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Book Review by Brother Samuel
SSF Thirty West Dorset constituents added their voices to
Christian Aid’s call for a change in International Accounting Standards, meaning
that companies are forced to report their business activities and tax bill for
each country in which they operate. This transparency will then shine a light on
which companies are dodging their basic responsibilities in developing
countries. The initiative is also backed by companies like Coca-Cola
and Standard Chartered Bank. Oliver Letwin responded positively to the idea, and will
take up an invitation to meet with Christian Aid’s new director, Loretta
Minghella. Speaking after the meeting, Brother Damian from the
Hilfield Community said “it is crucial for local people to engage positively
with their MP about issues of international importance, as well as more local
concerns”. Around 70 members of CSF, the SSF and the Third Order and clergy and
parishioners from the locality and further afield, including the Dean and
Precentor of Lincoln Cathedral, joined the three sisters at Metheringham for the
blessing of San Damiano by the Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Revd Dr John Saxbee,
on Tuesday 16th November. It was a gloriously sunny day, so no one got wet during the processing around
the grounds during the blessing (except those within range of the bishop’s
vigorous sprinkling of holy water throughout the ceremony!). The day got off to
a hilarious start, with the bishop and the welcoming sisters soon laughing
uproariously. Bishop John spoke of his joy at welcoming the sisters to the
diocese and the importance he saw of having a religious community within it. All
parts of the house were blessed, as well as the garage, garden and the entrance
to the property. In blessing the garage bishop John commented on the splendid
vehicle parked in front of it and he said it gave a new insight into Franciscan
poverty (alas, it turned out to belong to the builder who had done the work of
renovation!). The Bible verse read during that blessing, about the driving of
one Jehu, reduced everyone (reader included) to fits of giggles. Last of all Bishop John blessed the Chapel: one of the window panes behind
the altar was boarded up, and I thought the least I could do for the sisters was
to “repair” it – though only digitally in my image of the chapel, alas! After
that we all trooped out into the sunshine where Liz, Maureen and Sue made their
commitment to shared mission and ministry before we all received the bishop’s
final blessing. The sisters had prepared what the programme euphemistically described as “a
light lunch” - a huge amount of delicious soup, accompanied by French bread and
followed by cakes and washed down with fruit juices. It was a lovely relaxed start to a new ministry for the CSF – though the
sisters had been working exceedingly hard to get the house ready for occupation
and for the day of blessing. On behalf of all the visitors may I thank the
sisters for what I trust will be the first of many welcomes to San Damiano. Article by Gordon Plumb TSSF, Link Tertiary, Yorkshire & East
Midlands. New Guardian at Alnmouth So, as the Friary began the next stage of its life, Jason Robert was blessed as the new Guardian by the Minister Provincial, Brother Samuel, at Mass on the Feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Thursday 18th November 2010. Jason, who is originally from Boston and joined SSF in America, has been a member of the European Province since June 2005. After nearly three years at Glasshampton, he arrived at Alnmouth as part of that new team in 2008 and his principal responsibility since then has been as Guest Brother. Jason had previously also served as Guardian of Little Portion, Long Island NY, and the brothers at Alnmouth are delighted to have a brother they know and trust so well as their Guardian. Living and working with Jason at Alnmouth are the Novice Guardian, Desmond Alban and Peter, who made his First Profession just before moving to Alnmouth at the end of October, but the professed are also currently joined by two novices and the three postulants who arrived in September. So, we are now surprised and delighted to find ourselves at ‘full capacity’ as a resident community of eight, alongside our regular stream of guests and the many local friends and co-workers who contribute so much to our life. I was particularly moved by Suzanne Matale, from the Zambian Council of Churches who spoke of how the Zambian people are pressing their government to disclose how much tax the international mining companise that dominate their economy pay. A worldwide culture of financial secrecy allows some unscrupulous companies to dodge tax and rob poor countries of more than £100 bn a year. Christian Aid’s Trace the Tax campaign is about helping them get their money back. In the afternoon many MPs came out from Parliament to
hear their constituents' views. My MP, Oliver Letwin, will visit Hilfield next
year instead. We chose to travel to the Solomon’s partly because the
brothers there had invited the rest of us to come and see for ourselves what
life is like as an SSF brother in that part of the world, and we did so very
aware of the need that had been highlighted for us in our 2009 meeting to learn
what it means to think about our life in a post-colonial context. But we also
did so because we wanted to think about our Franciscan calling to be Instruments
of Peace and we wanted to hear first hand about the literally ‘front line’ work
that our brothers had been engaged in during a recent time of unrest and civil
war, ‘The Tension’ that afflicted that beautiful country for several years just
a decade ago. We were based mostly in the rural house at Hautambu. For
the first week of our conference two Australian facilitators led us in an
intensive journey through all three workshop levels of the ‘Alternatives to
Violence Project’ a programme that runs in all sorts of places, including
prisons and schools, all around the world. The next part of the programme was
more ‘home-grown’ as we discussed how to use the early stories of Francis as
sources for peace and reconciliation. Bishop Terry Brown was with us that week
and explained the background to ‘The Tension’, but most movingly several Solomon
Island brothers spoke directly about their own experiences during that dangerous
and frightening time as they placed themselves between the warring parties,
befriending and praying with both sides in turn, or as they navigated their
little boat far out to sea and back again to bypass the roadblocks which
isolated them and other local people from the important source of various
supplies in the capital Honiara – where there is another SSF friary which we
also visited. There are four Anglican Religious Communities in the Solomon
Islands and we met – and at times were entertained by – members of the
Melanesian Brotherhood, Sisters of Melanesia and Sisters of the Church. Bishop
Terry explained how the earlier formation of these communities had prepared them
– and won them respect – for the difficult task that faced them during the
Tension. The story best known in the UK perhaps is that of seven young men
in the Melanesian Brotherhood who were tortured and killed in 2003 and we
visited the graves of those ‘Seven Martyrs’, now commemorated in the Church of
England Calendar, but it was clear that our SSF brothers had also made an
important contribution at significant personal risk to that vital work of
reconciliation. For many of us it was an unforgettable experience just
to share in the life and worship of our brothers in such a different culture.
The average age of the brothers is significantly lower than in the European
Province and a youthful energy and vibrancy characterized much that happens: I
don’t think any of our UK friaries have a time for team sports built into the
regular weekly timetable! We shared the highs and lows of life in this
tropical developing country, wrestling with mosquito nets, the constant heat and
humidity, the river water for washing bodies and clothes and the electrical
generator that only ran at certain times but also the glorious sunshine and blue
sky, the abundant home-grown tropical fruit, the daily opportunity to swim in
unspoiled and warm Pacific Ocean and – at Hautambu – to be away from even a
telephone, let alone the internet. The brothers loved the Football World Cup,
but we could only enjoy certain games on DVD some time after the live Final! Experiencing aspects of local culture, like the ‘Warrior
Welcome’, local foods, and the singing, dancing and pan-piping of SSF and
Melanesian Brothers and Sisters was another wonderful element, and the great
adventure of a canoe trip for a night at a village on Savo Island was a
particularly intense experience of immersion in another culture. To cross the
sometimes choppy open sea in a small boat without life-jackets, radios or
distress flares and then, after the beautiful village welcome, to clamber up a
volcano around footpaths that had washed away, with similar disregard for
Western notions of Risk Assessment was somehow incredibly liberating! I only wish it were possible to ‘bottle’ such an amazing
experience to share it with all the novices and other brothers and sisters back
here in the UK!
Section 4 - Franciscan News
Ninetieth year celebrations.
Saturday the 18th June was
the chosen day to invite our local friends, including Guests of Honour, the Earl
and Countess of Sandwich, and which brought a hundred folk to the Friary, with a
packed programme principally prepared by community member Chantal Thornbury.
Indeed, we set two of the home team at all the vibrant points of the Friary life
to enthuse and explain each aspect of its witness. A celebration of the
environment included the wild flower meadow and Brother Vincent’s famous secret
garden. Clare Chapel was newly furnished around the theme of the Canticle of the
Creatures, and the Gospel message of reconciliation was well evident in the
kitchen garden as well as the main chapel. Cream teas, a BBQ, visits to the shop
and a cloister-boot-sale brought fresh comfort to those who got drenched in the
outpouring from on High!
What a day at the Friary with all the joys and
thanksgiving for God’s provision and especially seeing us through some of the
most radical changes experienced in our history! The anniversary oak tree,
planted by the good Earl and dug in so professionally by his wife will long
remind us of the day when Brother Sun was a bit shy and Sister Water was in full
flow, the two elements that none of us can do without.
Brother Damian
SSF.
Families Camp 2011.
When talking with colleagues at
work, I get a sense of their momentarily disbelief when explaining that our
summer holiday, this year, would be spent camping with other families in the
grounds of a Franciscan Friary in Dorset. You can see them thinking “Why would
you do that?” even if they don’t say it out loud.
Well, we do it because each
year it gives the whole family a mix of things that don’t come together in the
same way anywhere else. This includes friendships with people with whom we share
some sense of belonging with Franciscan spirituality, values and life choices
also a shared sense of our own limitations and vulnerabilities. Activities
involve music, singing, dance, swimming, walking, eating, drinking, prayer,
worship and fifteen talks, ranging from social factors in religious choices to
the case for intervention in Libya.
I ask myself :- How do we fit it all into
a week? And what are the dates for next year?
Jerry Akehurst, a regular
visitor to the camp.2011 Youth Camp.
‘Incomparable Love’ was the theme for
this year’s camp as teenagers from all over the country came to enjoy
a week
camping at the Friary during August. The daily worship was focussed around the
parables in Luke’s gospel beginning the week with Christmas and ending with the
crucifixion and resurr¬ection. Campers also got to visit an activity centre with
the chance to raft build or go on a high ropes course as
well as the odd trip
to the beach. There were also baking, drama, art and music workshops held on
site throughout the week. Luckily the weather didn’t dampen our spirits as the
campers left full of the daily themes for the week that ‘God loves everyone, no
matter who you are, no matter what you have, no matter what you have done, he
died for you, now go live in his love’.
For more information about the
Hilfield Youth Camp please visit www.hilfield.org.
Michael Double, a
community member.
Southwark Cathedral
Sister Sue was
installed,with two other priests,as a Cathedral Chaplain at Evensong on 6th
November, by the Bishop of Southwark,the Rt Reverend Christopher Chessun,and the
Acting Dean of Southwark, Canon Andrew Nunn. As a Cathedral Chaplain Sue will
assist in leading the day to day worship of the cathedral,and may be invited to
contribute in other ways from time to time.
Picture by permission of
Southwark Diocesan Communications
The Novice Experience
(entitled 'Living our Franciscan Story') took place from Friday 14th October
until Thursday 20th October. Guided by Sr Beverley CSF and Br Desmond Alban SSF,
we looked at the subject 'living our Franciscan Story' and considered different
areas of the Franciscan charism with particular reference to Peace and Justice.
Although the conference was based largely in Glasshampton Monastery (where two
of the Novices are currently based) we had the opportunity to go to Bartlemas
Chapel where we reflected on our commitment to 'wayfarers' of the past, present
and future, walking in the footsteps of Br Giles (one of the founding fathers of
SSF). We were all particularly moved to be shown the grave of a victim of
leprosy by one of the archaeologists working on the site and we found ourselves
reflecting on the pain and exclusion s/he must have felt in life.
We were fortunate to be aided in our reflections by Br Anselm SSF (who
spoke with us about his work campaigning on behalf of those facing torture), Br
Hugh SSF (who spoke with infectious enthusiasm on the topic of 'Passion,
Concern, Action') and Br Samuel SSF who spoke to us about CSF/SSF's legacy in
working for peace and justice, a legacy we are all keen to perpetuate. We were
reminded during his talk that our prayerful contemplation and commitment to
justice are complimentary; the one feeds the other. As well as far ranging
discussion and enthusiastic participation we relaxed together, had an
opportunity to 'tell our story' and enjoyed time in Oxford together, finishing
the day with Evensong in the Cathedral.
First Professed
Conference 2011
Sisters Liz & Jenny Tee and Brothers Martin John
& Peter attended the recent First Professed Conference at The Community of
St Mary the Virgin in Wantage. It was a great encouragement to meet together as
a group of 14 brothers and sisters, from 10 Anglican religious
communities.
Sr Jane Bertelsen FMDM led the group in
a very helpful exploration of individual and community discernment. This
included reflection on the film “Of Gods and Men”, a moving example of
discernment in a religious community.
There was time to share experiences and
news of one another’s communities, to enjoy one another’s company, and also to
discover a strong thread of footballing skills!
It was a joy to enter into a
deep rhythm of worship together, with a rich variety of approaches to the
Offices and Eucharist.
We had total use of the Wantage guest house, which
gave great flexibility for discussion groups and space for silence too.
The CSMV sisters joined us for tea one day and we were able to join them for
Lauds (early risers only) and the Thursday Eucharist.
A valuable experience
all round, and a small group from this year’s conference has already picked up
the baton to look ahead to next year
Greenbelt
2011
10 of us ... Br Vaughan n/SSF, Br Barnabas Francis n/SSF, Sr
Hilda Mary CSC, several Third Order members and friends were this year's
Franciscan team at Greenbelt at Cheltenham race course. Once more we arrived a
day early to set up our white chapel tent on the hill near the red London bus.
Many people visited us over the August bank holiday weekend and prayed the
offices with us. Each of us managed to enjoy some of the hundreds of events and
performances going on all over the racecourse. I myself particularly enjoyed the
protest songs of Billy Bragg, the Methodist Modern Art exhibition and a
sociology talk. The Third Order had a stall in G Source. As last year we led
morning prayer in Soul Space in the Panoramic Restaurant at the top of the
grandstand. After a little rain on the first day the weather was kind to
us.
Jonathan Herbert, a Hilfield community member, was part of the team and
gave a talk on his visit to Palestine as an ecumenical
accompanier.
Solar Panels at Hilfield
Welcome the
sun! It hasn't been the most brilliant of summers here in Dorset - wonderful
weather early on but then since June quite a lot of wet days. Nevertheless,
after an assessment on energy saving we've taken the decision to install sets of
solar panels on the roofs of two of our houses, one for hot water and the other
for electricity generation. It's an expensive investment (made possible through
a legacy left to the Friary) but we have gone ahead with it in faith as a
pioneer project in the belief that the world urgently needs to be transferring
to renewable sources of energy. The Friary is already facing a 20% increase in
the price of our propane gas supply in the year ahead and we need to be looking
at alternative ways of heating our houses. Over the coming year we'll be
undertaking a detailed energy audit to look at where energy can be saved and the
possible alternative sources for the future.Yesterday evening the electrician connected Hilfield's first solar panels
and at dusk the meter showed the first Kwh. Today's sunshine generated
nearly 3Kw per hour.Now I am applying for the feed in tariff which, along with
lower electricity bills, should pay for it all in 10-12 years.
18 panels cover one third of the chapel roof, facing southeast, wires going
to an inverter at the back of Francis Chapel and on to the main electricity
upply via a thick cable. These panels will produce about 5% of all electricity
used per year in the whole friary (or 7% of what we use in the buildings around
the courtyard).
Unlike most houses, we needed planning permission, for we are
in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I hope we can eventually cover the
whole roof.
We have also had solar thermal panels put on Clare House heating
water for two families, who are now working out how best to use it, in
combination with the exisiting boiler.We have also had all the upstairs and some of the downstairs metal framed
windows in Douglas House doubled-glazed to 'B'standard, considerably better than
double glazing done previously. These works will cut our fuel bills, and our
carbon footprint, a little further.
Bomb at
Hilfield!Community member Jonathan found this heavy lump while digging a trench for
a water pipe. Joking that it could be a bomb, we threw it around. Three days
later though Susi his wife insisted he rang the police. Next morning the
bomb disposal unit arrived, X rayed it and told us it was a non explosive
shell, perhaps from a WW2 gun emplacement on the hill. Still, they took it away.
It leads us to remember the world’s many war zones where old explosives kill and
maim years after fighting ends, and to pray for the charities which clear
mines.
International Formators' Programme
The third
and final part of our three year International Formators’ Programme saw sisters
and brothers from all the provinces gather this year in the UK, following our
previous meetings in New York and Boston and the Solomon Islands. The
focus this time was on the foundation and early history of our communities and
on our Anglican identity and we began in Plaistow, East London where the first
Anglican Franciscan Order, the Society of the Divine Compassion, had its
origins, and where SSF brothers still live and work. Based in Southwark
for a few days we were able also to make pilgrimage to other sites of
significance such as the Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer Clerkenwell where CSF
had its origins, the Chapel of St Edward’s House, Westminster (Society of St
John the Evangelist) where the first SSF novice was admitted, the Lambeth Palace
archive where we viewed some fascinating early SSF documents and even Parliament
Square where we were reminded of Br Douglas’ important political lobbying and
campaigning on behalf of wayfarers. In each place our community historian,
Dr Petà Dunstan, brought the story alive for us, not least by posing a question
to consider for our contemporary Franciscan life.The historic pilgrimage continued with a visit to the historic Bartlemas
Chapel in Oxford, in medieval times a place of welcome and refuge for lepers and
the place that Brother Giles chose to begin his work with wayfarers before
moving to Hilfield. We followed in turn to Dorset where Brother Anselm
welcomed us in the names of Brother Douglas and Father Algy, and Petà
enlightened us further.
We stayed at Hilfield for the second week of our conference, this time with
stimulating input from Dr John Cator from California who helped us think in
depth about what it means to be Anglican Christians. We also enjoyed
sharing in the contemporary life of the community at Hilfield, with haymaking,
home grown entertainment and even the baptism of Richard and Chantal’s daughter
Felice all part of our time there.
Alnmouth Friary
Jubilee
Br Desmond Alban writes:
The brothers at Alnmouth
celebrated their 50th Anniversary on the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 15th
August 2011. Somehow we sat over 100 people in the chapel in reasonable
comfort, and the enthusiastic singing was swollen too by a number more guests in
the narthex beyond. We celebrated with a festal Sung Eucharist at which
Bishop Frank White (Assistant Bishop of Newcastle) presided and Brother Samuel
preached. The congregation was made up of many friends, old and young, and
the lovely weather allowed everyone to enjoy a picnic lunch in the friary
garden. Indeed, the main celebrations ended with Evening Prayer in the
open air, just before we welcomed the new guests arriving that day for ‘business
as usual’.
Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory
Br Colin Wilfred SSF died on 2nd August at the
friary in Canterbury. He had been suffering increasingly with breathing
difficulties that became acute at the beginning of the week. Brother Colin
Wilfred's funeral and Requiem Mass will take place on the 11th August at 1pm at
St Peter's Church in Canterbury. His ashes will be interred at Hilfield Friary
at a later date.
Life Profession
Sr Liz CSF made her Life Profession
on the 29th July at St Luke's Church, Birchwood, Lincoln. Her vows were
received by the Bishops Protector for the European Province, Michael
Perham. It was a joyous occasion as brothers and sisters from around the
province joined many friends and family to support Sr Liz as she took this final
step of commitment.
Ordination to the Diaconate
Sr Beverely
was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Gloucester, Michael Perham at Hilfield
Friary on Saturday 23rd July. It was a wonderful occasion. After the
service family and friends gathered in the courtyard to continue the
celebrations. Please continue to pray for Sr Beverley and for the parish of St
Peter's Highfield, Leicester where she will serve her title.
CSF at Launde Abbey
The Sisters in Leicester
were delighted to be part of 'Crossing the Threshold' at the re-launch of Launde
Abbey, the local Diocesan Retreat House. Taking as their theme 'The Desert in
the City', they shared their experiences of living, praying and working in the
St Matthew's area of inner city Leicester. This was a small part of the whole
day's celebration and commissioning of the refurbished house and grounds. It was
a day full of thankfulness, hope and joy, culminating in over 1000 people from
across the dioceses of Leicester and Peterborough gathering together in worship,
and singing in
the rain!
Province of the Divine Compassion (formerly the Australia/New
Zealand Province)
At a recent meeting of the brothers of the (now
former) Australia / New Zealand Province, Chapter resolved to adopt a new name
for the province. The province will now be known as the Province of the Divine
Compassion. Over the last few years the province has expanded with brothers now
living and ministering in Korea and Sri Lanka. The former Korean Franciscan
Brotherhood was recently received into membership in the Society of St Francis -
now with two life professed brothers and two novices. Brother Lionel returned to
his home in Sri Lanka and is nurturing interest in Franciscan charism there. The
name change was needed to reflect the growth in the province outside of
Australia and New Zealand. The choice of Divine Compassion has its links back to
the early days of the formation of Anglican Franciscan religious life. One of
the communities that formed the Society of St Francis was the Society of the
Divine Compassion.
Growing Community
Brother Samuel SSF writes from
Hilfield Friary:
A number of folk have moved on over the past couple of
months: Paul Overend, with us since October 2009, has left to take up a
temporary teaching post at Sarum College in Salisbury. We are grateful for all
that he has given us over the past fifteen months' rich music, wonderful
cooking, priestly ministry, library skills and imaginative liturgy - and we wish
him well for the future. Tomas Cihak from the Czech Republic and Marcus
Eberhardt from Germany have returned home to their work and study; it has been
great to have had them with us.Jason Morgan joined us at the beginning of December bringing much energy
and laughter and forestry skill also Michael Rainbow, a member of the S.S.F.
Third Order, is with us for three months. At the time of writing we are
expecting Ulf Schulz, a lawyer from Brandenburg, and there are a number of
others asking to join us when there's room! It's a nice affirmation of our life
that those who move on want to keep in touch and often ask to come back to stay
during vacations: we are expecting Annabelle and Malte to return for a time this
spring to share again in the life and work of the Friary.
However, the most significant addition to the Hilfield Community is the
birth of Felice, a second child to Richard and Chantal, who arrived on time on
the16th February to add her voice in chapel and refectory to that of Uriel.
Congratulations to the proud parents!
People who come to visit the Friary, either for the day or for an overnight
stay, remark on the liveliness of the community and the warmth of the
hospitality. We have a wonderful mixture of people here, both Franciscan
brothers and others, and believe that through the grace of God a new pattern of
Franciscan community living is being established - we are greatly blessed!
Songs of Protest and Praise
Caroline Windley
writes: Appropriately for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, during January
2011, an ecumenical and eclectic group of people gathered at the Friary. This
was a weekend of folk music, poetry and stories. Ably facilitated by Gill and
Alan McIntosh, Franciscan tertiaries based in Weymouth, we were introduced to a
rich diversity of folk traditions.Songs of protest, lament and hope have a special way of developing bonds
and a sense of community was quickly established. The 'Come Ye' sessions during
which participants were invited to offer a song or reading (or requested one)
were beautiful. No one was placed under pressure and those who didn't play
instruments also felt able to contribute.
Grounded by the liturgical rhythm of the community and culminating in the
two styles of music coming together at the Eucharist, perhaps our concluding
song appropriately sums up the experience and hope of the weekend.
Last night
I had the strangest dream
I'd ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had
all agreed
To put an end to war.
CDC
Zimbabwe
Sadly, Brother Bhekimpilo and Brother Brian have
asked to be released from their vows in the Community of Divine Compassion, the
Franciscan community in Zimbabwe which was begun by Br Geoffrey in Harare in
1986. In the early 1990's the CDC brothers moved to the Diocese of Manicaland on
the eastern border of Zimbabwe and from 2003 have been living at The Anglers'
Rest, a former back-packers' hostel in Nyanga. However the various pressures on
them - the plunging Zimbabwean economy, the uncertain political situation, and,
most significantly, the conflict in the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe since the
defection of two of the bishops under the influence of Mugabe, have taken their
toll. A number of SSF brothers have visited in recent years: Giles, Benedict,
John, Hugh, Samuel and Clarke Berge, the Minister General, in order to give
support and encouragement, and have been impressed by their steadfastness and
Franciscan hospitality in very difficult circumstances, but it now seems that
with only one brother, Peta Chapa, still in Nyanga, things have come to the end
of the road. We are grateful for all that has
been accomplished since Geoffrey first founded the CDC as an African expression
of Franciscan religious life, and for all those who have given support over
the years. We believe that in the purposes of God nothing is ever wasted,
and trust that in times to come Anglican Franciscan brothers will again walk the
roads of this beautiful country.Annual Sisters' Meeting 2011
14 Sisters gathered at Hilfield Friary for their
Annual Sisters' Meeting at the end of February. After a year of many movements
within the Province, the closure of Compton Durville and the opening of a new
house in Metheringham, there was a sense of renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Each house presented the joys, hopes, challenges that they had encounterd along
the way and shared the ways in which they were proactivelly encouraging and
developing Intentional Community living in their houses. The style was varied
and at times involved much laughter and applause as some of the presentations
included song and drama!The Sisters were warmly welcomed by the Hilfield Friary Community,
sharing together in times of fun and fellowship and joining the worshipping
community in the Hilfield Chapel. The Sisters were treated to a tour of the
friary ground by Richard one of the volunteers who has has been living alongside
the brothers for some time, having made a commitment to sharing something of the
Franciscan way of life. Richard shared with them some of the work with
which he is involved in the particular areas of conservation and land management
and took the Sisters to look at the hermitage woods and other parts of the
friary grounds. The tour included the fields with the sheep and lambs who
were more than happy to be friendly when they realised that food was on
offer!
All in all it was a great weekend and good to be together once
more.
Francis of Assisi - Living Prayer Today
Simon CocksedgeISBN 0262-799X
Grove Books, 2010, £3.95
How can we live a life of prayer in the midst of all our other commitments?
Simon Cocksedge, a member of the Third Order and also a GP doctor, a teacher and
a priest, gives us an answer by showing how St Francis' activity in preaching
the gospel, caring for creation, proclaiming peace and living as the Poverello
flowed essentially from his life of prayer, from a heart focussed intently on
God. This succinct booklet, just 25 pages, is one in the Grove Series on
Spirituality. It may be short but this is definitely not Franciscanism dumbed
down; it's full of quotations from the Franciscan sources and it has a real
grasp of what made Francis tick.
The rest of this review will appear in
the next edition of the franciscan magazine May
2010.
Archbishop of Papua New Guinea visits
Hilfield
Archbishop Joe Kopapa, of the Anglican Church of Papua New
Guinea and Bishop Protector of our brothers there, stayed at Hilfield during his
recent tour of the UK. On 5th February, 20 friends of the friary, several of
whom had been in PNG, watched a recently-made DVD about the life and work of
the church there, over coffee from the PNG highlands. There was much
interesting discussion with the archbishop afterwards. Copies of DVD are
available from Br Hugh SSF - hughssf@franciscans.org.uk
Hilfield Community Taxes
Oliver Letwin
Recently Christian Aid supporters
and members of the Hilfield Community lobbied Oliver Letwin on tax
avoidance.With concerns about corporate tax dodging in the UK meaning ordinary
tax-payers foot higher bills, local campaigners highlighted the impact that
international tax dodging by multinational corporations has on the plight of the
world’s poorest people. In many countries this leads to basic health services
being denied, and can be a matter of life and death.
Two new
brothers
Two men, Colin Dickson and Chris Boden, were made novices
at Alnmouth Friary on Saturday 15th January, being clothed in the
Franciscan habit and taking, respectively, the names of Joseph Emmanuel and Christopher
Martin. The names that they've chosen indicate something of their hope and expectation for
the Franciscan life that they are setting out to live: Joseph as
patron in particular of asylum seekers and Martin de Porres,
patron of the poor and of those seeking inter-racial harmony.
They
will now continue at Alnmouth sharing in the life and ministry of the house and
joining other novices for the particular formation programme. We thank God for
these two and continue to pray for new vocations to our Franciscan life and
witness. '
Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory
Sr Michaela OSC died on the 19th December at the Convent at Freeland. Her
funeral was held on the 29th December when her family were able to be
present.
Br Paul Anthony died in hospital on the 24th
December in the days following surgery to treat an aneurism on the brain. He was
51 years old and in the 24th year of his Profession.
May they rest in peae
and rise in glory.
Justice and peace in the
Solomons
From the Church Times (3rd December):
"Members
of four religious communities in the Church of Melanesia - the Sisters of
Melanesia, the Community of the Sisters of the Church, the Society of St
Francis, and the Melanesian Brotherhood - met for the first time to debate
social justice, human rights and advocacy in the Solomon Islands. The result was
a document calling for dramatic political change and rooting out of corruption
in the police force. The declaration singled out the widespread practice of
violence against women and children, in which the police often collude. It
called for better training of police, and pledged to help in this
training."
Blessing of San Damiano, Metheringham
When
Paschal and Maximilian moved to Walsingham shortly after Easter in 2008, a ‘new
team’ of four other brothers arrived to join Brother Edward in the ministry of
Alnmouth Friary. The nearly three years that have passed since then
have seen a number developments and changes at the friary: internal alterations
have made possible a new form of ministry in the partly self-contained ‘St
Anthony’s Chalet’; there have been liturgical and musical developments in the
chapel life; and the decision was made to give the friary a major new role in
Novice Formation as the house where men now begin their community
life. The brothers are deeply grateful for the leadership of Alan
Michael as Guardian during this time of change but a further change has now come
about with his departure to establish a new house in Newcastle as Vicar of
Cowgate (see above/below/separate article). Another ‘end of era’ occasion
was the death of Brother Edward in February 2010.
Christian Aid Supporters Day
Brother Hugh SSF writes:
On 20th October Jenny Owens TSSF and several JPIC Links sisters joined me at the Christian Aid Supporters Day at Westminster. Reverend Jesse Jackson from the USA, Loretta Minghella the new Director of Christian Aid, and Rt. Hon Andrew Mitchell secretary of state for international development addressed us on the Tracing the Tax and Climate Change. A third focus of the day was to thank the new coalition Government from refusing to cut overseas aid, but to aim towards spending 0.7% of our GNP on aid. The Iona community led music and worship.
Further details: www.christianaid.org.uk
Celebrating St Francis
130 came to Hilfield Friary on Saturday 18th September to
join the community in celebrating the Stigmata of St Francis - the marks of the
crucified Jesus which appeared in Francis' body towards the end of his
life after a time of intense prayer on the love of God in Jesus. We were blessed
with a gloriously sunny and warm late summer day which allowed the celebration
of the Eucharist to take place in the courtyard. In the afternoon news was
shared about the life of the community and people were shown around some of the
developments of the past year before a sumptuous tea was served. We are grateful
to many friends who came and shared the day with us. St Francis' Day itself (4th
October) falls on a Monday this year. There will be a Festive Eucharist in the
chapel at 5.15pm - all are welcome.
Discovering Peace and
Reconciliation in the Solomon Islands
Brother Desmond Alban, Novice Guardian for the brothers in
the European Province writes....
2010 marked the second year of a three-year programme
to bring together ‘formators’ – those concerned with the development of sisters
and brothers in the early years of their Franciscan life – for an international
gathering to give time and attention to this important area recognised as a
priority in all seven provinces of C/SSF. Last year, in New York and Boston, we
had met together to write a roadmap ‘International Curriculum’ and to look at
some particular themes. This year we met in a place which was for many of us the
far side of the world, in what is now numerically the largest province in SSF,
the Province of the Solomon Islands.
CLARC Conference
Samuel
SSF and Joyce and Helen Julian CSF were among two dozen leaders of Anglican
religious communities who met for their annual conference recently in Whitby.
The conference was led by Stephen Ortiger OSB, a former
abbot of Worth, who spoke from his own experience of being a leader of a
religious community, and sparked some very worthwhile discussion.
As well as the input, and business sessions, the leaders
visited Rievaulx, (pictured) where they celebrated the eucharist in the abbey
ruins, and were also welcomed to the new monastery of the Benedictine nuns who
have recently moved from Stanbrook to Wass, only a few miles from Rievaulx.
Annual Brothers Meeting 2010
Forty brothers from around the European Province, including
our five novices, assembled at Hilfield Friary from the 1st till the 4th June
for the Brothers' Meeting, an annual event to share news, to worship and pray
together, and to discuss matters of common concern. This time we were looking at
the subject of 'leadership' - what sort of leadership we hope for, and how we
can share responsibility more widely among us. It's also our custom at this
meeting to have a 'Franciscan Lecture' given either by a member of C/SSF or by
some eminent visitor. On this occasion Br Nicholas Alan lectured on the
spirituality of Angela of Foligno, a Third Order contemplative and mystic of the
14th century. We came away from the meeting encouraged and with renewed vision
for the future.
Novices Together
THE DAILY OFFICE
SSF, 2010, Revised Edition
Over the past forty years of liturgical revision
in the Church of England, the Society of Saint Francis has tried to bring
together the prayers of the church to which we belong and our particular
needs as Anglican Franciscan brothers and sisters. In the course of this
SSF has had considerable input into the forms that the Church of England
as now adopted in Common Worship, Daily Prayer.
In
2005, the Joint Meeting of the Chapters of the European Province
commissioned the editing of The Daily Office SSF, to align it with Common
Worship, Daily Prayer texts while retaining some of the familiar format,
increasing the Midday Prayer provision as well as the Franciscan content.
The revised edition 2010 is published by Mowbray,
an imprint of Continuum. It puts things in the order in which they are
likely to be used. The psalter is that used in Common Worship and is
printed after Forms 1-7, followed by the Canticles. The book retains the
format of connecting a day of the week with a season of the liturgical
year for Morning, Evening and Night Prayer, but calls each day a Form
number. Midday prayer is always of the day of the week. Included are
Additional Liturgies; Special Occasions including vocation and creation;
Prayers for Various Occasions; the Principles of the First Order and the
Principles of the Third Order.
The Table of
Contents is quite comprehensive with the hope of making the book
user-friendly.Copies may be purchased from Hilfield Friary
Shop £14.00 plus £2.20 p &p.
The shop is open
Wednesday to Saturday 2.30 - 4.30
Telephone 01300
341345
email hilfieldssf@franciscans.org.uk
Desmond Alban writes:
Novices
at Alnmouth and from the Order of the Holy Paraclete at Whitby have come
together for study and formation no less than three times over the past year.
The process began last October when we took one day of our annual CSF/SSF Novice
Experience, held for the first time at Alnmouth, to visit St Hilda’s Priory. In
January the OHP Sisters invited the three novices then at Alnmouth to come to
the Priory for a residential Enneagram Workshop. I’m told they did learn
something about the Enneagram, though a major highlight appears to have been
their work together on building a snow nun, complete with veil, as the workshop
took place in the depths of that harsh winter. Finally, in balmier weather,
Alnmouth Friary hosted Samantha and Helena, with their Novice Guardian Heather
Francis for a ‘return visit’ for five days in May. Alan Michael and I led two
days’ study on the liturgy of the Mass and the Office and the sisters were also
able to visit Holy Island and other sites of spiritual and historical interest
north of the Tees.
Historic Ministers’
Meeting
Every eighteen months the Ministers of
the various provinces of SSF and CSF meet somewhere in the world. A little
earlier this year they met for the first time ever in the recently formed Papua
New Guinea Province, spending a little over a week at the Friary of St Mary of
the Angels, Haruro, Oro Province. It was a particularly significant occasion for
the CSF Ministers, who had never before met in the Pacific Islands (the SSF
Ministers met in the Solomon Islands a few years ago).
After gathering in Port Moresby the Ministers flew to
Popondetta, and were taken to the entrance to the friary, where brothers and
other religious met them with garlands, singing and dancing. This wonderful
welcome set the tone for a time of generous hospitality. A wind house, raised
from the ground and with open sides to let in whatever breeze there might be,
had been specially built for the meeting, and the guest house prepared for the
Ministers.
As well as the business of the
meeting, there was time to get to know the brothers at the friary, to visit the
friaries at Katerada and Martyr’s School, and to have tea with the sisters of
the Community of the Visitation of our Lady, who live near Haruro. A tour of the
friary grounds introduced the ministers to many of the crops grown by the
brothers, a party on the last evening included wonderful local dancers (and
rather less wonderful dancing by the Ministers!) and after the final eucharist a
commemorative photograph was taken, to remind both Ministers and Haruro
brothers, if it was needed, of an unforgettable meeting.
Helen
Julian CSF, Living the Gospel: the
spirituality of Francis and Clare. Bible Reading Fellowship, 2001: This
book that looks at Francis and Clare together, showing how they shared
responsibility for the growth and influence of the Franciscan way, and how
deeply rooted their teaching was in Scripture, is now OUT OF PRINT.
However the Bible Reading Fellowship are making this book available as a
paid PDF download. if you would like a copy of this book in PDF format click the download
link to the BRF website
On the Move......
Prayer for Vocations
The Community and Society of St Francis believe that
prayer is one of the key elements in attracting vocations. One house each month
focuses on praying for vocations. We would ask you join us in praying for
vocations and you may want to pray alongside the house nearest to you or with
one that has a particular significance for you.
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Section 1 Click here for the "About section", where you will
find more information regarding St Francis, St Clare, the time the saints lived
in, the Pilgrimage to Assisi, Franciscan tradition and why after you?
Other sections
Section 1 Click here for the "About section", where you will find more information regarding St Francis, St Clare, the time the saints lived in, the Pilgrimage to Assisi, Franciscan tradition and why after you?