July '08 News

Recent News

Fr Dixie is now permanently installed in Fr Hugh’s old room, with a vast number of boxes of books, transported by a faithful team of supporters while he was still back in Rome!

Fr Dixie's books arrive	All in the room

Weary but triumphant!

A pilgrimage to Lourdes of Augustinian Sisters of our Federation took place from 16th-22nd June, celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the shrine. Sr Michael, Sr Rita and Sr Marian from Park House and Sr Beata from South Africa joined twenty French sisters from different monasteries for this Jubilee pilgrimage. Sr Michael writes:

Ably organised by Mother-General Sr Thérèse-Marie, and Mother-Assistant Sr Marie Benoît, we had a chance not only to visit the Grotto, Basilicas and Baths, but also to follow the special Chemin du Jubilé, the Jubilee Way. This comprised walking, in Lourdes, to the four places associated with St Bernadette, the Hospice, where she went to school and made her First Holy Communion, the baptismal font in the parish church where she received baptism, the cachot, the poor, damp dwelling where she lived, and the Grotto. At each place, a sticker was given to add to the Jubilee medal, worn around the neck on completion of the pilgrimage walk. We also visited Bartres, where Bernadette spent part of her childhood.

The Hospice plaque	The baptismal font
The cachot	The Grotto

The sisters at Bartres

Fr Laurent Boisvert, the parish priest of Lourdes, was our leader, and gave us much background information and insights into the meaning of Lourdes, for example how washing in the water from the Grotto, as Our Lady asked, is simply a continuation of the washing at baptism, to underline it, so to speak. Our wonderful translator was Sr Thérèse Barra, who accompanied us and ensured we understood all that was said.

Most of us attended the Blessed Sacrament and Torchlight Processions and Mass in the various Basilicas and Tent of Adoration. One can sit by the Gave and look towards the Grotto, always crowded with pilgrims, the sick and their devoted helpers, and ponder on this daily scene. So much faith, so much good humour, despite the heat and the crowds and the waiting. So many nationalities, familiar prayers in different languages, truly the Church universal, united and one. It was a wonderful experience on all levels, and we were left with memories we shall treasure always.

The Gave	Caring for the sick
Sr Michael and Sr Beata with friends	View of the Sanctuary

After the visit, Sr Beata returned to England and visited Boarbank for a few days, seeing the house and visiting the area for the first time.

Sr Anne, Sr Margaret and Fr Anthony had two very enjoyable encounters with the staff and pupils of St Mary’s Catholic High School, Bamber Bridge. On 24th June they took part in a Vocations Day there for the whole school. A week later, a group of twenty staff and chapel prefects came to Boarbank for a retreat on the theme of the Eucharist. Mrs Rachel Thompson, who organised the events, was an ex-colleague of Fr Anthony from Castlerigg, and an old friend of Boarbank and of Sr Anne, while her assistant Miss Nichola Harte was a pupil of Sr Margaret’s when she was doing her teacher training.

Sr Anne went to Ulverston on 4th July to speak to the Mothers’ Union of St Mary’s Church, again on the theme of vocation.

The Year of St Paul began on 29th June, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The novitiate are planning an ongoing display in the back of chapel through the year.

We remembered the Day for Life on Sunday 5th July, with its special theme this year of Mental Health, praying in particular for all those affected by mental illness of any sort, and for those who care for them.

We have been delighted to welcome more helpers from abroad, old friends and new. Cheiko has come from Japan to be with us for ten months. Others have come for shorter times: Véra from Hungary, Bence, also from Hungary and brought by his aunt, Ildikó, another old friend, and Claire Salard from France. They will soon be joined by Henri, also from France, and Jutta, who is German.

As usual at this time of year we will be welcoming students on Work Experience Placements and hope to give them an encouraging and positive insight into the world of work.

The house has been surrounded by scaffolding again recently, as the builders carry out repairs on the roof, in between the rain. Despite the rabbits and the squirrels, the gardeners are managing to provide us with tomatoes and raspberries again - the English summer is here. The rain break in the Wimbledon mens’ final was providentially organised to coincide with Compline, so that most of the community could be present for the final nail-biting moments - a match that we wanted neither of them to lose.

Future Events

The new postcards and notelets (8 of each) are at the printers and will be on sale very soon. Here are a sample of the designs to whet your appetites.

Thinking Faith will begin on 19th July. This year’s week will include mass at the medieval Shap Abbey, and talks on themes as varied as the film ‘Atonement’, Richard Dawkins on Science and Religion, Jerusalem and the Easter Liturgy and the encyclicals of Benedict XVI.

Thinking Scripture, on the Gospel of Matthew, is already filling up for 30th August to 6th September. We are holding a few places for younger applicants (i.e. under 50!). If you know of any who might be interested, please encourage them.

We are planning two residential events for the new year: Thinking Scripture will run again from 21st to 28th February on St Paul, while our retreat for Healthcare Professionals on the theme Body and Spirit will run from 12th to 17th January.

Previous News Pages

June 2008

May 2008

April 2008