Welcome to Boarbank Hall

‘Let mercy triumph over justice, for your words are true and you have promised mercy to the merciful. That the merciful should be so was your gift to them’ (St Augustine on the death of his mother, Confessions 9.33).

: ‘Augustine weeps over his dead
friend,’ Manuscript illustration from the Historia
Augustini, 1430-40, Berlin

October/November 2012 News

Sr Mary Clare Kenny died very peacefully in Marymount in the morning of Sunday 28th October, the sixth anniversary of her good friend Sr Maria. Members of her family, the Sisters and the Chaplain were with her. May she rest in peace. We will include a full tribute to Sr Mary Clare, whose contributed so richly both to our Community and to Marymount, in the next edition of the web news. May she rest in peace.

Sr Elizabeth Mary and Sr Ildikó attended the annual Association of Provincial Bursars’ Conference at High Leigh from 1st to 4th October. The Assistant General, Sr Anne Marie, visited in early October, and we also welcomed several of the Park House Sisters for lunch. Other visitors have included members of Fr Hugh’s family - Elizabeth, Dom, Margaret and Michael - it is good to continue the contact with them and have news of the rest of the family. Sr Irene and Sr Ruth also came to stay for a few days - we are always happy to have them with us.

On October 1st we said farewell to Dr Sheila Phizacklea, who has been GP to the Sisters and to many of the patients for many years. We are all very thankful indeed for all that she has done for us individually and collectively. We are particularly glad that we will still be seeing her and Peter often, as they live locally and worship with us regularly on Sundays. We wish Sheila and Peter a very happy and active retirement, a flourishing garden and enjoyable travels!

Recent events for the patients have included an afternoon with Mozart, a Music Night with a Scandinavian theme, attended also by several guests from the Guest House, a couple of minibus trips to enjoy the autumn colours of the Lake District and an afternoon sharing memories. One afternoon Sr Anne also organised a sing along with songs from the musicals down the ages. The patients joined in enthusiastically, with one of them singing as a solo ‘If I Loved You’ from Carousel. Her daughter and granddaughter turned up to visit her unexpectedly and joined in.

The Guest House has been fairly quiet recently, but we have welcomed several groups for the day. On 29th September, about seventy Co-Workers of Mother Teresa met here to share a talk and discussion, prayer and refreshments, with an opportunity to meet the Sisters.

On 24th October, a class from Eaglesfield Paddle Church of England Primary School visited with three of their teachers and a parent who is an old friend. They had an Any Questions session with some of the Sisters, asking us some very searching questions. After a visit to the Grotto and a picnic lunch in the garden, they had a tour of the Boarbank and Marymount and ended by leading the Community, guests and patients in an Act of Worship created by the pupils themselves. We are very grateful to them for coming so far to see us, and delighted to continue our friendship with the school.

On 25th October, we hosted the annual Day for Religious. Many thanks to Fr Chris Cousins for leading us in the reflection, on the theme of ‘doors’. It was good to welcome old friends and new to join us also for Mass and lunch in the Refectory. Many thanks to Mgr Slattery for organising this.

We were delighted to take part in Macmillan Coffee Morning and are most grateful to those who generously helped us to raise £130 for this worthwhile cause.

On 29th September, Fr Dixie and two of the Sisters were privileged to attend a concert at Kendal Leisure Centre in which Sam Haywood, grandson of our friend Roy Fox, played Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto, with the Lakeland Sinfonia, conducted by Philip Sutherland. The rest of the programme included a Schubert Overture a piece by William Lloyd Webber and Mozart’s Prague Symphony.

Fr Dixie gave a lecture to the Catenians in Chesterfield on ‘Fifty Years since Vatican II’ on 8th October, and went to Scarborough for a two-day retreat on ‘Preaching the Year of Faith’ for the priests of the Hallam Diocese in mid-October. He was delighted to meet again many friends and former pupils at this retreat. One of Fr Dixie’s recent sermons is attached here.

We are sorry that the Daughters of Wisdom are leaving the Parish in Windermere and hope that they will soon settle into their new community home in Lytham. We were delighted that Sr Norbert and Sr Philomena were with us for the Day for Religious. They will be greatly missed in Windermere and we wish them every blessing.

Thanks to Sr Michael, Sr Florence and Michelle for the pictures.

Future Events

The Month’s Mind for Sr Mary Clare will take place on Wednesday 28th November. You are warmly invited to join us for prayers on that day.

The annual Advent Carol Service for Churches Together in Grange and District will take place this year in Boarbank Chapel at 3.30 pm on Sunday 9th December, the Second Sunday in Advent. Please note the change from the usual date of the First Sunday, due to a clash with another event.

Our Health and Salvation week on the theme of ‘Spiritual Care for the Sick’ will take place from 12th-16th November. There are still some places available. If any local people would like to attend as non-residents, please contact Sr Margaret@Boarbank For the full programme of courses for 2013, please see here.

CHRISTMAS SERVICE TIMES - Advance notice!