Reflecting on a year of celebrations and partings, daily routines and unforeseen events shows that we, in our little corner of the Cotswolds, are deeply connected with the world in many ways. We think of each of our Bernardine Cistercian communities, the wider monastic world, our Diocese of Clifton, our families and friends and all, known and unknown to us, whom we hold in our prayer.
As we write the first snow of the winter has fallen, a reminder of January, which saw heavy snowfalls and a concerted effort to clear safe passage for ourselves and those who venture here. It was Sr. Florence’s second winter in England and she made the most of it, as she made the most of everything in her time at Brownshill. Special mention should be made of her apprenticeship with Fr. Peter as maintenance and plumber’s mate, skills that she takes with her to our community in Goma. We said goodbye to her in August, very grateful for her presence here, for her quiet efficiency and sense of fun. There was a tear or two, but also joy for her, as she continues her Bernardine journey where it began. In Goma she would see for the first time the monastery Church, dedicated in September 2017. More importantly she would meet new members of the community, as the novitiate continues to grow.
Sisters from France and from Vietnam have spent time with us this year, enriching our communion within the Order. Naturally our links with our Sisters in England at the Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning, are particularly deep. There were significant celebrations for two Sisters at Hyning in 2019. Sr. Mary Gabriel (Julia Schroeder) made first profession in February, and Sr. Hilda, Sr. Florence and Sr. Reina witnessed this joyful event. In April Sr. Elizabeth Mary and Sr. Mary Lucy had the pleasure of joining the community of Hyning and their guests to mark Sr. Michaela’s twenty five years of profession. Then in July we were delighted to welcome most of the Sisters from Hyning to Brownshill for our annual retreat. Dom Xavier Perrin of Quarr Abbey gave spiritual nourishment, refreshment and challenge in his talks on the Rule of St. Benedict.
In August six of the nine members of our community gave presentations, either in person or ‘by proxy’, to a gathering of the Order at our Generalate House at the Monastery of Our Lady of La Plaine in Lille. Ideas were exchanged on the theme of “transmettre la vie” and what this means for us, as a small Order spread across three continents. This meeting was in preparation for General Chapter 2020. The General Chapter, representing the whole Order, is convened every six years to review our life, clarify our vision and set priorities to enable us to remain true to our calling and respond creatively to the reality of today in our different communities. We ask for your prayers, as we prepare for this important moment in our life.
As Bernardine Cistercians we are part of the larger “Cistercian family”, from which flow various forms of mutual support and stimulation. For example, in February Sr. Elizabeth Mary attended the Regional Meeting of Cistercians at Roscrea Abbey, Ireland. Then in September Sr. Reina attended a course for monks and nuns in formation at Mount Melleray Abbey, Ireland. These are annual courses, combining excellent teaching with opportunities for exchange and to build friendships. In October Sr. Hilda attended a 2-day conference at the College des Bernardins in Paris on the Charter of Charity (one of our founding documents, and quite revolutionary in 1119), enjoying lectures of a very high standard from international speakers, including Sr. Mary Helen, our Prioress General.
St. Benedict says that the monastery is never without guests. This is true and in May some very special guests came to visit both of our Bernardine communities in England and, most importantly, Sr. Reina. This was the first time that Sr. Reina had seen her family in the flesh since her arrival in the UK in January 2014. Her parents, sister Jeanne and brother-in-law Pierre made the long journey from Jakarta, Indonesia to spend time with Sr. Reina and to meet the Sisters with whom she is making her life. The week-long visit flew by, leaving many happy memories for us all.
In July Brownshill acquired a French ambience when four of Sr. Marie Emmanuelle’s siblings and their spouses travelled from France to Brownshill for a family reunion with her. They all enjoyed exploring the region and getting to know the community better. Sadly, Monique was not able to join them this time.
In September Sr. Hilda was delighted with a visit from her brother, sister-in-law and nieces, who came from South Korea for a holiday back in the UK. Sr. Hilda’s parents joined them to make the family almost complete.
In October the youngest member of Sr. Catherine’s family, 5-month old great nephew Joel, came with his parents and his Granny Anna – the latter all the way from Taiwan!
It has been a year of adjustment for Sr. Mary Philippa, who is not-quite-getting-used-to being a golden Jubilarian (because she maintains that Jubilarians are older than she is….)! The official celebration with thanksgiving Mass was on the 14th of September, but the actual date of her profession was marked in community, and Sr. Mary Philippa was not slow to accept the invitation to go to the Abbey of Cîteaux in France for a gathering of Cistercians on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of the Charter of Charity. The celebrations here on the 14th of September, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, brought together family from Ireland, friends from college, many friends from the various stages of her Bernardine life, not forgetting our own Sisters from Hyning and France. Fr. Peter preached eloquently and Sr. Mary Philippa enjoyed every single second of it all!
Fr. Peter’s homily for Sr. Mary Philippa’s Jubilee was on the theme of vocation, a topic that was brought into focus for the schools of the Diocese when a “Vocations Roadshow” set off in the summer. Several of us joined the team to speak to groups of school pupils (from six year olds to sixth formers) at different locations, together with a married couple, a Diocesan priest, a missionary Sister and a seminarian. Addressing an older age group in October, Sr. Elizabeth Mary spoke about the Universal Call to Holiness and Love at a vocations discernment retreat at Downside Abbey.
Sr. Mary Philippa’s Jubilee was not the only milestone to be marked. On October 8th Sr. Reina renewed her vows during Mass. It was a particular joy that Sr. Maria, her novice mistress, was present for this celebration of Sr. Reina’s continued commitment to the Lord.
Prayer is, of course, essential in our life and it was only natural that we should contribute to the Diocesan year of Prayer. A series of talks on four Sunday afternoons, followed by tea and Vespers, and repeated on Wednesday evenings, attracted people from all over the Diocese, as well as local friends. Those who came appreciated illustrations of methods of prayer - Sr. Mary Philiippa and Sr. Hilda spoke about Lectio Divina and the Divine Office respectively - but perhaps most of all our sharing our own “lived experience of prayer” – the title of Sr. Elizabeth Mary’s contribution, which was exemplified in Sr. Marie Apolline’s presentation of the ways in which the psalms have accompanied her throughout her life.
Prayer is also central in the lives of our Oblates, who follow the Cistercian charism in their lives as lay people. The Brownshill Oblates met together with Sr. Catherine in May and again in October, to explore themes of Praying with the Psalms and Climate Change. There are, of course, various forms and styles of prayer, and Sr. Mary Philippa learned about many of these during her course in spiritual direction, a stimulating and enjoyable programme, which she completed at the end of the summer.
We were delighted to welcome some of our ‘prayer partners’ from St. Bernard’s Preparatory School, Slough and their teachers to the monastery for a day at the end of the summer term. We continue to take an interest in the life of all our former school communities, keeping them in our prayers and rejoicing in their continuing success as Catholic schools.
There have been comings and goings in the local Church scene. We were sad to say goodbye to the Marist Sisters at Nympsfield, our friends across the valley, in October. They will be sorely missed after over 90 years in Nympsfield. We wish them every blessing in their new ventures. Then Stroud gained a new Parish priest, Fr. Gary Brassington. Fr. Peter and Sr. Marie Apolline were present at his induction Mass in November.
We hope that this summary of our year illustrates that in our search for God we are deeply connected with the world He made. We take this opportunity to sincerely thank all, who share their time and talents so generously with us, giving practical or professional help and enriching our lives by their presence.
Please keep our Sisters in Goma and their families and all the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in your prayers, as they continue to suffer violence and the scourge of the Ebola virus.
To us all, amidst all the uncertainties of our political situation, concerns about sustaining our planet, and the ongoing struggles of daily life, Advent gives sure hope that God comes to those who put their hope in Him. Let us be ready to welcome God’s Son into our own lives and join in the angel’s chorus of “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”!
S Elizabeth Mary, S Mary Lucy, S Catherine, S Mary Philippa, S Marie Apolline, S Marie Emmanuelle, S Hilda, S Reina
