May '08 News

Recent News

In Marymount, we said farewell to Jeeva, one of our Indian nurses, who has successfully converted her Indian qualifications so that she can work as a Registered Nurse in England. She is now moving to Bristol to work in an intensive care unit using her previous experience.

On Tuesday 22nd April Sue Naylor gave talks on Bach Flower Remedies. She will present a further talk on Aromatherapy in the Home on Tuesday 20th May at 7.30 pm, to which everyone is welcome.

Sr Eileen and Sr Elizabeth went to Leeds for a study day on the duties of trustees. They were able to visit St Anne’s Cathedral and they much appreciated the friendliness of those they met.

On Wednesday 30th April we held a Community Day to consider aspects of our life as a Canonical Community, beginning preparation for the next General Chapter of the Federation. A key phrase for this, taken from St Augustine, was, ‘Become what you are.’ In the afternoon, some of the sisters visited the Lakeland Hotel gardens, which were open as part of the National Gardens Scheme. Others were able to celebrate a belated 80th birthday tea with a long-standing friend of the community, Mr Bill Jackson. We wish him many more happy years.

OnThursday 1st May, Margaret McKinven was accepted by the community to begin her postulancy.

On Saturday 3rd May Sr Anne went to Tabor in Preston for a music day led by Sr Margaret Rizza, called ‘Praying through Music’. The morning session consisted of meditation with music in preparation for Pentecost and after the lunch break the whole group of 80 participants leaned and sang together some of Margaret Rizza’s own music. It was a challenging and enjoyable day.

On Sunday 4th May we welcomed Bishop Michael Campbell OSA to say mass here for us for the first time as a bishop, and to stay for lunch afterwards.

Sr Eileen left for France on Monday May 5th for a Council meeting in Rennes. Unfortunately Sr Thérèse Marie and Sr Marie Benoît will not be able to visit as planned; however, they will be with us in the autumn.

Our ‘flying priest’, Fr Chris, was here recently, and took some of the guests out for a trip. Our thanks to Clare for the photos!

The beginning of May has brought some lovely weather, after a fortnight of April showers, and the garden is looking beautiful. A pair of swallows has finally arrived at Boarbank and looks as if they might be here to stay!

Plans are well under way to produce a new set of postcards, using some of the beautiful photographs that have been taken recently by various friends of Boarbank. Watch this space!

We are very sad to report the death of Mrs Theophila Lowe on April 22nd. Mrs Lowe and her family have been very close friends of the community for many years, and she spent her last few weeks in Marymount. Fr Parker presided at here funeral, and the Chapel was packed with fellow-parishioners and other close friends - a fitting testimony to an exceptional lady.

We would like to thank all our benefactors for their continued support for us throughout the year, especially those who give donations using Gift Aid. If you would like to do this, please ask one of the sisters for a form. Thank you.

 

Future Events

On May 13th in the afternoon John Pilkington will return to give another travel talk with slides. This will be on his travels up the Mekong River, which flows from Tibet to Vietnam.

We shall be celebrating One World Week with Augustine on the afternoon of May 14th, from 2.30 to 6.30 pm. There will be two sessions of talks and discussion on this year’s theme of Friendship, with tea in between. We shall finish with Vespers for St Augustine. Anyone who is interested should contact Sr Margaret [link] before 1st May.

On Tuesday 20th May at 7.30 pm, Sue Naylor will talk on Aromatherapy in the Home. All welcome.

On Monday 26th May at 9.30 am the doors will open for our annual Coffee Morning. All welcome!  

On Wednesday 28th May at 7.30 pm, Caroline D’Cruz, Sr Margaret’s sister will return with a friend, Russel Shipley, to give a concert in the Chapel of music for clarinet and piano. They will include pieces by Saint Saens, Brahms, Horowitz, Finzi and Gershwin. Caroline, who is originally from Kirkby Lonsdale, trained at Chetham’s School of Music and at the Royal College of Music. She is very involved in music-making in North Dorset, where she lives, and in London. Russel has performed for US presidents in Washington DC and featured as the soloist in concerts throughout the US, Europe and Korea. There will be a collection for the Augustinian Missions.

Previous News Pages

April 2008