'How should we praise God for His love, how should we thank Him? He loved us so much that for our sake He came to be in time, He through whom time was made; He became younger in this world than many of His servants, He who is more ancient than the world itself; He who made humanity became a man, created from the mother whom He had created, carried in the arms He had formed, sucking at the breast He had filled, a wordless infant wailing in a manger, He, the Word, without whom human eloquence is dumb.' (St Augustine, Sermon 188.2)
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December '08 News
Recent News
The annual Advent carol service for Churches Together in Grange and District took place in a full chapel on Sunday 30th November. It is always a pleasure to welcome so many friends from other churches, to take part in proper Advent, not just Christmas, carols, and to enjoy the fine singing of the Cartmel Priory choir, led by Adrian Self.
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Christmas tree in Cartmel Priory |
Our annual three-day retreat was led by Fr Martin Nolan OSA, who as ever entertained us as well as providing food for thought and prayer. He visited our communities in Park House and Ince before returning to Ireland.
Sr Imelda and Fr Dixie thoroughly enjoyed taking part in early November in a conference in Rome of Matercare International, a charity to provide perinatal care in poor countries. They returned a day late, thanks to a flock of starlings causing an accident at Rome airport, but they were very grateful to the friends who rescued them in their difficulty. Fr Dixie has also been busy giving days of recollection, to schoolteachers in Whalley and to the clergy of the Shrewsbury diocese.
Fr Hugh’s travels have included a visit to Swansea for the installation of Bishop Tom Burns as Bishop of Menevia. We are pleased to have Fr Hugh back with us after his recent hospitalisation.
We are pleased to be able to announce that Marymount passed a random inspection with flying colours at the end of November.
We welcome Márta from Hungary to help in the Guest House over Christmas. At the end of November we said goodbye to our Indian nurse, Julie Augustine, who is moving to a new job in the south of England. We wish her all the very best.
We have also said goodbye to Sr Mary Lamble, who stayed with us for two and a half months while her own convent in Carlisle was undergoing extensive repairs. We wish Sr Mary and her community all the very best in settling back in to the rebuilt home.
On 21st November, the community and friends celebrated the 70th anniversary of Sr Yvonne’s profession. Sr Yvonne embodies the history of the Boarbank community, as she has known every one of the sisters who have been part of it. It was a great joy and privilege to celebrate with her on this occasion.
Sr Margaret made her first profession on Gaudete Sunday. It was a particular pleasure to welcome our own Augustinian Bishop Michael, who presided at Mass and received her vows. To read his sermon, click here. The picture on the prayer card, like that of the robin below, is taken from the wall-painting in Boarbank Drawing Room. Many thanks indeed to Tony Shelton for his photography. The goldfinch was used in medieval art as a symbol for Christ and the passion.
The patients and members of community enjoyed being entertained twice by local children: on 11th November the Montessori play group came with a nativity play called ‘Mary’s Knitting’, and four days later the children of Allithwaite School choir sang Christmas songs and carols. We are very grateful to everyone involved for giving us such pleasure. In keeping with the seasonal spirit, decorations are going up all over Boarbank - and the Christmas tree has been restored by our skilful gardeners after crashing down in high winds after the first attempt to put it up!
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A wall-hanging used for the nativity play |
Reverend David Woods 1939-2008
Amidst the various celebrations, we have one sad event to report. Revd David Woods, who, along with his wife, Margaret, has been a close friend of Boarbank in recent years, and who had been living permanently in Marymount, died peacefully on Saturday 6th December. David had been in active ministry in the Anglican Church for over thirty years, both in Cumbria and in Lincolnshire. His requiem was celebrated in Boarbank Chapel on 12th December, by family, close friends and the community.
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Revd David Woods |
Christmas Service Times
Christmas Eve
Vespers 3.30 pm
Office of Readings 5.30 pm
Mass 10 pm
Christmas Day
Morning Prayer 7 am
Mass 10 am
Vespers 6 pm
Sunday 28th December
Short Carol Service 5 pm before Vespers at 5.30 pm
We continue to pray for all our families and friends, and their families, who are sick or facing difficulties. We are immensely blessed by the love, care and support of so many people ourselves and live in a constant state of thanksgiving.
The birth of Christ within me
What good is it to me
If this eternal birth of the Divine Son
Takes place unceasingly
But does not take place within myself?
And
What good is it to me
If Mary is full of Grace
And if I am not also full of grace?
What good is it to me
For the Creator to give birth to the Son
If I do not also give birth to Him
In my time
And my culture?
This, then
Is the fullness of time
When the Son of God is begotten
In us.
THE SISTERS WISH ALL OUR FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS
A BLESSED AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
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