So we have Him as a witness in our hearts, that if we have sinned against anyone, we sincerely ask pardon; that if anyone has sinned against us, we are ready to grant pardon, and that we pray for our enemies (St Augustine, Sermon 111 on Lent)
February 2011 News
The Sisters have begun their visits to our holiday house in Ambleside and Fr Peter has enjoyed a well deserved holiday in Rome returning looking tanned and well. Sr Marian of Park House stayed with us for a week’s holiday after a recent illness. It was lovely to have her, and to see her benefiting from the rest and the country air! Sr Pemphero, from the Poor Clare community in Woodchester, is staying with us for a month, helping in the Guest House. Sr Pemphero is originially from Zambia. Silvana has begun working in Marymount.
Sr Eileen visited France from February 17th-21st for the last General Council Meeting to take place at Bonneuil, near Poitiers. It was sad to say goodbye to such a beautiful place. The Community and Generalate are soon to moving to Morlaix in Brittany, but despite being in the middle of the move, offered their usual lovely hospitality.
On 11th February, we celebrated our patronal Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, with Fr Peter presiding at Mass, which included the anointing of the sick, followed by an excellent lunch with guests. Fr Peter’s homily can be read here. Also on this day one of our residents, Christine, was officially presented with a new motorized wheelchair generously paid for by the Broughton Society. Members of the Society were able to share lunch with her and Fr Peter after the presentation. Prior to Vespers we made a prayerful, candlelit visit to the Grotto.
 |
 |
On
16th February Fr Paul Hypher led a very interesting Day of Recollection
on the
theme of ministry and service. The initial focus of reflection was a
DVD of the
life of Revd Theodore Bayley Hardy V.C., an Anglican priest who had
been a
headmaster and then a vicar in villages in North Yorkshire and Cumbria,
before
serving as a chaplain on the front line to the troops in the trenches
during
the First World War, a man of great heroism and outstanding sanctity.
Fr Paul
used his example to develop the theme of self-giving ministry in the
life of
Christ.
The
Guest House has been fairly quiet recently, with quite a few guests,
including
several teachers over half-term, choosing to come for a few quiet days.
We were
delighted to have a visit from John Brooksbank after many years and
were
pleased to see him so well and settled in his life.
 |
 |
(Many thanks to Maureen for the pictures)
On 1st
February Sr Imelda welcomed a local U3A group to Boarbank to tell them
something about us and our history. They greatly appreciated the
morning and
all learnt something new.
On 2nd
February, the Feast of Candlesmass, six of the Sisters enjoyed an
annual visit
to the Little Sisters of the Poor in Preston to celebrate the Day for
Consecrated Life which the Sisters so generously host. They enjoyed the
opportunity to meet other Religious of the Diocese as well as listening
to
Bishop Michael’s talk in a very friendly and hospitable atmosphere.
On February 6th Sr Anne had the great
joy of attending the Baptism of Adriana Patole at the Mother of God
Church in
Sheffield by Fr. Kilgannon and was honoured to be asked to be Godmother
to
Adriana. Samson and Anju Patole lived at the Newcastle University
Catholic
Chaplaincy from 2003-2004. Their first daughter, Alexia, was born in St
Andrews
when Samson was in a research post at the University there. They have
now moved
to Sheffield where he has a more permanent post in the University.
Anju's
Mother came over from Puna for the occassion. On 26th February Sr Anne
went
again to the North East to celebrate a major birthday of a close priest
friend.
 |
 |
| Fr. Kilgannon, Anju Patole, Samson Patole, Sr. Anne and Anju's Mother | Baby Adriana and her big sister Alexia aged 6 |
 |
| After the Baptism an Indian Banquet reception was held in the Church hall. Food provided by a local restaurant. |
On 8th
February some of the Sisters greatly enjoyed a trip together to Kendal
to see The King’s Speech. (By coincidence, the
day Colin Firth received his BAFTA award, we had staying in the Guest
House
someone who had taught his mother!)
On
February 16th, the Marymount Music Night was on the theme ‘In a foreign
land’.
Several guests joined Sisters and patients for this. The most popular
piece was
the haunting Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi’s Nabucco,
written
soon
after his wife and two children had died.
We
welcomed old friends and new to our Thinking Scripture week
from
19th-26th
February. The theme was the Psalms, which provided both a door into the
whole
theology of the Old Testament, and a way of deepening our experience of
the
Office which we prayed together during the week. The group also watched
together the powerful film Become and
Live, set in modern Israel. About half of us also braved the damp
for a
walk over Scout Scar, near Kendal. The Community were very grateful for
the
presence of the group in the house and at the Office, and also say a
big thank
you for the generous ‘left-overs’ from the social evening! For a full
report of
the week, see the Thinking Scripture page.
We
will
be repeating this week in September: to book,
please contact Sr Margaret@Boarbank
 |
 |
(Many thanks to Maureen for the pictures)
On March
2nd Sr Margaret spoke at Leeds Cathedral on the theme of ‘Job, career
or
vocation? Work as a Christian calling'. On the same day Fr Dixie began
a series
of Lent talks in St Charles Parish on the Gospel of Mark.
Miss
Josie Rigby celebrated her 100th birthday in Marymount on 2nd March,
with
family, friends joining the Sisters and patients. At Mass, Fr Peter
presented
her with a Papal Blessing and afterwards she received a card from the
Queen. Josie’s
family was closely involved in the founding of Boarbank and in running
it in
the early years. We offer her many congratulations.
 |
 |
Miss
Mabel Leach died in Marymount on Wednesday 23rd February. She was a
Quaker, but
had regularly helped us out when we needed an organist over the years.
We were
pleased and privileged to care for her when she had been so great a
friend to
the Community. We offer sympathy to her family and friends; may she
rest in
peace.
On Friday 4th March, the Women’s World Day of Prayer service was led, as usual, by Sheila. This year it was prepared by the women of Chile and their theme being “How many loaves have you?” Bethany Lounge was full of patients, Sisters and other guests, for a very interesting and thought-provoking service. We finished afterwards with brioche (the nearest equivalent to Chilean bread) and tea. Many thanks to Sheila, to Veronica, our pianist, and to the readers.
 |
 |
Future Events
Time to Reflect, a weekend for lecturers in higher education, on the theme ‘Speaking the Truth in Love’, 18th-20th March (see leaflet here).
Thinking Faith, for Catholic students and young professionals, 23rd-29th July (see leaflet here).
A new venture, Freedom and Hope, a holiday and
retreat week for all those who work with and for prisoners,
will
take place from 6th-11th June (see
leaflet here). Please do pass on the information!
Previous
News Pages
November / December 2010
July / August / September 2010
December 2008