paxabbey at The Abbey of Our Lady of Exile, Mount St Benedict, Tunapuna, Port of Spain 00014 TT - Official Visitors from the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Fr Christopher is flanked by His Excellencies Ambassador Hans Horbach and the Minister of Justice Hirsch Ballin

On Sunday 11 October, the Abbey was graced by very distinguished visitors from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  His Excellency the Minister of Justice Mr Ernst Hirsch Ballin, His Excellency Ambassador Hans Horbach, and three members from the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dr Robert Vissern, Mrs Pim van Vliet and Mr Patrick Mikkelsen attended our Community Mass at 8:30 am.  The Minister of Justice is on an Official Visit to Trinidad to attend to matters related to the Caribbean Court of Justice, which has as one of its Judges the Honourable Mr Justice Jacob Wit, who is a native of the Netherlands. 

His Excellency arrived in Trinidad on Saturday 10 October and specifically asked to attend Holy Mass as one of the items on the agenda.  He was very happy to visit the Abbey which has a long and very cordial relationship with the Dutch Embassy in Trinidad, due mainly to the fact that several of the monks have been Dutch nationals, including the First Abbot Adelbert van Duin.  One of the Dutch members of the Community, Fr Christopher Theunissen, was the Principal Celebrant of the Eucharist. 

Immediately after the Eucharist, the Official party was invited to the monastic refectory where they were able to meet the other Dutch monks and share in some refreshments provided for the occasion.  As they made their way to the refectory they stopped briefly in front of the Memorial Board near to the Sacristy where the deceased members of the Community are honoured.  Several of the deceased monks were Natives of Holland.  

The visit was appreciated by the Abbot and Community and the members of the visiting party expressed their pleasure about the manner in which they had been received. 

The party exchanged greetings with the monks and left for a tour of the Island.   

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