Ampleforth Society and Ampleforth Abbey in the Big Apple
On Tuesday 25 June, 14 Old Amplefordians gathered in New York for a wonderful dinner with Fr Wulstan Peterburs, Chair of the Abbey Trust, and Emma Craig, Head of Development at Ampleforth College. The NYC locals were supplemented by some travelling from as far away as Toronto and New Zealand to join the evening. With representatives of each generation there, including John Tepper Marlin (JH’55) and three members of the 2019 leavers, the conversation flowed and stories were shared amongst the group. Good business connections were made and offers of career support given to the young. John shared information on his book “Under Nazi Noses: How a Dutch Banker Heisted $1 Billion to Fight Hitler” which had come out a few months earlier, with many copies being bought the next day. Joss Craig (E/W 07) kept the evening going long past our booking at Benoit by Alain Ducasse and a hard core headed across the road for a last nightcap.
Reports from the School and Abbey were upbeat as the Academic year drew to a close. All expressed their keen interest in supporting the school’s efforts to extend its reach to families around the world to discover Ampleforth and support the monastery in their next steps to support vocations and invite people to come and experience their hospitality ministry.
The following evening another cohort of OAs and OA relations living in NYC met for drinks in downtown New York, with spectacular views of the City skyline. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect those long standing residents of the city with newcomers looking for a community. So if you’re new to the USA do reach out to the big community resident across the country by joining the “Ampleforth in the USA” LinkedIn group.
We look forward to another gathering in New York next year and plans are afoot for other gatherings in Miami and LA, before heading down to see the big community in Mexico.