Shrove Tuesday at the Franciscan Study Centre

Gathered at Franciscan International Study Centre for our traditional 'pancake party', all of us did a star turn. Catherine did a duet of John Denvers 'Country Road', with one of the FISC lecturers Kathleen Ann, also from America. Betty did an African royalty dance with fellow African students Annette, Alice and Jabu, and also an individual song in her native tongue. Sarah read a poem about an 'Irish Immigrant.

Above Right: Clare from Hong Kong tucking into her pancake, a new experience for her!

Below: Jude from Nigeria singing an Igbo song.

Below: Betty, Alice and Jabu doing their

African 'Royalty Dance'.

Philippe, Principal of FISC gave us another Lancashire rendition of a monologue entitled 'Our Albert'.

Dharma from India played a 'picnic song' from Goa, called 'Whose Daughter is She?'

Jack from Ireland sang a beautiful Irish Ballad




Below: Seamus astonishes us with his virtuosity on the tin whistle, the harmonica and guitar.

Christmas at Monte Bre Convent, Canterbury

On Christmas Eve, we went to Midnight Mass at the Franciscan Study Centre. It began with a candle-lit carol service at which Sr. Rose read a Christmas poem. Br. Philippe Yates, the presider, preached about how Jesus was the only answer to the problems facing humanity, not any political leader or system. After Mass there was mulled wine and mince pies for all in the Common Room. Next morning, after Morning Prayer, Adoration and breakfast together, we attended the Christmas Day Mass at the Study Centre, celebrated by Br. Philippe. We brought Willie with us, who enjoyed being there and meeting his old friends such as Br. Brendan OFM. Christmas lunch was a joint effort with everyone preparing a part of the menu. The starter was special secret recipe soup prepared by Sr. Elizabeth, which was very popular with all. The traditional main course also went down very well. When it came to dessert, the Christmas pudding was set alight and burned with festive cheer as planned. Clare's trifle did not go according to plan because the jelly had not set. With this bottom layer stubbornly remaining liquid for hours at room temperature and even fridge temperature, it became clear that the only way to add on the custard and cream layers was to freeze the jelly, forcing it to solidify. In order to then avoid structural collapse of the dessert, Clare took the unorthodox step of serving the entire trifle frozen. This novel dish was greeted with mixed reactions, though it remained an artistic triumph.

Above: frozen trifle - Note its perfect structural integrity.
Willie joined us for lunch and opened his gifts from the Sisters, including a Chelsea FC hat and mug but was especially delighted to receive a tool kit, something he said he had always wanted.

Willie showing a hammer from his new tool kit.

A Christmas gift for the Community was an air hockey table, which we tried out by having a ferocious tournament during our Sunday evening recreation.

On New Year's Day, The Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, Mary deWolf, SFO, (FISC staff and friend of the Community) joined us for lunch. The 'big freeze' that came over Britain in the days that followed forced the cancellation of several meetings and travel plans for the Community.
Below:  shovelling snow

Clare sweeping snow

It was a time to shovel paths through the snow on our driveway and then stay in and keep warm.

A Happy and Blessed New Year and new decade to everyone!

Advent Retreat in Littlehampton

From 12th-15th December, Srs. Rose and Clare went to St. Joseph's to attend a three-day preached Advent retreat given by Br. Seamus Mulholland OFM.
Br. Seamus pointed out that Advent was a good time to step out of our own plan and reflect on God's plan for our salvation throughout human history. Starting with Eden, Br. Seamus described how human plans and actions had repeatedly got in the way of God's plans. Therefore, God had to keep adjusting His plans and starting again. From Abraham onwards, God was determined to see through His plan of a covenant with a chosen people which would be completed when God became one of them in Jesus. The genealogies in the Gospels show how Jesus was fully part of this chequered human history and family. Br. Seamus used the image of God's salvation plan as a thread which God was trying to pull through the eye of a needle but with a frayed end, standing for the human stubbornness that frustrates God's actions. In the history of the chosen people, God's plan followed a tortuous route, even through 40 years of wondering in the desert, due to their frequent rebellions. With the birth of Jesus, the thread was finally inserted through the needle. At His Passion, Death and Resurrection it would be pulled through and tied off so it could never be undone and union with God would always be available to humankind. This led us to draw strength in our own lives from the thought that God never gives up on us and, in the end, will find ways to fulfil His vision for our lives, even though we frequently mess up His plans.
After the retreat, Srs. Clare and Rose stayed on in St. Joseph's for a week, helping prepare for various pre-Christmas functions and photocopying the histories of our deceased Sisters for Monte Bre. They returned safely (thank God) to Canterbury on the 19th, even as snow and freezing conditions were beginning to cause travel disruption throughout Britain.

Fr. Tom and Maximus Come to Tea

Max and Clare

Max and Rose

On 11th December 2009, Fr. Tom Herbst OFM brought his new pet to tea with the Sisters at Monte Bre. The Sisters welcomed them in festive headgear. Maximus, a 3-month-old Chihuahua soon bonded with each of the Sisters
and William...

Max and William

Max and Elizabeth

Needless to say, we offered to dog-sit whenever the need might arise.

...

Franciscan 8th Centenary, Westminster

On 9th December 2009, Srs. Rose and Clare attended a Symposium in Westminster Cathedral Hall, celebrating the eighth centenary of the papal approval of the First Order's Rule and Life. Sr. Clare's parents, who were visiting Monte Bre, also came with them. They all travelled by bus from Canterbury. On arriving in Westminster, they were first able to attend Mass in the Cathedral. The afternoon Symposium, entitled, 'Franciscan Ideals and Influence' consisted of four talks. It was introduced and led by Br. Seamus Mulholland OFM.

Above: Br. Seamus introducing the programme with Br. Michael Copps and Sr. Clare

left: Sr. Francis Teresa giving her talk. To her right, Sr. Clare, Br. Seamus, Leon Davison and Br. Michael.

Right: Sr. Clare giving talk.

The first speaker, Br. Michael Copps, OFM Provincial Minister, spoke about 'Franciscan Life is Life Together'. Then, Sr. Frances Teresa Downing OSC spoke on the influence of St. Clare on the Franciscan movement. The third speaker, Sr. Clare Knowles FMSL, talked about St. Francis' Canticle of Sir Brother Sun as a model for conversion. The fourth speaker was Leon Davison SFO National Minister, who talked about the development of the SFO from its origins until the present. There was time after each talk for questions from the audience. There was a break during which Srs. Francoise, Rose and Magdalene served coffee and tea for all. Secular Franciscans attended from all over the country, as a national meeting preceded the Symposium. A group came from FISC Canterbury, as well as friars OFM and Capuchin from Houses including Chilworth, Woodford, Oxford and Pantasaph. FMSL Sisters attended from Littlehampton, Burgess Hill, Canterbury and Copthorne and Poor Clares from various Houses including Arundel, Hollington and Arkley. In total, around a hundred people attended the event. It was an encouraging celebration of the growth of the Franciscan movement in its various branches up to the present day and the unity of the whole Franciscan family.

Day for Religious in Whitstable

Sister Rose attended a day For Religious in Whitstable. Here are her thoughts on the event:

Sr. Kate Stogden, a Cenacle Sister, gave an Advent day for Religious at the Convent of Mercy, Whitstable on Friday 27th November from 10am to 3.30pm. The topic was Lectio Divina: Nourishing our Consecration through the Word of God. The day was attended by almost fifty religious and among those present were several Franciscan friars - some from as far away as Erith. Sr. Kate's talks were immensely enjoyable and fruitful. She urged us to rest in the Word of life given to us in Scripture. Lectio Divina is not an intellectual exercise - the emphasis is on being nourished. We read with a faith conviction that God is communicating with us, and we draw life from this encounter. To read well, we need to prepare well. Being open and generous is half the battle. Fundamentally, in Lectio when we approach the Scripture, we see it as a gift to be received, not a problem to be dissected. So we need:

faith: a belief that God can speak to us
humility: understanding that we are in need of God's saving word
openness: to resist the temptation to say, 'I know all this'.
By Sr. Rose

Barn Dance at the FISC, 9th October 2009

Sisters from Monte Bre Community attended the evening Barn Dance organised by the Friends of the FISC. For some of our overseas students it was their first time to try this kind of dancing. But with no previous experience required, the idea is that we all learn each dance together and then we all get it wrong together, with hilariously disastrous consequences. There was a buffet supper provided by the Friends at half time. It was an ideal opportunity for new students and more seasoned members of FISC community to get to know each other. A great time was had by all.