit for information for oblates and thus established this website for oblates and monastic communities, who may wish to make use thereof. We want to provide information about oblates and for oblates, and about the different Benedictine monastic communities that exist in Great Britain and Ireland.
Chair: Neil Zoladkiewicz (Ealing)
Treasurer: Roddy Maddocks (Douai)
Secretary: Penelope Coate (Pluscarden)
UK National Coordinator for International Congress: Neil Zoladkiewicz (Ealing)
Website Manager: Carol Colbourne (Stanbrook)
Monastic Advisor: Fr Mark Hargreaves (Prinknash)
Oblate Team Members: Marie Liveing (St Cecilia’s), Thomas Brunnhuber (Douai), Klara Brunnhuber (Douai), John McKinlay (Pluscarden), Stephen Day (Prinknash), Angela Greenwood (WCCM), Jane Coll (Pluscarden), Katherine Turley (St. Cecilia’s), Pam Morey (Prinknash), Frances Bailess(Minster), Audrey O’Sullivan (Glenstal).
To see a full list of the team click here.
Would you like to help other Oblates?
Here are three ways you could help:
- SUPPORT an oblate with a gift towards expenses to help them attend the ANNUAL RETREAT
- SUPPORT an oblate by contributing to a SCHOLARSHIP FUND for the next OBLATE CONGRESS in 2023 to help Oblates from poorer countries to attend.
- SUPPORT our UK OBLATE NETWORK by a gift towards the upkeep and running of our website and the UK Oblate Team admin costs.
All team members are self-supporting and seldom seek reimbursement for expenses towards telephone calls, stationary etc, but any assistance you are able to give towards the ongoing expenses of updating the website will be very gratefully received.
Donations can be made by cheque payable to ‘UK Oblates Team’ and sent to the treasurer: Neil Zoladkiewicz, 24 Virginia Close, New Malden, Surrey KT3 3RB.
Alternatively, a credit transfer can be made to our account: Sort Code 08-92-99; Account No 65302976 with a supporting e mail to Neil Zoladkiewicz at
nzolad53@gmail.com
TEAM MEETING: SATURDAY OCTOBER 4TH 2025
AT EALING ABBEY LONDON W5
A NEW DEPARTURE!
The latest UK Oblates Team Meeting took place at Ealing Abbey in West London and presented a new departure for the Team as we had our first ‘hybrid’ meeting. Eight members of the Team took part in person, while nine others took part digitally via zoom audio. The arrangement proved successful and will be repeated at our next ‘in person’ meeting in March 2026.
Currently nine monastic communities from around the UK as well as WCCM are represented on the Team and it is hoped that three more will be represented in the coming year.
The online Advent retreat on November 29, led by Fr Mark Hargreaves (Prinknash), has currently 19 delegates and booking is still open. Plans for the annual residential retreat next year are under way and it will take place at Buckfast Abbey from 19-21 May and led by Abbot Xavier Perrin (Quarr).
Neil, our Chairperson, has been invited to join the steering group to plan next year’s St Benedict’s Week events (12-19 July), organised by the Lay Community of St Benedict, which is linked to Worth Abbey. On July 18, there will be a study day, ‘Living by a Rule’, at Norwich Anglican Cathedral with a panel of guest speakers and on 17th July there will be an opportunity to visit a new exhibition, ‘The Rule – Shaping Lives Ancient and Modern’, at the University of East Anglia.
It is hoped that there will be another online retreat in Lent, based on the Study Day in St Benedict’s Week last July and hopefully led by our new Abbot Primate, Jeremias Schroder.
He has announced in his latest newsletter from Sant Anselmo that another World Congress for Oblates will take place in Rome in the future.
Through Fr Mark, closer links have been established between the Team and (currently 15) Oblate Directors. Neil will attend their next online meeting on October 20th.
Finally, there was much discussion regarding compliance with GDPR regulations. It was decided that a simple declaration for online and residential retreat delegates and for Team members will be devised.
UK OBLATES TEAM MEETING MARCH 2025
The photo shows: (L-R) Neil, Pam, Marie, Stephen, Fr Mark, Penelope
Members of the UK Oblates Team met at Brownshill Monastery on Saturday March 22 2025 and were made very welcome by the Cistercian nuns.
The May residential retreat at Douai Abbey and led by Bishop Richard Moth is now full. An online Day of Recollection is planned for November 29.
Much discussion went into revising our website and in particular the “Monasteries’ section so that enquirers have up to date contacts. The section is now updated after liaising with as many monasteries as possible. This has been facilitated by an ongoing initiative to develop closer links with oblate directors, which was also discussed.
A “What’s new?” section was proposed as part of the front page, for book reviews, podcasts, TV programmes, exhibitions, etc, which might be of interest to oblates and also a monthly book review.
UK OBLATES ONLINE ZOOM MEETING JANUARY 2025
At the meeting via zoom on January 11 2025, the Team welcomed Neil Zoladkiewicz (Ealing) as the new Chair and Roddy Maddocks (Douai) as the new Treasurer. They also thanked Frances Bailess for her hard work as chair since 2017 and previously as Secretary and Treasurer. Frances will continue to answer website enquiries.
In his remarks of welcome Neil suggested that the role of the Team was to bring oblates from around the UK together via the website and residential and online retreats; to bring UK oblates together to attend the Oblate Congresses in Rome and to connect potential oblates with monasteries.
Following on from this Fr Mark Hargreaves (Prinknash) announced that there would finally be an online meeting of Oblate Directors on 1st February. It is hoped that eventually the Team will meet with some Oblate Directors in the future.
The Team are very much looking forward to the residential retreat on May 13-15 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the UK Oblates Team and led by Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton, who is himself an oblate (Pluscarden) and was instrumental in setting up the Team after the 2005 Rome Congress.
The Team will next meet in person at Brownshill in March.
UK OBLATES TEAM MEETING SEPTEMBER 2024
Saturday, 28 September 2024. Ten members attended morning Mass then a meeting at Ealing Abbey, kindly hosted by Oblate Director Fr Timothy. Fr Mark Hargreaves, Oblate Director of Prinknash, was welcomed back to the Team as monastic representative. Plans for an Advent day of reflection and next residential retreat were discussed. The next meeting is planned for 11 January 2025, to be kindly hosted by Neil on Zoom.
UK OBLATES ONLINE ZOOM MEETING APRIL 2024
Saturday, 13 April 2024. Nine members attended an online team meeting, kindly hosted by Neil.
One feature was the discussion of the ideas emanating from the 5th International Benedictine Oblate Congress in Rome, held in September 2023. The next meeting was planned for September 2024.
UK Oblates Online zoom meeting January 2024
Saturday, 13 January 2024, a team meeting was held on Zoom, attended by 10 members and one guest. An online day of reflection is planned for Saturday, 23 March 2024, led by Fr Chad of Ampleforth, as a spin-off from the International Congress. This will be advertised on the website. Plans are underway to hold the the next Residential Retreat at Ampleforth Abbey from 10-12 May 2024. Fees were agreed upon and details will follow. The website editor would like to step down and he provided a spreadsheet of tasks that need to be undertaken to update the website. Discussion followed about recruiting experienced people to carry this forward.
UK Oblates Online team meeting September 2023
On Saturday, 30 September 2023, a team meeting was held on Zoom attended by 8 members. There was lively feedback from the recent 5th International Benedictine Oblates Congress, held at Sant’Anselmo Abbey in Rome. There are transcripts of the major talks on this website (Congress page). It was agreed that the 2024 Residential Retreat would be held either in the Midlands or the North of England. One member will investigate and report back. The UKOT website has a backlog of technical issues needing attention. Content is to be put on hold until they are resolved.
UK Oblates Online TEAM MEETINGS
The Team started meeting online in 2020 due to Covid restrictions and has continued meeting online; most recently on the 14th January and 20th May 2023.
UK Oblates TEAM MEETING February 2020
The photo shows: (L-R) Thomas, Stephen, Angela, Neil, Frances, John, Klara
On 22 February 2020, seven members of the Team met at Ealing Abbey, with hospitality kindly organised by the Oblate Director, Father Timothy. Discussion included a review of the 9th Retreat, held at Belmont Abbey in October 2019, followed by plans for the next two retreats, and the 2021 World Congress in Rome. Nigel Spencer has stepped down from the Team and our thanks go to him for his role as secretary. Likewise, Pam Morey, a founder member of UKOT with 13 years of exemplary service, has stepped down. Flowers were sent to her by the Team.
The next Team meeting is planned for 29th July 2020 at Prinknash Abbey.
UK Oblates TEAM MEETING July 2019
The photo shows: (L-R) Nigel, Fr Stephen, Sr Benedict, Stephen, Pam, Neil, Frances
Seven Team members met at Prinknash Abbey and enjoyed the kind hospitality of the Community. With some members staying overnight at either Prinknash or Brownshill, a decisive meeting ensued, covering finance, the website and retreat planning to 2021. The next Team meeting is planned for February 2020 at Ealing Abbey.
UK Oblates TEAM MEETING March 2019
The photo shows: Back row Marie; Front row (L-R) Neil, Angela, Frances, Stephen, Pam, Roddy
Seven Team members met at Douai Abbey, three having enjoyed the peace of a monastic evening the night before, and early Mass with the Community. A range of subjects was discussed, including suggestions for the website, an update on the 5th World Congress 2021, planning details for the 9th National Retreat, 14-16th October 2019 at Belmont Abbey, and the 10th National Retreat, 2-4 October 2020 at Douai Abbey. There was time to speak to some members of the Community, including Father Gervase Holdaway, Director of Douai Oblates. The next Team meeting is planned for 6 July 2019 at Prinknash Abbey.
UK Oblates TEAM MEETING November 2018
The photo shows: Back row (L-R) Marie, Kitty, Stephen Front row (L-R) Pam, Neil, Angela, Frances
Eight Team members and a guest met at Ealing Abbey, thanks to the kind hospitality of the Community. Following Terce and Mass, a fruitful meeting ensued. Klara Brunnhuber gave a fine presentation of the recent meeting of Benedictine oblate volunteers in Rome, to initiate the planning of the 5th World Congress of Benedictine Oblates 2021. The next Team meeting is planned for March 2019 at Douai Abbey.
UK Oblates TEAM MEETING June 2018
The photo shows, from left to right, Stephen Day, (Prinknash); John McKinlay, (Pluscarden); Pam Morey, (Prinknash); Father Stephen, (Prinknash); Neil Zoladkiewicz, (Ealing); Frances Bailess, (Minster).
Six team members met at Prinknash Abbey and extend gratitude for the kind hospitality provided. The day started with Mass, kindly offered by Father Stephen, and continued with the meeting covering a variety of subjects including the website and forthcoming retreats. The next meeting is planned for November 2018, at Ealing Abbey
UK Oblates TEAM MEETING March 2018
The picture shows, from left to right Neil Zoladkiewicz (Ealing), Pam Morey (Prinknash), Klara Brunnhuber (Douai), Sister Benedict Gaughan (Minster), John McKinlay (Pluscarden), Frances Bailess (Minster), Nigel Spencer (Douai), Thomas Brunnhuber (Douai).
The team met at Minster Abbey where it enjoyed Benedictine hospitality provided by Sister Benedict, Oblate Director, and the Community, to whom our gratitude is due. Eight members attended, with some staying overnight, attending Mass and the Divine Office.We shall miss Fr Mark Hargreaves who has stepped down. Our thanks to Nigel Spencer who was elected as secretary and to Neil Zoladkiewicx who became treasurer. Klara Brunnhuber brought us up to date on the Oblate Vision following the
4th World Congress of Benedictine Oblates. A range of topics was discussed including fund-raising and the forthcoming 8th National Retreat at Mount St Bernard’s Abbey. We expect to meet again in June 2018.
UK TEAM NOVEMBER 2017
The picture shows, from Left to Right : Roddy Maddocks (Douai); Stephen Day (Prinknash); Klara and Thomas Brunnhuber (Douai); Marie Living (St Cecilia’s, Isle of Wight); Pam Morey (Prinknash); Neil Zoladkiewicz (Ealing); Eileen Dutt (WCCM); Frances Bailess (Minster); Sr Benedict Gaughan (Minster) had to leave early to catch a train.
This was the first meeting of the Team since the 4th International Congress in Rome at the beginning of November. Ealing Abbey again offered us their hospitality and ten members were present together with Fr Timothy Gorham, their oblate master.
Following the Congress three new oblates have joined the Team – Neil Zoladkiewicz, an Ealing oblate, and Madelaine Lee and Nigel Spencer both Douai oblates. Neil was present at the meeting and was duly introduced to those members of the Team who had not been at the Congress.
Klara and Thomas gave a very detailed report on the Congress and the Team expressed their deep gratitude to them both for their commitment and dedication which had ensured that the Congress not only ran smoothly but was enjoyed by all who were there.
After some seven years at the helm Pam has stepped down as Chair and Frances has kindly agreed to take over the reins. The Team thanked Pam for all she had done over the years and Frances will receive their support as the UKOT and the Benedictine communities move forward into the future.
Our next meeting is planned for March.
UK TEAM Following the Congress
Seven members of the Team enjoyed the 4th International Congress in Rome 4-10 November 2017 – it is such a wonderful occasion when we are able to meet up with fellow oblates from all around the world. We have been truly blessed.
When attending each Congress we are always on the look out for new members to join the Team and this Congress was no exception. Eileen Dutt, who represents WCCM, is looking to step down from her membership of the Team, and we are hoping that another oblate from the WCCM will shortly be joining us.
We are delighted to welcome three new members to the Team – Nigel Spencer and Madelaine Lee from Douai Abbey, and Neil Zoladkiewicz from Ealing Abbey.
We will be meeting before the end of the month when Frances Bailess will be taking over from Pam Morey as Chair of UKOT.
The Keynote speaker at this Congress was Sr Joan Chittister OSB, and her talk is accessible here for those who wish.
