Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2016 | Page 30

Photo: A large group of abbots had come from England, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands to express their fraternal
support to Fr Xavier and the Quarr community. Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth stands in the centre, having at his right
Mgr Le Gall, Archbishop of Toulouse and former abbot of Kergonan (Fr Xavier’s first monastery), and the Abbot of Solesmes;
and on his left, Dom Xavier and Dom Philippe, the present abbot of Kergonan.

Switzerland, and then in Munich.
Then, following his ordination in1989, he took charge of the
monastery’s guesthouse, as well as teaching dogmatic theology and
playing the organ.
He also found time to write books and articles about the history
of the Solesmes Congregation, along with titles on liturgy, and
spirituality.
His other passion is for classical Gregorian Chant, which he has
helped to promote through weekend events, concerts and CDs.
He was novice master from 1993 to 2010, choirmaster from 1996
to 2013, and Prior from 2002 until 2013 – at which point the call
came from Quarr Abbey, which had been through some difficult
times in recent years, with falling numbers and lack of leadership.
Fr Xavier was originally appointed to take over as Prior
Administrator at Quarr three years ago, and says he welcomed the
challenge, with the opportunity to return to the monastery that had
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so impressed him all those years before.
He says his main challenge was to be accepted by the resident
monks, a small, tight-knit community of 11 men, including a very
senior monk aged 95. The majority are aged 50-70, with two young
novices who are currently testing their vocation.
But if Fr Xavier harboured any fears about being acepted, they
were unfounded. He says the past three years have proved a
‘wonderful time’ and earlier this year, he was elected from within the
community to be the new Abbot.
“It is wonderful to have the trust of the community” he says. “we
have good unity and a clear vision of what we want to do here”.
That includes opening up the Abbey more and more to the wider
community, welcoming volunteers who help with the beekeeping,
gardening and tea shop and hosting activities for various local
groups and charities.
“Years ago the monastery could be very self-sufficient, but now we

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