Our arrival

Around midday, yesterday, by God's grace and through the generosity of many, many friends and benefactors throughout the world, we signed the final contract and became the proprietors of the 11th century Romanesque chapel built by the monks of St Victor's Abbey, Marseille, and its adjoining Commandery built by the Knights Templar from the 12th century onward and subsequently taken over by the Knights of Malta.

Yesterday afternoon, after many centuries of absence, the black monks returned to Brignoles. Following the processional cross and chanting the Gradual psalms we processed from the main road to our new home which we proceeded to bless immediately.

Work habits were then donned and, with the help of friends and workmen, the work began - principally to have the chapel ready for its blessing on the afternoon of the Vigil of the Assumption and its return to liturgical life and use immediately thereafter.
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Our gratitude to all who have contributed to this achievement is immense - our prayers are yours! There is an incredible amount more to do, and we need further support to complete the financial arrangements of the purchase, certainly, and for the renovation and restoration works, certainly. But on the occasion of the return of the black monks to Brignoles, we want to thank you for all that you have done to help in bringing us to this historic day, and to assure you of our prayers.