THE Benedictine community of
Ampleforth has accepted an invitation to direct the education at a preparatory country day school in St. I.ouis, Missouri.
About four priests. it is thought, will start there. probably in the autumn of 1956, with some 50 to 100 entrants.
Dom Columba Cary -Elwes, 0.S.13,. Prior of Ampleforth, told THE CATHOLIC HERALD this week: " The idea came from about 40 men of Si. Louis who have formed a small representative committee. Af-chbishop Ritter of St. Louis is one of the prime movers of the, scheme. The community is starting in a small way, but may ultimately grow to about 12.
"Thc St. Louis venture will not interfere with the plans we are considering for another foundation in England."
Asked why the request had been for Frig I ish Renedici i n es, Dom Columba said: " 1 here is in America a great appreciation of the old English congregations and of Benedictine education."
"The Catholic roots of St. Louis." he continued, " lie way back in the French colonial foundations, St. Louis Catholics are very good ones. They form about 40 per cent. of the population there.
"There are already two English Benedictine foundations in the U.S.A.—a Downside foundation in Portsmouth. Rhode Island, which now has an Ampleforth Prior, Dom Mired Graham, and a Fort Augustus foundation in Washington."