‘Today the Redeemer of all nations was manifested, and thus he made a feast day for all nations’ (St Augustine, Sermon 203, on the Epiphany)
January 2011 News
The snow and cold weather made Boarbank look more beautiful than ever. It posed a challenge to our staff, and we are very grateful to those who made great efforts to come in to work. Many thanks to Bay Search and Rescue for offers of help to bring night staff to and from work. The snow also caused the roof of the Convent to leak, and an array of bowls, towels and buckets were the decorations of necessity for a while. Time will tell what will be needed to prevent a recurrence. Fortunately, the snow did not prevent too many of the Christmas guests from coming to join us - they had more warning than last year. So the traditional fire in the Hall was lit to welcome old friends and new on Christmas Eve, and we have been enjoying ‘Campfire Compline’ with the guests ever since. The bedrooms in Bethany were completed on the morning of 23rd December ready for the guests who arrived later that day. The new windows let in huge amounts of light and each room is decked out differently, the new carpets and curtains adding great splashes of colour and giving the rooms a very cosy feel.
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We are delighted that
Sr Yvonne has made very good
progress after fracturing her femur, and is now able to join the
Community each
day for lunch.
On the First Sunday in Advent, we hosted the Churches Together in Grange Carol Service. The snow began to fall in the late afternoon ... and continued. We are very grateful to all who braved the weather to make it a prayerful and enjoyable start to Advent. Special thanks are also due to Gill, Ben, Carl, Mary, John and Bay Search and Rescue for transporting people safely home.
At the end of November BBC Radio Cumbria broadcast a programme on religious people who had a visible identity. Sr Eileen and Sr Anne were interviewed and talked about the life and work of Boarbank. This was a good warm-up for Pope Benedict’s historic broadcast of Thought for the Day on Radio 4 at Christmas.
The Community prepared for Christmas with an Advent retreat led by Bishop Michael. He focused on the various forerunners of Christ: Isaiah, John the Baptist, Our Lady, and his talks and homilies were much appreciated by everyone.
On January
13th-14th
Sr Eileen and Sr Elizabeth Mary were able to pay a post-Christmas visit
to our
sister-communities in Liverpool, Park
House and Ince.
Christmas
news
We were blessed with several visits from young people before Christmas this year. On 9th December the local Montessori pre-school performed their Christmas Nativity "Mary's Knitting" for all the patients and staff in Marymount. Everyone was thoroughly entertained as the toddlers sang and acted out the Christmas story. The Angel Gabriel and the Star of Bethlehem had prominent roles this year. There were plenty of sheep, a Shepherd called Sidney and a very young charismatic Joseph. Afterward they and their teachers enjoyed crisps, juice and mincepies. On 13th December, Maria Hall brought a class from St Patrick’s RC Primary School, Walton-le-Dale. They sang carols for the patients and Community and visited them in their rooms, and then led a very beautiful and prayerful Evening Prayer for the Community in chapel. It was a real delight to be with young people being formed in our great tradition and participating so enthusiastically and respectfully. On 16th December, while the Community were on retreat, Allithwaite Primary School came also to sing carols for the patients. Thanks to Ms Davies for arranging the visit, which was much appreciated.
On 23rd December, the young children of the staff were again invited up to Boarbank to meet Father and Mother Christmas who arrived in arctic conditions on Thomas the Tank Engine. Unfortunately ‘Thomas’ stalled and despite desperate attempts to coax him back to life gave up the effort. Father Christmas and spouse had to trek up Boarbank’s icy pathway with the help of a couple of elves but were greeted enthusiastically by the children. Once inside, there was a division of labour: Father Christmas made his way to Marymount with gifts for all the residents whilst Mother Christmas dished out toys to the children. Afterwards the youngsters sang beautifully around the crib in the chapel for their parents, Sisters and staff.
On Christmas Eve, the Flookburgh Silver Band arrived in the evening to play Christmas Carols for all the guests in the Dining Room and then on to Marymount to play for the patients. They really added to the Christmas spirit and are very much welcomed every year. Fr Peter and Fr Dixie shared the Masses over Christmas and Epiphany. A homily or two can be accessed by clicking here. In the period during and after Christmas we welcomed several guests also to join us for meals in the Refectory. The Community also took a bit of time to celebrate with each other, holding a quiet Community day on 30th December, which finished by watching together the excellent DVD of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ (thanks to Silvana here!), and a Not-Officially-Epiphany tea party on 6th January, including some fun and games.
Other
events
On the 11th December a group of young international students along with three Dominicans from the Blackfriars Studium in Oxford visited Boarbank for a few days reading and walking. Sister Margaret led a seminar on the nature of work, job and vocation and generated a lively discussion amongst the group.
Events in Marymount have included Music Nights on 8th December, with the theme of Any Requests, and including a couple of pieces in tribute to our longstanding supporter Mrs Hullah, and on 5th January, when Silvana made her debut as chief DJ with a programme of Christmas Music. On 5th January the Frantic Theatre Company provided a lively morning’s entertainment including songs and ventriloquy.
The Health and Salvation retreat from 15th-20th January was on the theme of ethical dilemmas. All of last year’s January group returned and were joined by several others, including speakers. It was a particularly rich and enjoyable week, with very thoughtful talks and discussions and a lovely atmosphere of prayer, fun and friendship. For a fuller report, see the Health and Salvation page. The same theme will be repeated in November 2011 - please do tell anyone who might be interested.
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Sr Anne’s
annual
retreat weekend for her former Newcastle
students took place on 21st-23rd January, and we welcomed back many
familiar faces, including some very young ones. It is lovely to
continue this
connection and to enable the group to keep up links with one another.
On December 3rd we
said goodbye to Sarah, who returned
to working at the Old Vicarage. The thanks to her were led by Dr Harold
on
behalf of the patients, by Dawn on behalf of the staff and by Sr Eileen
on
behalf of the Community. Sarah will be missed and we wish her every
happiness
and success in the future, particularly in her aim to become a
Registered
Nurse.
In early January we also said goodbye to Zita, who has returned to her native Hungary to continue her work as a Registered Nurse. She was with us only a few months, but her gentle presence, good humour and hard work were greatly appreciated by the Community, her colleagues and those we care for. Off-duty she was also a popular presence in the Guest House. We wish her every success in her new role and every happiness in the future. Judit, also from Hungary, has come back for another extended stay with us, helping in Marymount, in the Guest House and in the Library.
Mass was celebrated in the Chapel for Bishop Hugh Lindsay, who died here in Boarbank two years ago on the 19th January. He was very much loved and much missed.
Thanks to
Margaret, John,
Sue, Maureen and Liz for photos. We greatly appreciate the artistic
talents of
our photographic friends! As always we are full of gratitude for the
many
blessings we receive each day, and especially at Christmastime, and to
all our
friends, families, staff and benefactors, for their greetings, gifts
and
donations - truly overwhelming. Special thanks for specific donations
to
Bethany Refurbishment; also to Sr Geneviève and her patrons for
the profit of
£300 from the shop and to Sheila and Sr Yvonne and all the 300
Club members for
their annual cheque, this year £2,400.
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Future Events
There are still a few
places left for: Thinking Scripture on the Psalms on
19th-26th February. (This week will be repeated on 10th-27th
September).
Time to Reflect, a weekend for lecturers in higher education, on the theme ‘Speaking the Truth in Love’, 18th-20th March.
Thinking Faith, for Catholic students and young professionals, 23rd-29th July.
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!
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December 2008