Multi-cultural Mass in Canterbury

On Sunday 22nd November, all attended Mass for the Feast of Christ the King at the Franciscan Study Centre, at which Stephen King OFM Conv was the main celebrant. Fr. Stephen preached about the universal reign of Christ transcending all national and cultural boundaries. The students planned and led the liturgy, featuring a new banner above the altar and international music and dance.

Below: Offertory dance up the aisle...

...and back down again

From left: Srs. Consolata, Annette and Clarina, Br. Martin, Innocentia.

Innocentia, wearing her national costume, helped to lead the music with singing and drumming. At the entrance and offertory processions, students from many countries participated in dancing African-style.

Willie enjoyed attending this special Mass and meeting the students and many of his old friends.

Below: Wille with Consolata, Uju and Innocentia.

Our Indian Sisters Return to Mysore

Having spent time in our Communities in England for the past 6 months, Sisters Elizabeth and Promodini returned to our FMSL convent in Mysore on 21st October. On their last day in England, a special 'thank you' lunch was arranged by St. Joseph's Community. Sisters from Copthorne, Burgess Hill and Canterbury were also invited. Sr. Anastasia, Mother General thanked the Sisters for all they had contributed to our Communities during their stay in England and promised all our prayers for their community and mission in India. Sisters Promodini and Elizabeth thanked all the Sisters for their kindness and hospitality and promised to remember and pray for them all. They presented the Community with a gift and a 'thank you' picture.

Two Sisters from FMSL India come to England

On Tuesday evening, 11th May, after a very long flight via Dubai, Elizabeth and Promodini, two of our Sisters from St. Francis Community, Mysore, arrived at Gatwick, even as the looming volcanic ash cloud threatened to disrupt flights into the UK. They were met by Sr. Clare Bowers, who took them to St. Joseph's, Littlehampton. On Wednesday evening they gathered with the Community for refreshments and entertained them with Indian singing and dancing.

On Thursday morning, Sr. Clare Bernadette came from Canterbury to collect them and after lunch, they departed for Monte Bre, where Srs. Elizabeth and Promodini will be based until the end of June. After welcome, tea and Evening Prayer with the Community, our visitors went to meet the Communities at the Franciscan International Study Centre. There, they sampled international cookery at a special 'Pot Luck' Supper.

Next day, they went to Hollington with Sr. Clare and Innocentia to meet the Poor Clare Community and hear about St. Clare from Sr. Frances Teresa OSC.

From left: Innocentia, Sr. Frances Teresa OSC, Sr. Promodini, Sr. Elizabeth.

Innocentia Welcomed Into Postulancy

On 2nd May, Innocentia was welcomed into FMSL Postulancy during Evening Prayer in St. Joseph's Convent Littlehampton. She is pictured here with Mother General Sr. Anastasia on her left and, to her right, Sr. Clare Bernadette, representing the Formation Team in Canterbury. After Evening Prayer and tea with the Community in St. Joseph's, Innocentia departed with Sr. Clare for Canterbury, where she will be based during her period of postulancy formation.

Open Day at Kent University Farm

On Saturday 13th March, Sr. Rose visited the farm on Moat Lane to fraternise with the new spring lambs.

Billy the goat was in a bad mood.

But the sheep were very happy.

Lenten Day for Religious at Convent of Mercy, Whitstable. Friday, 26th Feb, 2010.

Icon of the Holy Trinity


Sr. Annette holding a small icon of John the Baptist

Sr Annette of The Daughters of Mary and Joseph gave a talk on her work as an iconographer and explained the language and traditions of “writing” icons. She focussed on two icons in particular: the Pantocrator and the Holy Trinity and we were taken through meditations on these icons while we gazed at them and allowed them to speak to us.

The Sanctuary with various icons displayed

Sr. Rose travelled to the event in the FISC mini-bus with several other students from various FISC programmes.
Michael, OFM postulant chatting with Anne FMSJ over coffee
Above: Monica from Hongkong, Clare from Taiwan, Sarah FMSJ, Annette from Cameroon and Chinyere from Nigeria relaxing together in the conservatory before the talks






We were greeted by the new Vicar for Religious, Marion, a Vocations Sister.



Mass was celebrated by Bishop Pat seen here enjoying a cup of tea after Mass with Sarah, on sabbatical at FISC and another visiting sister

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.