Issuu

Chavagnes chronicle OCTOBER 2006

Vol. V No. 1

fter welcoming a group of 47 basketball players the night before the boys came back, Matron and other resident staff were somewhat shattered for the beginning of the new term. Newcomers Messrs Duke and Jacob were just getting over the jetlag. They had flown from the USA to France via Shannon, experiencing an Irish welcome on their way to Chavagnes. It has been a half term where feet have barely touched the ground ever since; especially for the Junior boys, under the care of Mrs Asch.

he by now traditional visit to the Puy du Fou was a popular one. This year boys were treated to a new show, featuring the mousquetaires and Cardinal Richelieu. All boys also attended the son et lumière night-time pageant where hundreds of professional and volunteer actors retell local history over the last thousand years, assisted by dozens of prancing horses, gaggles of geese, pigs, sheep, spectacular special effects and a final round of fireworks.

n 16th September the Choir had the privilege of singing for the wedding of the daughter of Mme Rose Claire Vrignault, a friend of the College, at Treize Vents. With most of the trebles only having joined the College twelve days before, and with a programme including Rimsky-Korsakoff and Charpentier, the Choir is to be congratulated on an excellent performance. Mme Vrignault writes: “Nous tenons à vous remercier du fond du coeur pour votre participation qui a été vraiment très appréciée par les plus grands de notre Assemblée. Les mariés ont été très touchés et agréablement surpris de ce que nous avions préparé. Je souhaite que vous puissiez participer à d'autres manifestations de ce genre car votre groupe est excellent. Recevez toute notre amitié et transmettez aux jeunes nos remerciements et nos félicitations.”

he younger boys, with some lucky Seniors spent a delightful Sunday afternoon at the Cholet airshow, featuring the world-famous Red Arrows, courtesy of Matthew’s brother who is a member of the Red Arrows mechanics team. He and his fellow airmen paid a flying visit (!) to the College later in the week and left lots of baseball caps, badges and other RAF gimmicks for the lads.

Les nouveaux mariés avec Les Choristes de Chavagnes.

ports this term have included ultimate frisbee, cricket, handball, football, basketball, capture the flag, cross country and - for a few of the older boys - weight training. In the inter-house soccer tournament, which involved all boys across the age-range, the winners were Rochejacquelein (who have been winning everything lately) with outsiders Cathelineau in second place. Cathelineau's reputation as the gentlemen's house remains intact, but they have proven that impeccable manners and charm are quite compatible with prowess in 'the beautiful game'.

organ voluntaries every day so far this year; the result has been a record number of requests to begin organ lessons. The Choir has also recently been given the honour of affiliation to the Royal School of Church Music, which we hope will help us to focus on the pursuit of excellence in our choral worship of God.

lay rehearsals have been a feature of many evenings this term, in preparation for Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, this term’s theatrical production, with Mr Duke in the title role. Some Masters have been heard to observe that the good angels and bad angels have he last Friday of term was an historic been trying hard to stay in character out of day for the Vendée when the College rehearsals too ... hosted the first General Meeting of the new Vendée Cricket Club. The Club will be sharing the College’s playing field facilities, which will enable us to develop cricket at the College and in the Vendée generally with help from various French sporting bodies. A training session for coaches for the new club will take place in February and there are plans for a permanent artificial wicket at the College playing field.

n a more mundane note, steps have been taken this term to curtail shortcutting in the Cross country and Mr Hayes has been timing performances to give the boys a little more encouragement.

r Lloyd and Mr Verrier have been doing great things with the Choir so far this term, and we now have a robed full choir for all Sundays and Feast Days. We A flying visit: Matthew with Mr McDermott have all appreciated Mr Verrier’s splendid and vistors from the Red Arrows.

ouse nights this term have included some great escapades under the stars, including crossing a river of poisonous acid, with only a few magic stones to help us (one has to use one’s imagination here!) and on one very wet Wednesday an evening of Just a minute and other silly games, presided over by Mr McDermott. The highlights of this were Nathan’s singing If I were a fuzzy, wuzzy bear to the tune of All things bright and beautiful, John Irving with For he’s a jolly good fellow to the tune of O I do like to be beside the seaside, the Limerick contest and Charlie’s words of wisdom (without hesitation, repetition or deviation) on ‘Indigestion in Frogs’.

his term’s Poetry declamation saw some sterling performances from all four houses. Second prize winner John Irving held us spellbound with Sassoon’s Aftermath: a frank and chilling assessment of the Great War. First prize was awarded to the almost faultless recitation of Coleridge’s Kubla Kahn by Gregoire Daumy. His mastery of dynamics, expression, tempo and posture was excellent, and, as the last contestant, he left us all dreaming of the Abyssinian maid in her caves of ice. Other noteworthy contributions included Sir Henry Newbolt’s Vitaï Lampada recited by Master Katzinski and Tennyson’s Charge of the Light Brigade, rendered by Master Adams.

Above: Mr McDermott with stopwatch and Mr Moore at the scoreboard keep up the pace with a round of Just a Minute. Below: Dr Conlon and Mr Conlon at work in preparation for an experiment.

uring the past half term we have had two debates. The first debate of the new term, on Septemeber 18th, was on the motion "This House believes that, in World War I, all the combatants were equally guilty".

The proposing side comprising Messrs. Asch, Cansick, Woolwich, Senosiain and Tomlin argued that every combatant nation in the Great War, even Mr. Asch's beloved Austria Hungary, wanted war more than they wanted the righting of any specific injustice. None of the criteria for a just war - proportionality of response, minimum use of force, reasonable prospects of success - was met and the morally correct course of action for the combatants would have been to avoid being drawn ino an unworthy conflict. Opposing, Messrs Duke, Adams, Lloyd (Major), Daumy (Major) and Irving sought to point out telling counter-examples that would disprove the generalisation of the motion. Surely Belgium could not be considered as guilty as Germany or the honourable motives of Australia and Canada equated John Irving speaking against the motion with those of the European powers. “This house believes all parties to the First The sinking of the Lusitania by World War were equally guilty”.

Germany, and other attacks on merchant shipping, demonstrated a certain Teutonic bloodlust, argued Master Lloyd, in spite of his own Germanic breeding. The natural interest of the motion to the boys studying twentieth century history as part of their GCSE course stimulated intelligent and well informed contributions from both sides, and afterwards from the floor, and was perhaps responsible for the enthusiasm with which some boys, normally somewhat averse to debating, prepared and delivered their speeches on this occasion. The motion was narrowly carried by the floor but defeated by the Judges.

he second debate of this term was on the motion “This house would ban the consumption of alcohol:” another difficult case to argue for a team led by Mr Moore. Gabriel McHugh's performance was particularly outstanding and very polished. He paid

particular attention to defining terms, even explaining exactly the chemical nature of alcohol and how it is produced. Matthew Landells contrasted the warmth of Catholic attitudes towards God's gifts with the coldness of Protestant-inspired prohibition. He spoke of the way in which wine brings a joy to man's heart that reinforces the bonds of fellowship. David Sinnott suggested that this lay behind our Lord's choice of bread and wine as the outward signs of his continuing sacramental presence among us. Bread would mean mere survival; wine meant the fullness of life, and the promise and anticipation of heavenly joy. Dominic Mc Hugh, for the motion, drew attention to the many negative effects of abuse of alcohol. Particular reference was made to the dangers of over-consumption of alcoholic beverages by pregnant women. He also quoted some sobering statistics about the links between alcohol abuse and violent crime, as well as the obvious problem of drink-driving. Christopher Masson concentrated on case studies of alcohol consumption by tribal peoples such as the Australian aborigines and the North American Indians. He showed how alcohol had played a part in the destruction of their traditional societal structures and values, and he suggested that this had perhaps been part of the strategy of some early colonists. Mr McDermott advanced the suggestion that alcohol could in any case never be completely banned. All previous attemps to do so had failed, and in the USA had only increased violent crime and promoted criminal activity. He also claimed that most food stuffs either contain alcohol or are fermented inside us to produce alcohol in our systems. A large glass of milk, for example would, a few hours later, be enough to put a small adult over the legal limit for driving in certain states in America. Almost all fresh fruit juice contained alcohol, he argued. Oliver Katzinski produced evidence from an impressive study of 12,000 doctors over 13 years, showing that moderate alcohol

consumers had lower mortality rates from all causes when compared with non-drinkers. He listed a plethora of diseases that could be averted by a couple of glasses of wine per day. There was some disagreement as to what constituted moderate consumption of alcohol, but both sides agreed that men could safely drink twice as much as women. In the end, the votes were divided. The popular vote defeated the motion 10 votes to 5, whilst the aristocratic vote carried the motion (basing itself more strictly on the quality and delivery of the arguments) carried the motion, 2 votes to 1. Various speakers from both sides were spotted enjoying a nice cup of tea ten minutes after the debate ...

House Master of Suzannet. Mr Moore senior is an experienced sport teacher and Vice President of the Scottish Physical Education Teachers’ Association. We hope to be seeing much more of him (no pun intended) in the future. He was a great help with sports lessons and a source of inspiration and encouragement for all the staff. He writes: “My stay at the College has been a pleasant and uplifting one. Not since I was at Primary school and under the guidance of the Marist Brothers have I experienced such appreciation of and exposure to Catholic values. It has been both a privilege and an honour to spend the week living, teaching and praying among the family that Chavagnes International College so obviously is. I have found a loving, caring community e were very pleased to welcome for a of teachers who cooperate and work togeweek’s visit Mr Brian Moore, father of ther as a team. The staff goes out if its way Adrian Moore, our Spanish teacher and to help students reach their full potential in all aspects of life.” Another popular visitor twice this term was Mr Ronan Conlon, nephew of Dr Conlon. Ronan has recently graduated in Mathematics from Warwick University and is now beginning his post-graduate studies, specialising in Differential Geometry. Boys were privileged to receive extra coaching in Mathematics from Ronan during his two stays at the College. Dr Conlon’s nephew, also threw himself with enthusiasm into various sporting and cultural activities at the College, and generally proved himself a fine role-model for aspiring professional mathematicians. Mr Henry Brinkworth, an experienced teacher and examiner of Physics for the International Baccalaureate visited the College for a few days with his son, another Warwick Mathematics graduate. Mr Brinkworth, who hopes to relocate to France some time in the future, kindly gave time to advise us on the development of science teaFather and son Moore relax in the library. ching at Chavagnes.

Over his week-long visit Mr Moore senior became a much-loved and appreciated addition to the team. We hope to see him again soon.

NEXT HALF TERM ... 31st October: All Hallow’s Eve Saints Party. PLEASE BRING A SAINTLY DISGUISE ...

15th November: Chess Tournament against College Charlemagne, Nantes. November (Date TBA): Soccer matches against College Charlemagne and l’Esperance.

31 October-5th November. Geoff Jerram, experienced Morris teacher and musician, visits for Morris workshop. (Mr Verrier will play the accordion!)

6th December: Boy Bishop presides at Vespers

1st November: Inter-house Chess and Basketball.

3rd - 7th December: Carol singing for elderly.

2nd November: All Souls’ Day. Prayer at Cemetery. Evening talk for J2 and J3 by Dr John Newton, on the Day of the Dead.

8th December: Immaculate Conception (Patronal Feast Day of our Chapel.)

23rd November: St Cecilia’s Day Concert

10th December: Play and Carol Service.

RESOLUTION for THIS academic Year

Pontifical Mass was celebrated with full ceremonial under the expert guidance of MC for the day, Aurele Champion.

Bishop Michel Santier, on his pastoral visit to the College, 11th October, 2006.

e were privileged to welcome our diocesan bishop, Michel Santier, a member of our Board, on 11th October 2006 for a pastoral visit, with Pontifical Mass concelebrated with Father Pilon. His Lordship was acclaimed by a voluntary on the organ and by the traditional intoning of the Sacerdos et Pontifex by the Choir. By permission of His Lordship, the day was celebrated as the Feast of the Divine Maternity of Our Lady. Several days of training of the altar servers ensured a beautiful and inspiring liturgy. Monseigneur commented on the excellent serving and the sangfroid of our M.C. for the day, Aurele Champion. The Choir, under the direction of Mr Lloyd, with Mr Verrier at the organ, sang Rimsky-Korsakoff ’s Notre Père (in French), a modern setting of the psalm text ‘Que tes ouevres sont belles’ and Charpentier’s Exultemus, Jubilemus. The hymns Alleluia, sing to Jesus and Holy Virgin, by God’s decree were sung in harmony by choir and congregation, with the ordinary of the Mass in the simple Gregorian chant, with the Gloria of Missa Orbis Factor.

Book recommendation In Defence of Catholic Teaching: the Whole Truth Fr. Bernard Hahesy Mrs Joan McDermott recommends this robust and humane exposition of Catholic teaching for modern lay people. The book includes some constuctive criticism of recent damaging trends in some Catholic

In his sermon, delivered in French, Bishop Santier invited all the boys to welcome Mary as their mother, especially when they found themselves missing their own parents. He also encouraged them to view the deep friendships formed at school in a supernatural way: by our daily communion in the Body and Blood of Christ, he said our supernatural bond of charity increases, so that we may truly call each other brothers, as did the early Christians. “You are truly brothers here,” he continued, “and Mary is your mother, ever since our Lord confided her to St John at the foot of the Cross. Do not hesitate to call on her whenever you lack enthusiasm for your studies, whenever you are homesick, whenever you have difficulty living your life of charity here at the College. She will surround you with her maternal protection and love.” On the same theme of spiritual maternity and paternity, he spoke of his spiritual fatherhood for us, that of our chaplain at the College, and of priests in general. It was very moving to see this spiritual fatherhood expressed in the gesture of the liturgical kiss of peace which Monseigneur gave to all the altar servers before the intoning of the Agnus Dei. The readings at the Mass - the promise made to Abraham as he left his country in obedience to Almighty God, and the Gospel in which our Lord promises that all those who hear the word of the Father and keep it shall be his brothers – both seemed particularly appropriate to the mission and life of the College. Mass ended with a few words of greeting in English and the traditional Pontifical blessing. circles, especially with regard to Catholic education, sexuality and the media. An easy read, full of humorous and inspiring anecdotes. Father Hahesy’s depth of learning and experience shine though on every page. Recommended as a Christmas gift. ORDER FROM: St Edward’s Church, Home Park Ave, Peverell, Plymouth, PL3 4PG. Price £9.75 plus £2 postage.

Rome was not built in a day ... Let us all do our best to build up Chavagnes in 2006/07: our fifth year.

Bishop Santier ‘preaching to the Choir’ ... All but four or five boys were either in the Choir or serving at the altar for the Pontifical Mass.

After Mass, Monseigneur joined us for a festive lunch, and extended his blessing to everyone. Following a tradition of previous episcopal visitations from the days of the junior seminary, and as a special favour, his Lordship dispensed boys from all punishments of that day.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Irish Dominican Sisters (Cabra Congregation) we will be ordering new gym mats, some new chairs for the Refectory and a projector for the theatre that should enable us to watch films on the cinema screen. We are still hoping for donations for the restoration of St Joseph’s Chapel, to get our development project moving. It would be wonderful if we could have the Chapel restored in good time for St Joseph’s Feast day in March 2007.