It seems like ages since I updated the news page. I think it has been the distraction of all the big sporting events that have been going on, especially the World Cup and Wimbledon. But in the best english tradtions, 'don't mention the football' might be the safest policy.
June is always one of our busiest times with day groups and residential groups. The good weather has helped bring people in as well and we had local people visit the grounds as part of Warton in Bloom last weekend. Various groups have been here for the weekend and we have 2 more weekends before we officially close for the summer. We are closed longer than normal this summer because of the retreat at Brownshill. Most of the community are going down for their 8 day silent retreat and spending a few days down there. There will be a group remaining here to keep the house going however, backed up with local enforcements at times.
We were all saddened to hear of the death of Fr. Mark from Mt St. Bernard, a monk whom most of us knew well because of his regular contact over the years and his work on the panel of monastic musicians. He was a real gentleman and a very talented musician. He will be sorely missed by his family, community and many friends.
We are preparing for the influx of Bernardines for the session on St. Aelred in August. As I mentioned before, it is the 9th centenary of his birth and we are hosting a session here for the Bernardines and one day for the oblates. We are planning a trip to see Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorks. (Some good things can be found in Yorks!) Aelred was the third abbot from 1147 - 1167 and wrote a series of spiritual and historical works. We are really looking forward to welcoming our sisters for this session.
Our parish links with St. Joseph's, Ansdell have been developed further this year and they are involved in more fundraising for our sisters in Burkina Faso. Five of the parish are cycling a 100 miles round the Fylde Coast to raise money to help build a church for the community and to aid the local community. Click on Burkina Faso bike ride if you would like to support this group. If you go to Burkina and St Joseph's you will find more information on the project. We are extremely grateful for all the help they are giving our sisters out there. last year they raised over £14,000 for the foundation.
You can keep up to date with information on the Pope's visit to the UK by visiting the the Papal Visit website. www.thepapalvisit.org.uk
As I've been preparing my talk on Aelred and spiritual friendship for the summer talks, I'll end with some quotes that I liked very much. It seems to me that there has been a lot of negativity in the media recently, over government cuts, football results, over everything really, and in our own lives we can fall too easily into the same trap of running people down and being negative about others far too easily. Supporting others when things go wrong and sticking by others seems to be a thing of the past. It's why I like Aelred so much as he never despairs of the monks he lived with and teaches us as St Benedict does, "never to despair of the mercy of God". . or the value of another human being.
"Here we are, you and I, and I hope a third, Christ, is in our midst."
"A friend is called a guardian of love....let him rejoice with his friend in his joys, and weep with him in his sorrows, and feel as his own all that his friend experiences..."
"The best medicine in life is a friend."
Previous news can be found by clicking on previous news.
We have a group on Facebook so if you want to receive regular news, feel free to join our group, Bernardine Cistercians on Facebook! We had 348 members last time I looked, so we've lost a few. Why not invite more friends?
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