Before all else, live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God. For is it not precisely for this reason that you have come together? (Rule of St Augustine I.2).
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September '09 News
Sr Eileen and Sr Annette spent the first three weeks of September at the General Chapter of the Federation in L’Ile Blanche in Brittany. The General Chapter is always an important event in the life of the Federation and it is a privilege to represent the Community. We were almost 40 Sisters from every Community of the Federation in England, France, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and South Africa. The theme of the Chapter was “Become what you are. Canonical Community at the heart of the Church and the world”. It was a time of deep prayer and reflection as well as joyful sharing. Particular joys were hearing what God does for us and through us for others despite our limitations and frailty as we continue to love and serve. Other causes for celebration were the election of a new Superior General Sr Marie Claude of Malestroit and her Assistant Sr Anne-Marie of Gouarec and the granting of autonomy to Shuwa, Nigeria, who like ourselves were founded from Park House. The Liturgy was beautifully prepared and celebrated in a combination of English and French in wonderful harmonies including singing by our African Sisters in their native languages.
We thanked Sr Thérèse Marie and Sr Marie Benoît for their 8 years of service to the Federation as General and Assistant. We have always enjoyed their visits to us and hope that they will be able to visit again in the future after their return to their Communities in Gouarec and Thibermont.
We begin the next 4 years with thankfulness and renewed appreciation of our vocation as Augustinian Canonesses of the Mercy of Jesus always open to all that God offers us and asks of us.
Thanks be to God!
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We were also delighted to welcome Sr Christiana and Sr Elizabeth from Nigeria to Boarbank for lunch, along with their friend Fr Martin Crean OSA, when they visited England after the Chapter.
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We were delighted to have the good news that Sr Imelda’s treatment has been successful and no more is needed at present. Thank you to everyone for their prayerful support for Sr Imelda and the Community during this time.
We are also pleased to have Sr Anne back with us in the Nursing Home and making steady progress.
The Thinking Scripture week ran from 12th to19th September, focusing on St Paul and I Corinthians. The participants brought a wide range of cultural and professional experience to bear on the questions about faith and community with which St Paul was grappling. For a full report, see the Thinking Scripture page.
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Teresa Deng, a Chinese doctor, is spending a couple of months with the Community to experience the Augustinian way of life. Teresa hopes to go on to be part of a new Augustinian foundation in China, after a period of novitiate with another community in England.
We welcome András from Hungary, who will be with us for ten months to work in the Guest House and study English. He hopes next year to study Theology and Liturgical Music in Hungary.
On 19th September Fr Peter returned to his old parish, St John Fisher, Haughton Green, for a farewell celebration with the parishioners. They took a collection to mark the occasion and raised £600 for Francis House Children’s Hospice and £600 for the hospice in Ashton-under-Lyme.
On 27th September Fr Dixie paid his annual visit to Chesterfield to speak to the Catenians, this time on the Gospel of St John.
Recent Marymount musical events have included an afternoon of popular songs introduced by Fr Peter, and an evening of music used in films, introduced by Sr Margaret. (Keen film-goers might like to try the quiz attached to the programme!) Sr Geneviève was also able to enjoy another of the Grange Music Society concerts, featuring the tenor Simon Oliver and local pianist Faith Leadbetter.
Several Sisters were again able to visit the National Garden Open Day at Lakeside Hotel. We are most grateful to Mr Neville Talbot and his staff for their generosity and hospitality at these events.
Sr Michael attended a celebration to mark the publication of a history of the Cartmel Quaker Meeting House, written by Larry Walters, a regular visitor to Marymount along with his wife Marjorie. The book marks 150 years since the foundation of the Meeting House.
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The relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux came to Lancaster in the last week of September. Several of the Sisters, along with Fr Peter, were able to attend either the Mass and Compline on the evening of 28th, or the early morning Mass on 29th. The morning in particular offered the opportunity for quiet prayer and dignified visits to the relics. We were pleased to join many other religious including 10 Carmelite Sisters from Preston.
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On holiday |
at Boarbank |
Future Events
We look forward to the visits of Sr Francis and Sr Madeleine, both based in South Africa, who have been in Europe for the General Chapter. We will also be hosting weekends during October for the Friends of St Augustine and for the Augustinian Youth.
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. For more, see the Events page.
Music for Films: Marymount Music Night, Wednesday September 30th 2009
DO YOU KNOW WHICH FILMS THESE WERE USED IN?
Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Also sprach Zarathrustra Introduction Cincinnati Pops Orchestra; Erich Kunzel, conductor
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) Nocturne no. 20 in C sharp minor Idil Biret, piano
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Sinfonia Concertante K 364 Allegro Maestoso Igor Oistrakh, violin; David Oistrakh, viola; Orchestre de la Radiodiffusion Française; Otto Klemperer, conductor
Johannes Brahms (1822-1897) Hungarian Dance no. 5 Budapest Symphony Orchestra; Istváán Bogar, conductor
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999) Concierto de Aranjuez Andante From the James Last Classical Collection
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) Gianni Schicchi ‘O mio babbino caro’ Kiri Re Kanawa, soprano; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Sir John Pritchard, conductor
Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor Adagio sostenuto Sergei Rachmaninov, piano; The Philadelphia Orchestra; Leopold Stokowski, Eugene Ormandy, conductors
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Ave MariaThe Priests
Jerome Kern (1885-1945) Music for ****(!?) ‘The way you look tonight’ National Philharmonic Orchestra; Ambrosian Chorus; John McCarthy, chorus master
Henry Mancini (1924-1994) Spot the tune …..! National Philarmonic Orchestra; Henry Mancini, conductor; James Galway, flute
Strauss _________ A. Room with a View
Chopin _________ B. Out of Africa
Mozart _________ C. The Great Dictator
Brahms_________ D. Brassed Off
Rodrigo_________ E. Brief Encounter
Puccini _________ F. Swing Time
Rachmaninov_____ G. The Pianist
Schubert_________ H. Space Odyssey 2001
Kern____________ I. Fantasia
Music in Films Wed 30th Sept
Bethany Lounge 7 p.m.
Previous News Pages
December 2008