A abadia de São Miguel é uma pequena comunidade de monges beneditinos, com uma idade média de 36 anos. Eles não têm nenhuma escola ou paróquia, mas vivem uma vida beneditina contemplativa clássica com uma forte ênfase sobre a Sagrada Liturgia, que se celebra em latim com canto gregoriano.
A comunidade acolheu muitos amigos para a ocasião. Entre eles estavam o Prior e os Cônegos Premonstratenses de Chelmsford, o reitor do Oratório de Birmingham e um confrade, os carmelitas, os dominicanos, os Padres do Santíssimo Sacramento, e de outros mosteiros beneditinos, incluindo monjas de clausura do Tyburn que receberam permissão especial para estar presente. O abade de Farnborough, Dom Cuthbert Brogan, serviu como confessor da comunidade Tyburn por muitos anos.
Bispo Philip Egan participou como convidado dos monges e falou no final da Missa:
“In today’s culture, organised religion and in particular Christianity, is often side-lined or relegated to the private domain. Even some of those who do profess a religion, tend to treat their faith in the manner of an ‘added-extra’, a hobby, something extrinsic to the rest of their living. Yet as we saw symbolised so powerfully in Bro. Michael’s prostration on the floor of the sanctuary, covered with the funeral pall, not only for him but for anyone whom Jesus has called to be his disciple, faith can never be an added-extra. Our love for God, our discipleship of Christ, our Catholic Faith is never just a hobby. It has to be the most important thing in life. My faith is the most important thing in my life. My love for Jesus Christ has to be the most important thing in my life. –Because Jesus Christ and His Gospel is the only way to true, genuine, lasting human happiness and fulfilment. Indeed, as St. Augustine taught, the human heart is restless until it rests in God. This is why being a disciple of Christ, being a friend of Jesus, being in love with God and giving myself entirely to him, is the most exciting adventure a human being can ever undertake….We wish you, Bro. Michael, every happiness in your vocation and we promise to pray for you that every day you will be faithful to your vows and grow deeper and deeper in love with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
