The come and see weekend in Aug

Hello All,
Well the wanderer returns from her adventures and long hard study in ROME & ASSISI !

What an amazing time it has been there may be lots to tell and certainly lots of pics but i just want to mention that we are still running our annual come and see event for anyone wishing to know more about our Benedictine way of life at Colwich and if it’s a possibility for you ! If you are discerning religious life in general then why not get in touch with me and make this Aug weekend successful this year and something special to remember that will touch your heart as well as mine!

M. Davina

Holy Thursday.

Holy Thursday,celebrates deep signs of God’s Love.

In the washing of the feet and the giving of His body and His blood we find “signs of Jesus”service and love.

His invention is to allow him to serve us,and to receive His Body and Blood.

Maybe in our prayers today we can imagine Him washing our feet,allowing this intimacy as He touches us in service and care.

He wants to be close to us like this,He invites us to be open to Him in love as He is tous.

We could give thanks for the service of anyone who has brought us close to God,.Al.low your hearts be thankful to God  and speak your feelings as one trusted friend to another.

Inauguration Mass….

Mass at San Pietro’s

Inauguration mass of Papa Francesco

What an amazing day it has been. Today is the Feast of St. Joseph and it’s Tues 2013 and our new Papa Francesco has been installed as the new Bishop of Rome!

After having got up early to be on time we had breakfast at 6.30 and were to leave promptly at 7am, however we could if we wished leave on our own before hand and I took up this for although I still left at 6.45 there were plenty of people lining up to catch the Metro which incidently was proclaimed a day of free travel on the Metro and I guess the bus too because the tickets work for both… well between 5.30 & 2.30pm anyhow! I’m glad I went when I did ‘cause the street from the Occtaviero (don’t know the correct spelling) to San Pietro’s was packed and even we had to wait a few mins before being allowed to continue down the street. People were handing out pictures of our new Papa and going through security wasn’t too bad considering. It was standing room only as the Piazza was already half full and all chairs were taken but being there at 7.30 in the morning and standing was truly an experience especially being in St. Peter’s – and it still feels surreal and isn’t sinking in properly yet. Most people had books but I don’t seem to have had one and could find where they would be and I certainly wasn’t going to move I wanted to try and get the best view possible and wasn’t going to let it go! Just before Mass started and Pope Francis came in his Popemobile giving his blessing to the people was just so moving especially when kissing the babies and reaching out to the whole world…..I haven’t looked at the translation of his Homily yet but got snippets of it I think from certain words, about St. Joseph being the foster father of our Lord and was chosen to look after him, how we need to look after the poor, sick and lonely, about how he had chosen his name after St. Francis of Assisi……and much more. The weather has been so glorious for us today as well and the Lord is truly watching over us all you can get the sense of Grace being poured out not only on the people of Rome and its visitors but on the whole church. Another thing which strikes me is how the people of Rome accept all of us ‘foreigners’ and share ‘their Bishop’ with us. There was even a Cardinal in the streets signing photos afterwards…. I could go on and on about this and probably will when I get back, but this is all for now….

Papa Francesco

 

ehanks

Thank you Mary Lou for your comment ,could you give me an idea of what you would like to discuss on the blog.

Mother has left me to  help put  but  no one seems to want to blog me .

So please  give me some ideas.Keeping you all in my humble prayers..please remember our dear Mother Abbess who is in Rome ,she even left me  help out with the dog

 

Habemus Papem………..

Pope Francis

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to make a post while here in Rome….here is something about yesterday’s exciting news….

HABEMUS PAPEM

Well where do I actually begin at this historic moment in the life of the Church!

Being in Rome at this time is really amazing and it is something which I never thought I would be doing, if anyone had asked me 20yrs or so ago if I would like to go to Rome I probably would have said no – and so when entering the monastery I knew that it would never happen now. But here I am – here in the heart of the life of the Church and witnessing one of the most spectacular moments in history.

As I am part of a group doing a Monastic Formation Program we decided on Tues evening to have a change of schedule so instead of having our mass together with lauds on Wednesday morning we decided to take a unplanned trip to see where St. Peter’s Bascillica was and to join in with mass at 5pm in Italian. Just to walk inside was fantastic but when it came to the mass the last line of the Gospel reading meant a lot to me and I had wondered if this was the holy spirit giving me an indication of something for it read, ‘…I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me…’ from John 5. For that was very instrumental in my own life a few years previous and still is very much.

Anyhow, despite the pouring rain St. Peter’s Square was already filling up at 5.30pm and brollies were very much in evidence……. So once we had to leave the Basillica for it was shutting, at 6.30 we made our way down the side steps and just waited – there was an immense atmosphere which is really undescribable but just after 7pm when the smoke came out the roar said it all for where our little group stood in one way couldn’t have been more perfect we couldn’t see the smoke as it was round the corner – but we were right next to the bell and about 70ft or so away from the balcony it was something! When the bells started to ring we all tried to ring through to people but after many failed attempts on my part I gave up because the signal had been blocked! When the announcement came with the famous words .’ Habemus Papem’ then everyone just was exstatic emotions were high indeed.      

Lenten reflection.

Truly I tell you ,today you will be with me in Paradise..

When  the criminal being crucified next to Our Lord confessed his sins,Jesus responded with a promise of Paradise..

What is this quote telling us when he says”Today you will be with me in Paradise.”Not someday ,but today,we are comforted with the knowledge to ,that Paradise with God is open to us all right now!

Today because  of what Jesus accomplished on the Cross.

I thank you today and everyday for opening the Way to Heaven for us.

.

Bon Voyage…………

Dear Friends,

I just want to let you know that I am leaving you in good hands with Sr. Scholastica at the helm with this Blog for the moment because I am making an unprecedented journey overseas to the Eternal City of Rome and Assisi for a few months to do a course. Please pray for me and for the community who will have to cope without me – it will be hard on both sides for them as well as for me but it is God’s will that I go.

But what a brilliant time to be in Rome – to experience the atmosphere during a Conclave – I wonder if the Holy Spirit will have guided his choice during my first weeks in Rome and hopefully no doubt we all will get the chance to go to the Inauguration Mass!!! or if it will be while I’m in Assisi ….??????

The course I’m doing if you’re interested is the Monastic Formator’s Program which is open to all Benedictine and Cistercian monks and nuns throughout the world, there are I think 25 of us on it this year – it will be amazing and if I get time will write when I get back on the experience! THAT IS IF YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT????

So for now good bye and God Bless you all ………………… BON VOYAGE !

PS… The new Header image is one from a sunset theme from our Terrace

Hi Leigh

thanks for the note ,yes we do have a special book to read during Lent.

Each sister chooses a book from our library  and during the pre Lent meeting they have with Mother Abbess each  will receive  the approval if appropriate.  Mother considers it to be appropriate.

As a novice ,I don’t have a choice ,my novice mistress will give me a book that she thinks is suitable for me .The book I was given is called The family who overtook Christ,I am 4 days into it and find it hard to put down.

We have daily readings in the refectory at dinner times ,today we started God,’s  Bandit by Douglas Hyde.

Have you chosen a book for Lent ,if so which one ,are you finding it interesting ?.

If any of you  have a special book,let me know what it is called  please and maybe we could share  our thoughts about it .

Please keep us in prayer

Bells

Throughout  the  day this divine call is the sound of bells that call us to prayer, and spiritual activities,

Our last bell in the evening is the Angelus and vespers, keeping watch. The Lord tells us I am coming at the moment you had least expect.

We keep vigil, fastening in our hearts in joyful anticipation of the Lord’s return.

Everyday we have time set for reading and meditating on the Word of God (Lecio Divina).

The source of our life as a community – the mystery of the Mass in which we, together with the whole church celebrate our unity in faith as the Body of Christ.

4 times a day we interupt our activities and gather in chapel,

The Bells

sing praise to the Creator and listen  prayfully to the Word of God

2013 Come & See

CT7912-Benedictine-Nuns (3)

Just a word about this year’s 2013 Come & See in Aug. It will start on the Feast Day of Our Lady’s feast – The Assumption ( Thurs 15th – Sun 18th).

Hope to see you in Aug!

ref; visit

Dear Jamie.

I was happy to hear  the news of the baptism of the twins,how  exciting.

Baptism is a beautiful sacrament an entry to God’s family’

Let us know the date and we shall remember  you all in our prayers especially  on that day

I am sorry,we don’t have an ‘open day as such but you are all most welcome to visit us and see our beautiful  chapel.and have a chat.

Just telephone Mother Abbess and make  arrangements with her when you would like to visit.

Looking forward to meeting you and the family.

Father of Love,you pour out your abundant love in the waters of Baptism.

Help us to grow as your daughters and sons.

May I be a witness for you to all I meet……Amen

Lent

Just a little reminder that the Lenten season starts next week with Ash Wednesday.

A time of preparation, how can we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death in the resurrection at Easter if we have not walked with His passion to the Cross.

Lent is a time of Spiritual spring cleaning, here  at the Abbey we  also begin our house spring cleaning,a busy time also for us to get the house in order.

During  this week the sisters will all be called individually to meet up with Mother Abbess to chat and discuss our intentions for Lent.Sisters will each choose a book to read for their spiritual reading during this time,the book should last the full course of Lent. A book should be chosen  best suitable for her  with Mother Abbess’ approval.

The sisters each notify Mother of her Lenten penances,being a first year novice Mother Abbess and Mother prioress will choose a suitable book for me .

I shall check the blog occasionally and if possble will write  a couple of times.

I am still waiting to hear your ideas ,maybe your favourite Psalm  or hymn.

Please keep us all in your prayers ,assuring you of our prayers .

In His service and peace.

Sr.Scholastica.i

Saturday…….

Hello All,

At long long last i have got a program for saturday it is as follows:

10.30  -  arrivals

11am  -  talk (about the community)

12pm  -  Midday office followed by lunch (packed lunch)

2pm  -  Holy Hour

afternoon tea  followed  feedback and questions

5pm  -  Mass for the Presentation of Our Lord

 

PLEASE COULD YOU LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE INTENDING TO COME IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY CONTACTED ME……………

Good morning to you all.

Sadly  the Christmas Season has ended,but for us it continues in  our .hearts,our minds and our souls

May I wish you all a Happy and peaceful new year  and that peace will spread  across our  beautiful world.

Mother Abbess has asked me to help out as she has so much to do at the moment,so  could I ask you to give me some ideas and suggest some topics  to start  the year off.

I shall try to write on a regular basis,but ,I am just a learner so don’t have many computer skills so please excuse any mistakes that I make.I am a novice in more ways than one.

Please keep us in your prayers,we shall be  also pray for you and yours.

Yours in the Light of Christ.

Sr.Scholastica