News Blog page 11 |
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17.8.19.
For the past 2 weeks we've had the blessing of Canon David Ryan with us. Fr
David is from Bath, Somerset where he has a busy parish; this was a time of
rest, prayer & discernment & we were happy to welcome him. He was a breath
of fresh air, filled with enthusiasm, positivity & the joy of the Lord. |
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14.8.19.
It's that season when the busy bees have been hard at work & this year with
Mother Jane Margaret's help they have produced a bumper crop, well at least
the most honey we've had so far! Praise the Lord for all the sweetness He
sends us in so many ways. |
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11.8.19.
This evening 1st Vespers flows us into the feast of our Holy Mother, St Jane
Francis de Chantal. We unite with our Sisters & friends all over the world, rejoicing in our vocations
& asking blessings for you as we each
try to 'Live Jesus' in gratefulness & trust.
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1.8.19.
We had the annual visit from our good friends Sadie & Angela last month,
they come each year for their retreat & always bring with them from the
Emerald Isle their beautiful smiles & sense of humour. |
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28.7.18.
Check out the new cards in our
online shop, click the link 'cards' below in the left hand column. |
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24.7.19.
At the end of the Wimbledon season a Vicar, in our neighbouring town of
Heathfield, remarked on a bill poster he had seen outside a church recently.
"With tennis love means nothing at all, but with God LOVE means everything!"
Of course this is witty & clever, meant to catch our eye, but it is also
very true. God has many names, many attributes but for us He is LOVE &
that's all we need. |
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17.7.19.
To watch something grow from a tiny seed into something beautiful is
awesome; do you think that's how
God watches us? |
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4.7.19.
Sometimes the words of songs have great meaning & a truth in them & because
they are a 'catchy' tune they stay with us, we remember them. Does anyone
remember this song of Bob Dylan, it's actually got 7 verses & a chorus &
came out in 1979? Here are just a few verses. |
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30.6.19.
It has been very dry & hot but the kitchen garden has managed to produce
some veggie crops assisted by Sr Clare Chantal. It's hard, heavy work when
the soil is so dry. Sr Mary Scarecrow is doing her best to keep the birds &
rabbits at bay & we leave the rest to God! |
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25.6.19.
It's the month of June, the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus whose feast
we'll be celebrating this Friday. It's a feast very special to us as St
Margaret Mary was a Visitation Sister. The Sacred Heart is the home of God's
compassion, mercy & love & what better place to lay all the worries &
problems of our world, of our personal lives. He will enfold them & give us
courage & strength to face each new day. One day at a time -
that's all most of us can cope with! |
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17.6.19.
We had a wonderful celebration on Saturday when two of our Daughters of St
Francis de Sales, Teresa & Sarah, made their Consecration at a mass
celebrated by Fr Jim Hurley. We welcomed their families & friends from
Scotand & America who together with our group of Daughters spent a happy
day, full of singing, joy & blessings. |
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click on both pictures
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to
see short videos click here
to
read Fr Jim's sermon click here |
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5.6.19.
It will be a month on Friday since Jean Vanier died. This gentle man, a
giant on so many levels - spiritually, in heart, humanity & in stature -
touched so many lives, especially those with whom he shared his life. What a
rich legacy he has
left us, this Saint of God. We were privileged to have welcomed him twice to
our monastery. The photo opposite in of one of those visits in the 90's.
From the hundreds of attributes Jean received we loved these words from a
letter in the 'Tablet' from Diana Barren, who was appointed to the House of
Lords in 2018 & serves as a Governess Whip & Baroness in Waiting.
'As he grew older he seemed to have such an intimate relationship with
Jesus that it felt like there was no distance between them'.
Tonight we begin our Tridium retreat before Pentecost, we'll remember you,
your intentions & your families.
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25.5.19.
We all believe in miracles don't we? But perhaps we don't always expect to
see them! If we look around each day at the 'ordinary' things in our daily
lives we'll witness so many from our loving & merciful God.
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16.5.19.
As we celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday last week, we greeted Mother Jane
Margaret with our flower-decked crook, thanking her for her 'shepherding' of
our community.
'All in a spring-time morning,
full of joy we pray
your sheep & your little lambs
greet their shepherd today.
Each year on this happy morning
flower-decked crook do we bring
symbol of loving guidance
we think on the care of God.' |
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9.5.19.
This week we had the joy of welcoming 7 Missionary sisters Charity from
Southwark in London for the day.
They ventured out of the 'smoke' & accompanied by Fr Jim & Jack the driver
we spent a happy few hours together. Hailing from 7 different countries we
laughed, sang & enjoyed a cup of tea. Praise the Lord for the gift of
friendship. |
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click picture for page 1 pics
click here
◊mcpicpage 2s2.html
for page 2 pics |
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click here for
videos |
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2.5.19
Today it looks as if the heavens are going to open & give us a good heavy
shower, but if you take a stroll in the woods you'll be immersed in a sea of
blue as the Bluebells are fully out, perfuming the air & giving an ethereal
atmosphere. Very appropriate for this beautiful month of Our Lady.
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25.4.19.
Our Easter pics to share with you. |
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EASTER SUNDAY
Easter
Blessings to you all,
may the joy of our risen Lord
fill your hearts & lives with
thanksgiving & peace. |
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13.4.19.
Spring is in the air, all around nature is revealing herself; the birds are
singing & the cuckoo should return next week, if he is on time, the promise
of renewal & new life lifts our hearts. The beginnings of our veggie crops
are showing their tiny heads above the soil in the greenhouse - the promise
of good things to come, and so we enter into this holiest of weeks. As a
community we are in retreat; extra prayer, extra stillness, we carry with us
our troubled & suffering world, we place at the foot of the cross all those
with heavy hearts - for whatever reason - and we look to Jesus to show us
the way. |
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4.4.19.
Yesterday we held the funeral of our dear Sr M Catherine, bidding her
farewell with a beautiful mass concelebrated by four priest friends. We
celebrated her life on a bright sunny April day, thanking God for her
presence over many years in our community. |
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23.3.19.
We have been knee-deep in glorious daffodils this year, truly a sight to
behold. Click on the picture opposite. |
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19.3.19.
Today, the feast of St Joseph, patron of the dying, our dear Sr M. Catherine
went to God at 3am this morning. Sister had celebrated her 90th birthday
last month & had been poorly for several weeks. Before entering the
monastery she had been a teacher for many years & always maintained a
childlike quality. She was professed 46 years. Now she is at peace; may she
rest in the arms of her beloved Jesus.
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18.3.19.
Praying with & for the people of Christchurch. |
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10.3.19.
1st Sunday in Lent
As we say the Litany of the Passion each day and sing the Stabat Martyr we
think of all the suffering mothers of our world today. So very many who have
lost sons and daughters in tragic circumstances. May Our Lady of Sorrows be
for them a comfort and consolation as they each stand at the foot of their
cross and mourn.
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click picture |
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5.3.19.
Shrove Tuesday
This morning a bit of 'tossing went on in the kitchen! Sadly I don't seem to
have got any mid-air pancake pics so you'll have to take my word that there
was some fine tossing achieved! As you can see from the sister's faces it's
a very serious business!
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22.2.19.
For the past ten days we've had a very nasty dose of flu. Every sister
except one caught it; the monastery has resounded with hacking coughs &
sneezes, bleary eyes & copious hankies. There's been cough mixtures,
expectorants, throat lozengers, Vick vapour rubs, thermometers &
anything else you can think of! Happily the worst seems to be over & now the
only way is up! Praise the Lord!
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10.2.19.
Our dear Donna has now returned to the States after her two week stay. In
true British style we had a tea & supper party & raised our cups of tea to
bid her adieu!
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7.2.19.
Our procession for the feast of the Presentation February 2nd.
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2.1.19.
A few January pics from around the monastery. |
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30.1.19.
God accompanies us on our journey through life with many sign-posts to guide us.
They may not be as clear as in the picture opposite but they are there if we
look. They may be a friend or a stranger; they may be a child or an animal;
they may be a thought, an inspiration or a prayer. If we are truly looking
God will always show us the way.
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26.1.19.
She may never win 'Bake off' or 'Master Chef' but Sr M. Teresa gets our
votes after she made us chocolate brownies!
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24.1.19.
Our Vigil for Holy Founder last night. |
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23.1.19.
Today we end the novena to St Francis de Sales, as we begin his feast with
1st Vespers & a Vigil service this evening. We wish you many blessings &
remember you & all your intentions in prayer at adoration all day tomorrow.
The little painting opposite was brought from France by Mother Therese
Chantal Hurard, who founded the Visitation in England in 1804. |
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'O Theotimus, the soul of our Saviour knew each one of us by
name & by surname: above all on the day of His Passion when He
offered His tears, His prayers, His blood & His life for all
....'
St
Francis de Sales |
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12.1.19.
Many of us have used the Metro in Paris & even more the Underground in
London. It's a quick way of travelling, if not a comfortable trip during the
times of rush-hour. Its span covers over 250 miles deep beneath the surface
& yesterday was the 153th anniversary of the opening of the London
Underground. We all use different modes of travel to reach our destinations
& so it is in our spiritual lives; we may travel side by side with the same
goal in view, but some of us make stops on the way, take diversions, choose
different times; we may or may not choose who we tavel with. Won't it be
great when we reach our final stop, go up that final escalator & fall into
the arms of Jesus?
Let's pray for all travellers today, that the holy angels will surround them
& bring them safely to their destination |
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6.1.19. The
Epiphany
'What can I give Him
feeble as I am,
If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
give Him my Heart.
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4.1.19.
These shadow dancers are amazing.
They have such a creative skill. Click on the picture opposite. |
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3.1.19.
Happy New Year to everyone.
We are still in awe at the Incarnation story that we just celebrated a week
ago; or are we like the Scottish farmer who couldn't believe such a story?
To read it click on the picture opposite
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27.12.18.
As we approach the end of the year it's time to begin another webpage and
share some Christmas pics with you. Sr Paul Miryam celebrated her 92nd
birthday on Christmas day, you will see her blowing out the candles on her
cake - not 92 of them! May these post-Christmas days bring you joy & rest &
may you look forward in hope to the year ahead. |
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click on picture |
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