Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
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Dear Friends,
It is the events for my 6th day visit to TT, unfortunately the last day.
This day was reserved to visit
Having made an appointment, Chris and I preceded up the hill and parked at the rear gates of the Monastery, where the car garage was located.
We met Fr. Cuthbert and had a warm welcome; his helpers are Maxime and his brother Raymond de Comarmond, also additional help. Since my last visit, the refrigerator had been taken out of the processing room and placed next to the entrance and is much larger.
There a new refrigerated truck and larger offices with cubicles.
We did a run thru the facilities, tasted a new product, drinkable yogurt, which is selling fast.
During the tour I asked to see a couple of places that have been curious and upon inquiring about the old building where Fr. Abbot Adelbert van Duin used to relax with some old boys, setting up model Lionel trains.
Fr. Cuthbert took us to the old building which some of us might remember, as it is still there a bit rundown but with imagination I can see Fr. Abbot playing with the large locomotives that used the centre rail tracks and commenting on the changes, buildings and hill that had to be constructed.
Fr. Cuthbert told us that the train set was moved in the early 1950s to the basement of the sweets shop, which had recently been built next to the cemetery, down where we bought sweets for the Saturday night movies. This is where Fr. Abbot once or twice a week disappeared to recover for the pressures of the work; there was no talk of Stress in those days!!
It was a well kept secret, I would not have suspected this and interestingly enough there was never a talk about it.
Also we walked by the carpentry where our hard wood Tops were manufactured on order, and in my case I had a Starting block made for Gerard Arnaud, whom I trained in running.
We visited Fr. Augustine, who lives below the small music tower above the entrance stairs that go to the souvenir shop.
Fr. Augustine was very happy to meet us and we had a good talk and he showed us the photo of the Prep A class that he taught in 1955?. Or was it in 1954?
We got to the refectory ahead of time and met the Editor of the booklet on
Before lunch Fr. Abbot arrived and got into our discussion group regarding the importance of school books and the necessity of identifying the old documents, meaning photographs that Fr. Benedict left.
The discussion centred on the fact that the photo on page no. 82 was incorrectly labelled class of 1965, where I clearly recognized myself together with my classmates graduating in 1960. I asked Fr. Abbot if it was possible to get the photo that was used.
The chat was interrupted by the bell. We had lunch which was well appreciated and maybe not thanked as should have been.
We took photos as unfortunately Fr. Abbot had to leave, promising to look into our arguments to permit us to see the photos.
Fr. Mark told me that he would try to convince Fr. Abbot of the necessity of identifying the photos and memorabilia before all the actors and their friend died out.
Christopher Knowles was left in charge of the follow up, with Fr. Mark.
On the way back into town we stopped at the Sports field, it seemed that WWII had just passed by the buildings , as there was nothing left standing. I presume that there is going to be new buildings and tennis courts??. We never were mentioned of any plans to reconstruct?? I hope for the best.
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RE: Does GOD speak to us?
Glen Mckoy
Friday, March 27, 2009 2:39:46 PM
Dear Cornel,
The Mini reunion, I did hear about these reunions from Nigel Boos, I believe, many of the others would not know of this because of the age difference, many reunions started with boys who were in the same classes, or lived at the same time on the mount.
Now that many of the members are over 50 yrs old, there seem to be closer ties with many little circles that have been formed over the years.
I believe you were on the mount 2 yrs after I was born, I was born Aug.9th/1956.
I am glad to read, about what you had to say about Castro, after he took over
Cornel, you asked what is the Club, my friend, that is a hard question, which I will try to answer, the Club my friend is why we are speaking to each other now, if you were not in the Club, I would not be having this conversation with you, you see, you are the Club, I am the Club, the Club is when any two brothers get together from the mount.
The fire is alive.
There is a lot more about this Club, in time that will be revealed.
I am happy that Ladislao found you; he is a god sent for all of us in the Club.
I will forward this email to other brothers, who may also would like to contact you.
Take care my brother, its a pleasure to hear from you,
best regards,
Glen Mckoy
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From: corneldefreitas@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Does GOD speak to us?
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:06:33 -0400
Dear Glen:
Thank you for your speedy response.
It is greatly appreciated - more than you would imagine.
Sorry you are unable either for geographic positioning or simply unable to attend the little reunion (we have been referring to it as a mini-reunion).
So, I would like to know a little more about you.
You are obviously one of my brothers from Mount St. Benedict.
I was there from 1958(9) I believe until about 1965.
I was there at the Mount when we, at the
Also when Castro took over
What years did you attend the
And can I also ask you what is this "Club" you refer to.
I was only recently discovered by 'Ladislao Kertesz', in November of 2008.
I received an email from him one day saying: "Cornel, thank God we found you."
I was so completely overjoyed when I realized I was gong to be able to keep in touch with my "Brothers' from The Abbey School"
I have already written to Ladislao many times and been in touch with a number of "Old Boys" that live right here in
I will try to expand on this some more another time.
I have to run for now. Duty call.
GOD Bless,
Cornel de Freitas
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From: mckoy43glen@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Does GOD speak to us?
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:16:51 +0000
Dear Cornel,
I am so sorry to hear about your brother Carlos.
As he is still in the hearts he touched.
May God bless him.
I am glad to hear you are pleased with the emails you have received, we are just trying to keep the connection, as long as some of us are here,
I have not been to any reunions yet, it must have been some one else.
I must thank you, for your support, and it’s a pleasure to serve, all my fellow brothers in this small way that I do.
May God bless you and your family at this moment in life.
From us all here in the club we extend a big hug to you brother.
Best regards
Glen McKoy.
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From: corneldefreitas@hotmail.com
Subject: Does GOD speak to us?
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:09:09 -0400
Dear Glen:
Your really beautiful Power Point presentations have been an absolute delight.
It is ironic that the first one I received was the one about the second anniversary of the death of our beloved John -Paul II.
It was received about a week after my dear brother Carlos passed away in
I was unable to attend his funeral, though my other brother and sister and their families were able to attend, along with most of the rest of the island, including the Governor. He was well known and very much loved.
Anyway a heart felt thanks.
Also for the one titled "LIFE". They are all absolutely magnificent.
I forwarded some of them to other close friends and relatives including my pastor(S).
Keep in touch - I needed to let you know how I felt and to express my appreciation.
You were at the little "ROTILICIOUS" mini reunion in
No matter, you are an MSB Old Boy, and it is nice to hear from you.
GOD bless you, and take care.
If you have time to respond, it would be nice
Cornel de Freitas
P.S. someone sent me the one I am forwarding, hope you like it.
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WELCOME TO THE CLUB/ MEMBERS ONLY/ ASAA - MSB / WORLDWIDE.
From the time 1944 - 1984 , the place, a Castle in the sky/ The Abbey.
In their sacred, secret, circle, the Knights of "White Stones" continues, in the here and now, in "THE GOLDEN RING OF LIGHT".
The Life of a Knight.
As all brothers, find their way back to the realm from East to West, North and South.
The completion of this sacred secret circle has been formed.
A Golden Ring of Light.
We are from the future, we are brothers from the past, and we are one in the present.
Long live these wise Knights, of "White Stones", who lived in their castle, located in the Dutch enclave of Monks, of
Where the Eagles fly, from where they watched the ocean, touch the sky, overlooking the flat lands, where the Caribs once roamed. Tunapuna.
As written in the book, "The King of Harts, which is in the chest that is buried in a bunker, somewhere on Mt.Tabor, close to that sacred place they called, "White stones".
For what a Knight knows, to the rest of the world, is only fiction.
An invisible kingdom, hidden in the sky.
Invisible to the naked eye, the realm.
THE CARIB KNIGHT, RAY FROM ARIMA. (Tales from: "White Stones", 196X).
The last year of the Dreamer on the Mount, was very difficult, as he had grown to be part of this hidden treasure, a safe place he had come to appreciate , he wanted to stay in his heart, but had to go, in order to continue his education.
He knew that there was still so much to do, and hoped, that the younger ones will continue, in the tradition of the legend.
Where we created our future, from our past friendships, to meet again in the present as one.
This would be the last year, the dreamer is the leader of the Knights, he had so much to do, before he went out into the outer world.
He had to pass on the leadership, to his dear and good friend, Ray, the Carib Knight from Arima.
They hiked up to the top of " White Stones", around noon.
As they sat there, liming, shooting the breeze, the Dreamer remembered, three years ago when some boys, was tapping up Ray, and he rescued him.
From that day on, Ray knew the power of the Knights.
Ray changed the conversation, and started telling the story of his people, and this place we call White Stones.
Ray: It is told, that only the leaders of the Carib tribe, were allowed to come up here, to discuss matters of importance.
The Caribs had a great respect for this place.
He said his people also have a legend of some Spanish soldiers on horses up here, they were carrying bags of belongings.
It is believe that they buried something here also.
It is said that once there was an explosion, it smelled like gunpowder, according to the legend, three Spanish soldiers were killed, this was just after the 3rd voyage of
The dreamer then acknowledged what Ray had said, you are correct my friend this is what may have happened.
The spot where the bunker is, had a huge hole which is why, it was picked by past Knights, as a place to build the Bunker.
As years went on, Knights would always find gold coins, in the area, all around, so the blast, must have blown things around, and some coins, in the chest, are from this spot.
May we live a long life, to see that great year 2000, after when so much will be revealed, the secrets, legends and tales, and why so many years of silence.
My dear friend Ray, you are to become, the leader of a tradition and legend, a chain that has never been broken, what I will tell you, is what you must remember, to tell the next leader after you.
As you know, we have a chest, with gold coins, a golden candle stand, and a manuscript from a Jesuit Monk.
In the past decade or more, the Knights have added the book "The King Of Harts", and their personal momentum's.
We are the keepers of something that is greater than any thing we would ever encounter in our entire life.
Well you remembered over the years, the writings that were read, from the book the" King of Harts", of the Jesuit monk from
You learned of the tribe, that the Jesuit monk taught and lived with, at the edge of the Great Amazon Jungle, and how he fled from that turmoil, he took with him a small chest, in it was the golden candle stand, some precious metals, some old Spanish gold coins, and his manuscript .
The part that was left out, when the younger knights were present, was the part of what is in the golden candle stand, that is the secret of the Realm.
Mi Amigo, inside the candle stand, there is a cylinder, it holds a power, beyond our imagination.
In the month of March, in the year 1709, after a terrible thunder storm, hit the heart of the Amazon Jungle, a craft from the sky, crashed close to the pyramids, buried in the Emerald Green of the Jungle, as translated by the Jesuit monk of that time, of what the two members of this jungle tribe, the invisible people, was giving him and telling him, as the only outsider they trusted, that helped in getting rid of this curse on their people.
Ray, shouts out, What Curse ??
Well Ray, The Dreamer reply's, It took the tribes two generation, to realize that the cylinder made the young men sterile, unable to have children, from the radiation it emitted, if touch or exposed to, for a given time.
So this is how the Jesuit Monk ended up with this cylinder, that's why, after the first Knights on the mount saw it, they knew and felt its power, no other Knights have seen it again, so I hope you understand the utmost secrecy, for the benefit of all knights.
We are only the Keepers, not to hold or touch it.
We will access its powers, in the future as a brain to a computer, for easy universal information access, of things beyond our wildest dreams, and with this, we will help, in the survival, and success, of the free world.
In the book the "King of Harts", in the pages of the future, as you will read as the next leader of the Knights, It says, that the Pax Generation will come long after us, the Children of the Knights.
They will be the Keepers of the Cylinder, the "Children of the Knights", in the pages of the future, you will read these tales.
Ray, it’s getting late, we will continue this tomorrow, we better get down the hill in time, so we are not late for showers.
Dreamer, I'll race you down the hill, Carib.
You wish Pale face, ha! ha! and through the razor grass they ran, aarrrhhh....
Thanking all my brothers for their time and support,
best regards to all,
Glen McKoy, a proud of member of parrot troop, hippies from the sixties.
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I promise to be up to date by next week.
Regards,
Ladislao Kertesz, kertesz11@yahoo.com,
So now you have all the exchanges and photos.
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Photos:
09LK1836TTVISITYOGPER, Fr. Augustine, Ladislao Kertesz, Maxime and Raymond de Comarmond.
09LK0056TTVISITRR, Rail road shed.
09LK0054TTVISITREF,
09LK1868TTVISITFAU, Fr. Augustine and Ladislao Kertesz
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