News

On Wednesday 31st January, all those involved with the academic life of Allen Hall met to discuss the intellectual life of the seminary and there was then a dinner to thank them for their contribution to the intellectual formation of the seminarians. You can read more about the role of intellectual formation here.

The seminarians returned from the Christmas break in time for second Evening Prayer of the Epiphany, during which chalk was blessed. The seminary door is inscribed with the calendar year and ‘C+M+B’ remembering Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, the three Magi who sought and worshipped the infant Jesus. We return for a fortnight of exams before […]

The seminarians of Allen Hall, along with many other guests, went to the Redemptoris Mater House of Formation for the Neo-Cathecumenal students’ Advent Concert. This year’s theme was light coming into the darkness. The singing was incredibly moving, as well as readings and reflections on the theme. An excellent way of helping to prepare for […]

The Most Reverend Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, visited Allen Hall on Thursday 7th December. His Excellency spent some time speaking with students about diplomacy, his impressions of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, synodality in the Church and the future of the priesthood. We are grateful that he spoke so […]

The Allen Hall community visited Redemptoris Mater, the formation house of the men who are discerning priesthood through the Neocatechumenal way. We had a very warm welcome by the students and had an opportunity to catch up with them. After that we had a talk by Fr. Lorenzo, who told us about the history of […]

We celebrated the Solemnity of the Douai Martyrs on Saturday, 28th October. The Douai Martyrs were men who trained for the priesthood at Douai College (France) during the English Reformation and were executed when they returned to England for preaching the Catholic faith. In total, there are 158 martyrs between 1577 and 1680. The celebration […]

The funeral of Helena Duckett took place on Wednesday 25th October 2023 at Holy Rood Church, Watford. Archbishop Mark O’Toole (sometime Rector of Allen Hall) celebrated the Requiem Mass, joined by over fifty priests and the current staff and students of Allen Hall. We continue to give thanks to God for Helena’s friendship and years […]

Fr Javier led the first-year seminarians on a visit to the British Museum to see artefacts relating to the Bible as part of their introduction to biblical studies. The museum contains objects of interest from ancient Israel, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Rome, all of which help to bring the academic studies alive and remind us […]

On Sunday 8th October, the seminarians joined the people of the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden for a candlelit procession, followed by a sermon and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The month of October is particularly devoted to Our Lady of the Rosary and we invoke her intercession for peace in the world, for […]

On Saturday 30th September, the seminarians and priests visited the sisters of Notting Hill Carmel. We celebrated Mass, had lunch, prayed the rosary, listened to a talk on the history of the monastery, and then had time chatting to the sisters informally in their parlours. It was a great encouragement (on both sides) to hear […]