Everyone who loves in a spiritual, not a fleshly, manner those who are dead not in spirit but in flesh should offer them eagerly, attentively, generously, whatever may help their spirits - Masses, prayers, almsgiving (St Augustine, Sermon 172, 3).
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October '09 News
Sr Anne is making a good recovery. She is still in Marymount for the time being, and has been very busy receiving visitors! Various Sisters have been away during this month, for holidays, and for work. The latter included a few days for Sr Elizabeth Mary and Sr Ildikó at the annual Bursars’ Conference at High Leigh, and a few days in Cambridge for Sr Margaret, who was working a couple of encyclopaedia articles on St Augustine. Sr Michael attended the profession of Sr Susanna Clare of the Poor Clare Sisters at Arkley. We have also had first Sr Francis and then Sr Madeleine from South Africa staying with us for a few days, as they were in Europe after the Chapter. It was a delight to welcome them both. Over the next few weeks, several Sisters will also be able to take advantage of our holiday house in Ambleside.
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On 13 October, Sr Imelda and Sr Annette attended the prize-giving at Cartmel School, where several of the young people who work or have worked at Boarbank received prizes. Congratulations to them.
On 29th October several of the Sisters enjoyed the hospitality of the Salesian Sisters at Brettargh Holt for the annual Day for Religious. This was led this year by Fr Ted Gannon, a priest of our diocese. We were blessed with beautiful weather, and were able to enjoy the grounds, full of birds and sheep and deer, as well as the fine hospitality, the fellowship with old friends and new, the two talks, and a shared Mass. Many thanks to the Brettargh Sisters and to Monsignor Slattery for organising this.
On 1st November, Sr Eileen, Sr Annette, Sr Imelda and Teresa Deng attended a Mass at St Clare’s in Preston, celebrated by Bishop Campbell in honour of the beatification of Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Congratulations and thanks to the Preston Community of the Little Sisters.
Fr Dixie went to Hauxton Hall on 20th November to speak to the clergy of the Shrewsbury Diocese on 'The Church then and now'.
We have had two weekends of Augustinian visitors, both of them filled with plans as well as prayer and pleasure! The Friends of St Augustine visited on 16th October, with our regular English group being joined this year by four from Holland. This was in order to help the English Friends formalise their organisation, using the experience of the Dutch, in order both to develop what they do themselves and to facilitate the bringing together different Augustinian groups. Ian and Gwen Harding of the Clare Priory group report:
We had our first FoA meeting since Boarbank on Thursday. We reported
back to the rest of our group , who were eager and receptive. As a group
we have started the process of producing our own prayer/ information
booklet, combining several of the ideas greatfully received from our
Dutch Friends. We have produced a basic outline for prayer, thought
and discussion with the intent of finalizing a format for the completed
pocket book at next month’s meeting. We will send you a copy of our
completed efforts . We will also plan our next year's meetings for our
group and assigning leaders for each month.
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For more, see www.friendsofaugustine.org and select from "Latest News" (in the left hand column) the items to view. For more pictures, see here.
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The OSAY, the Augustinian organisation for young people, met at Boarbank two weeks later. It was a big group, and one of their aims was to prepare for the Augustinian Youth Encounter in August next year, when the Anglo-Scottish Province will be hosting 350 young people from all over the world, with the theme ‘I call you friends’. Fr Gianni, Fr Stefan and Fr George were accompanied by Michela and Clare, the two Augustinian Youth Coordinators, and a further 22 young people, for a weekend that seemed to be both thoroughly enjoyable and full of ideas. We wish them all the very best with the hard work of preparing for the venture. For more, see www.aye10.org.
Future Events
There are still places for the Health and Salvation retreats for healthcare workers in November, on the theme ‘A Good Ending’ (which will also feature a famous clown talking about using his work for healing) and in January on the theme ‘Health and Community’. We are also taking bookings for Thinking Scripture on St John in February 2010, and for Time to Reflect (for teachers in Higher Education) in March 2010. For more, see the Events page.
On 29th November we will host the annual Christians Together in Grange and District Advent Carol Service. This will be in the Chapel at 6.30 p.m., with the singing led by a choir based on the Cartmel Priory choir and conducted by Adrian Self. This is always one of the most enjoyable events of the Boarbank calendar, and a great witness both to the warmth of friendships among the different Christian groups in our area, and to the importance of celebrating Advent as a season in its own right, rather than just anticipating Christmas. Please join us for the occasion.
Previous News Pages
December 2008