Circular No 162

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 11 of December 2004. Circular No. 162
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Dear Friends,

Here is an article that was sent to me by Fr. Abbot, regarding the Yogurt factory at the Mt.St.Benedict. The attached photos by Anthony Harris and the article by Michelle Loubon.

Those in Trinidad are enjoying the wonderful product.
Here in Venezuela are hoping the once production increases we can also taste it.

This is the first Circular being sent using the semiautomatic method.
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So down to the Story:

Dutch monk Cuthbert van de Sande, "the brain behind the yogurt," samples sour sop in the chiller of a small factory on the grounds of the Mt St Benedict Abbey, St John's Road, St Augustine.
Tobago will soon get a taste of Pax yogurt from the monks of Mt St Benedict in St Augustine.
Maxim de Comarmonde, manager of Pax Yogurt Company Limited, was buoyed by the response he got from hotels last Wednesday.
"A lot of hotels are interested in it, especially those with German guests," he said.
"The chefs in the hotels use it for cooking.
They are very interested in it.
We did some sampling from the local company.
The tasters found it was excellent...a local company producing this neat product.
I will be going back within the next week."
Pax yogurt produces six delicious flavours: almond, guava, passion fruit, pineapple, soursop, strawberry and natural.
Vanilla is expected to be on stream by month's end.
Prior to producing yogurt, the monastery produced Pax (Latin for peace) honey on a small scale.
The monk/apiarist died and the abbey sold the hives to another priest who continued the practice.
The more successful business venture, Pax Yogurt Company, was innocently started 14 years ago in the kitchen of the Mt St Benedict monastery.
Abbot John Pereira credited former Mt St Benedict abbot Francis Alleyne, now bishop of Guyana, and Dutch monk Cuthbert van de Sande, the "brain behind the yogurt," for their pivotal roles.
Tracing the birth of the company in April 2003, Pereira said:
Yogurt making was simply an attempt to improve the diet of the monks.
It began as a "kitchen master" finding ways to improve the diet of the monks. Fr Cuthbert grew up in a dairy culture.
He also makes fine goat cheese.
It is sold to the embassies.
Then, we started to sell the yogurt to friends.
We opened up a little outlet in the front.
We started getting orders.
Suddenly, we had to think of a way to respond to this trend.
Little by little, it was catching on throughout the length of the island.
Soon, the abbey invested in a refrigerated vehicle to meet the demand of Hi-Lo, Tru Valu and Xtra Foods supermarkets.
A half-litre of the signature health food fetches between $10 and $11, and a litre, $21.

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News from Guyana

From: "Guyana Benedictines" benedictines@solutions2000.net
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2004 18:16:56 -0300

Dear Lazslo,
Peace!
Thanks for your on-going articles about the Mount.
Two notes:
1. Fr. John Chrysostom Lee Sing (notice, no 'h' in the spelling of Sing;it's Chinese not Indian).
2. Bro. Robert (Wilfred) John left the monastery, got married, and fathered a family. Then his wife died of cancer and he went back to the Seminary and was ordained a Diocesan Priest two years ago. Isn't that something?
All the best,
Bro. Paschal Jordan, OSB
(Joined 17 Aug. 1964; professed 08 Sep. 1966; sent to Guyana to open a new monastery, 16 Dec. 1988 together with Fr. Maurus Superville - who has since left and married an Amerindian lady, and returned to Trinidad.)
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Now some bits of information on Fr. Abbot of the years 1960s

Here is the annunciation of an award given to him

Van Duin, Adelbert (Rt. Rev.) - O.S.B.
Lord Abbot, Mount St. Benedict
Religion
NATIONAL AWARDS
HUMMING BIRD MEDAL GOLD
1972
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The Abbot's successions, this news was taken paper, maybe someone might remember the date??

Old Abbot van Duin, from Holland, once the man in charge of Abbey at Mount St Benedict, had suffered with his heart. When he retired he was succeeded by Abbot Hildebrandt, then Abbot Francis.
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A letter from Fr. Adelbert van Duin.

7 of July 1982.

Greetings from the Old Mount Inside!
I was in Holland earlier this year, I met with Fr. Bernard.
His speech has not improved.
The burns he suffered last year he is unable to stand and so is confined to a wheel chair.
He is in a rehabilitation centre where they are giving him therapy to see if they can make him able to walk.
It seems he will be coming back in September to the Mount.
He surely is carrying a heavy cross!
You will remember him specially, I am sure.
When last you visited T´dad, you give me some book-markers with Teen-agers 10 Commandments printed on it. As I have passed that age unfortunately! I gave them away and people have been asking if I had more of them.
On your next visit or in some other way, could you bring some of them if possible?
Thanks a million in advance.
God´s abundant blessing be with you and your Family!.
Very best wishes and kindest regards.

Adalbert van Duin

(Dear reader, please send me information on Fr. Adelbert, there is so little for now. Ed.)
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So one more Circular, just before Christmas.
Hope that you would have a merry Christmas with lots of health and family reunions.
Snow where there should be snow, and for us here in the tropics, lots of sunshine.


God Bless
Ladislao
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Photo: Fr. Adelbert van Duin, Fr. Cuthbert 2004, pax yogurt, symbol yogurt, Fr. Cuthbert 2002.
Column: dbratt ,
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