Sixth Abbot of Worth elected

Fr Luke Jolly

Father Luke Jolly has been elected Abbot of Worth Abbey in the abbatial election held on Thursday 8th August. His term of Office is for eight years. He succeeds Fr Kevin Taggart who, after consulting the monastic community, retired at 82 years old in early June on the grounds of his age. Founded in 1933, Worth Abbey is a community of 24 monks. It is one of the thirteen monasteries belonging to the English Benedictine Congregation.

In his time honoured Rule Saint Benedict, the patriarch of western monasticism, lays down what is expected of an abbot. He is the 'father' and 'teacher' of the family of brothers, and the 'shepherd of souls'. One of the roles of the abbot is to guide how his monastery interacts with the world around it. Worth is closely involved in the life of the locality and with the Churches of the south east of England.

On taking up his role as abbot, Fr Luke becomes President of the Board of Governors of Worth School, a co-educational day and boarding school of 600 students.

Worth Abbey has a thriving retreat centre, The Open Cloister, and a flourishing parish in the area around the Abbey.

Worth Abbey has featured in two BBC 2 series – “The Monastery”(2005) and “The Big Silence”(2010).

Abbot Luke Jolly is a native of East Anglia, where he was born in Ipswich in 1953. Educated at Worth School and Manchester University, he read History before training as a Probation Officer and entered the monastery at Worth Abbey in 1980, being ordained Priest by Bishop (later Cardinal) Cormac Murphy O’Connor in 1985.

In the course of his monastic life, Abbot Luke has served his community as both Prior and Novice Master, he has managed the Abbey Estate and has worked both as a Boarding Housemaster and as Senior Chaplain in Worth School. While developing over many years his well-regarded ministry both as a spiritual director and as a trainer of spiritual directors, Abbot Luke has played a leading role in the Compass vocation discernment programme for young Catholics which began at Worth Abbey ten years ago, and was the primary spiritual guide to the participants in the BBC TV documentary “The Monastery”, based at the Abbey.

Abbot Luke’s personal interests include a love of the countryside, walking, medieval East Anglian churches and following many sports.

Abbot Luke, who is the first Worthian (former pupil of Worth senior School) to be elected Abbot of the monastic community, has always maintained an active interest in the Worth Society, the former pupils’ association for Worth School, and has served as a School Governor.

Commenting on his election, Abbot Luke said: “I believe that God’s grace has been at work in our election process, and I am humbled by the trust and love that my monastic brethren have shown in me. We will rely on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to live more faithfully our benedictine life, as we seek to serve the church and the world. I ask for the continued prayers of all our friends and well-wishers.”

Bishop Kieran Conry of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton will bless Abbot Luke in a special Mass at 2.30pm on Sunday 13th October.

For more information see: www.worthabbey.net/abbey/