Welcome to Boarbank Hall

‘The wisdom of God, in healing humankind, has employed himself to cure it, being himself both doctor and medicine’ (St Augustine, On Christian Teaching, 1.14)

Augustine heals the cripples, Edinburgh National Gallery, French/Flemish c 1500

June 2010 News

The Coffee Morning was once again a great success, with lovely weather encouraging both the workers and the many visitors. We raised over £12,800, and are extremely grateful to the many staff, volunteers and other friends, old and new, who donated gifts for the stalls, came along to spend money, or worked so hard preparing and running the stalls, serving refreshments, counting money, tidying up, and doing whatever was needed. A heartfelt “Thank you” to everyone concerned.

We have said goodbye to Agnes, who has returned to Hungary after working in the Guest House since December, and we welcome Charles-Hubert, from Poitiers in France (apologies for saying that he was from Hungary in the last news), who will be with us for the summer. We also welcome Sr Teresa Benedicta from China, who is staying with us to experience Augustinian Community life and will be spending some time working in the Guest House.

Sundays after Easter now consist of a run of Feasts: Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity and Corpus Christi. We celebrated these with appropriate joyfulness, taking the opportunity to invite friends to share our meals. Fr Dixie’s sermon for Trinity Sunday can be read by clicking here. We also set aside an hour every Friday afternoon in May, as requested by the Bishops in response to the scandal of child abuse, to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for healing, forgiveness and renewed commitment. On 26th May Fr Luiz Ruscillo gave the Sisters a Day of Recollection using John chapters 20 and 21 to reflect upon the theme of community. This was greatly appreciated by his audience.

From 18th to 21st May Sr Eileen went to France for a meeting of the General Council of the Federation.

On Monday 24th May we were delighted to host a visit from a class from St Mary’s School, Harrington, brought by Fr Bede Moore. Sr Anne and Sr Yvonne spoke to the children about life at Boarbank, then all had their picnics in the garden. The pupils had prepared a beautiful liturgy for the end of their visit and some of the sisters and guests attended. They sang several hymns during this including "One More Step Along the World I Go", there was a scripture reading read beautifully by one of the girls, prayers were prepared and read by a few pupils and they ended with the song, "Let There be Peace On Earth And Let It Begin With Me". When the service was over, one of the boys who is playing the part of Oliver in the school musical sang very beautifully, "Where Is Love?" for us.

Musical events in Marymount have included an afternoon of DVDs from St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Albert Hall and Pisa, and three events to mark a special week of music in nursing homes, a tea accompanied on the piano by Michael, nephew of our chef Angelo, a presentation on the theme of ‘heavenly bodies’, and an afternoon of patients’ requests, with Sr Anne at the piano.

Fr Dixie visited Lourdes in May to give a study week on the Acts of the Apostles to a group of consecrated women from all over the world. In the first week of June he and Sr Margaret, along with Dr Geoffrey Turner, went to Ilkley to lead some days of reflection for a group of clergy from the Leeds diocese; the theme was preaching.

Sr Ildikó attended a CAFOD Day of Reflection for Religious on the theme of ‘Human Flourishing’ in London on 9th June. We have been privileged to participate in several celebrations for friends of the Community recently: on Saturday 22nd May Sr Michael and Sr Margaret attended Mary Tierney’s induction as an Oblate at Hyning Hall. On Thursday 3rd June Sr Annette and Sr Ildikó went to Sr Pierre’s Diamond Jubilee in Barrow. Fr Dixie attended the Mass for the Golden Jubilee of Fr David Duane, parish priest of Mater Amabilis in Ambleside, and Sr Anne and he attended the Golden Jubilee of Fr Paul Mitcheson in Longridge on 14th June, followed by a celebratory meal with about 200 present. On 15th June, the Community were delighted to welcome Bishop Brian Noble to celebrate his Golden Jubilee as a priest with us in Boarbank Chapel and afterwards in the Refectory; Bishop Michael was also present. Bishop Brian’s very lovely homily is available here

On a sadder note, we have said goodbye to several friends of the Community, with Sisters attending the funerals of Howard Jackson and George Forsyth. We were also very sorry to hear of the death of Margaret Downham, a regular visitor to our Guest House. May they rest in peace.

Views around and about - with many thanks to Philippe

Marymount is the venue for a 4 day course in Palliative Care for Care Assistants under the direction of Jenny Lowe of St John’s hospice. The course is enabling Carers from local care homes to increase their learning and skills in this very important area of care.

Sr Geneviève with old friends from South Africa

The Jubilee Mass of Fr Paul Mitcheson,


Sr Anne's cousin, at St	Wilfrid's Church in Longridge

Future Events

We are still taking bookings for Thinking Faith, our week for Catholic students and young professionals. This is the sixth year that we are running this, and they have all been very enjoyable events. Please do encourage anyone you know who may be interested to contact Sr Margaret@Boarbank. There is more information on our web page for Thinking Faith. We are also taking bookings for Thinking Scripture from 11th-18th September, on St John and the Health and Salvation week from 15th-20th November, on the theme of ‘Health and Community’. See our Events Page for more details.

Support Boarbank online ....

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