Friday, 19th March, 2010
I have just begun a period of two weeks travelling. The first four days have been spent with a Community team at the convent in Whitby. We were the guests of the Sisters of the Order of Holy Paraclete who invited us to share in their Claustral Week. The last time I was here I was accompanied by the most wonderful woman in my life, my wife, who because of having a “proper job” has had to stay at home this time.
In the convent, I am surrounded by over forty women, the majority of whom belong to the Order. Predominantly elderly, several carrying the traits and difficulties associated with old age, they were nevertheless alive in spirit, and possessed deep faith and sharp intellects. Their life is one of prayer and hospitality and their work has seen them journey for the love of Christ across Britain and parts of Africa. They’ve a particular bias for the education of children and young people and they carry that beautiful combination of contemplative awareness and cultural understanding and critique. Strong women, they have carried the ethos from the founding days of their community that was birthed in the era and influence of the Suffragettes.
They opened their hearts, their home and their hospitality was welcoming and beautiful in its simplicity. It was a privilege and joy to be part of their week, to enter into the rhythm of their monastic day and to share our communities stories and to explore together vocation and how our two streams of monastic spirituality ~ established and emerging can learn from and enrich one another.
We had a great team of Community Companions with us and whilst I had responsibility for most of the teaching input, the programme and group was brilliantly led by Sarah Pillar, one of our Community’s Seniors. It was no surprise that her enthusiasm for the venture was self evident. The historic and spiritual connections between Whitby and Evesham are legendary. It was a privilege to be in a sacred place where centuries before the Celtic Saint Hild led a double monastery, men and women. Known for her wisdom, she was referred to as a jewel in the eyes of God and the church. In thanking God for her and the godly influence and inheritance she bequeathed to us in Northumbria, I thank God for the jewels, the women of faith who I was privileged to share with, serve and be served by this week.
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