Poor
Clares, 22 Upper Church Rd, Hollington, East Sussex TN37 7AS
All our dear friends - We could not do better this year that greet you
with a message from Pope Francis’ when he said:”With Christ, joy is constantly
born anew.” May you experience this joy
at Christmas and throughout the coming year, and so arrive at the peace about
which the angels sang! In fact, the most amazing event this year in all our
lives must be the election of Pope Francis.
White smoke appeared just as we finished Evening Prayer and what an
impressive, silent appearance he made on the balcony! Something new is certainly afoot. And not only for Catholics. A few days later
we watched the installation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury. It seems the two men have much in
common. Another joy is the appointment
of Brother, now Archbishop, José Carballo OFM to the Office for Religious in
Rome. May all these men be much blessed
as they work for the good of all God’s people.
Here in Hollington we too are
experiencing new times. We have a new
Parish Priest, Canon Tom Treherne, who came at the beginning of September. We had had rather a rocky year which involved
the amalgamation of two churches into one Parish, with much anguish over the
times of Sunday Masses and finances.
There was a joint ceremony in October when Father Tom was installed by
Bishop Kieron and we said farewell to Father Ian Byrnes, who was setting off on
a well-earned sabbatical. Here in the convent we were very saddened last
January by the death of Father Anthony
Busutil, a Maltese priest who has said Mass for us four days a week. May
his brave and funny soul rest in peace. Then God stepped in and gave us Father
Barry, a Southwark priest living down here temporarily. However, in September his bishop asked him to
take on a parish again, so we were left on Wednesdays and Thursdays with the
prospect of Liturgy of the Word instead of Mass. But the Lord again provided, and now, unless
he is away, Father Desmond Baker, from Westminster says Mass for us twice a
week.
We have been blessed this year
by a number of interesting visitors.
Sister Leo, our Arundel Abbess, comes several times a year. Last March she got caught in a snow storm,
and having got as far as Bexhill, could get no further. The kind Rosminian sisters offered her a bed
for the night, and she arrived about lunch time the following day, with a great
tale to tell! Our Capuchin Brother
Anthony came a couple of times, and sadly told us that he would not be able to
come anymore as his cancer was making him more and more tired. We were very sad about this as he is such an
old and supportive friend. We were
pleased to see Brother Murray Bodo, OFM who came from the States en route to
Assisi. He likes to stay in our caravan,
which he sees as a hermitage, but at meals he regaled us with many interesting
stories. Another visitor from abroad
was David Evans, home from China where he is teaching English. He too had lots of stories, but he also spent
a couple of days digging our garden! On
his last day he insisted on buying us a Chinese Take-Away, which was delicious
and so abundant it did us for the next day too!
In May we welcomed Sister
Assumpta from Arkley who came for a short rest, and enjoyed being able to put
her feet up with a good book! Sister
Agnes Clare also came from Arkley in November to make her pre-profession
retreat. Unfortunately she had hurt her
back moving furniture and was in much pain.
Luckily a doctor in our surgery managed to prescribe some tablets which
eased it considerably and by her Solemn Profession on 18th November
she was very much better and could enter fully into every aspect of her big
day. In May we were pleased to see
Sister Philomena for a night. She used
to be the Hospital Chaplain at the Conquest until last year, when she was asked
to go to Dublin. In August we welcomed two old friends, Father Tony Dwyer and
Father Perry Sykes who brought with them a huge whole salmon! Also in August two women came for soup from
the Bruderhof Community, which is an international communal movement of
families and single men and
women who seek to put into action Christ’s command to love God and neighbor.
They brought books they had written to distribute among elderly people. They told us something of their Christian
life in a huge community of about 300.
As you can see, they have much in common with our way of life, so we
hope they will come again and share more with us.
Back in March we had our annual
tea party for the Elderly. They were far
fewer than when they first came some years ago – only four now plus their
driver-carers. They love sitting down at
the table, and certainly do justice to the sandwiches, cake, apple pie,
meringues, etc that we prepare for them.
One old chap of over 90 still lives on his own, and tucked in well to
the meringues! Then there is Pat who is
also over 90, living on her own. She dresses so beautifully – very stylish in
red and white this time. She must have
been quite something in her younger years and she still has a lot to say! In
April we had our now annual Neighbours’ Tea Party. This year there was a new
young couple living opposite who brought their lively 3 year old boy with
them. The husband works for the police
and she is into opthalmics. Sadly they
have already moved on to be nearer their work.
As usual the conversation flowed easily, as this is the only time they
meet one another! Also on the theme of
meals our good friends, Veronica and Graham who live opposite, delight in
preparing supper for us once a year.
This year it was a three course meal which was delicious, and Graham
poured the wine plentifully. Again there
was much left over which did us the next day too!
August brought the Animal
Blessing which is held in the Church grounds. There were mostly dogs, but also one
cat and a tortoise! Luckily the weather
held, and Ft, Father Ian and Stuart Agnew did the blessing to everyone’s
satisfaction. The same week saw the publication of Volume 2 of Ft’s book on St
Clare about all that is connected with Clare in Assisi and beyond. It is full of interesting facts that Ft has
collected during her wide reading and pilgrimages to Assisi. September was a
sad month for the parish because an old parishioner and a very good friend to
us, Sean McCarthy died after months of weakness and illness. Poor Mary, his wife, was devastated, though
she has the continuous support of her daughters. The church was packed for his funeral when
his deacon son, Phelim, preached.
In October we were happy to join
Sr Fidelis to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.
Clive, the taxi man who drove us to Arundel, announced at the outset
that he was a believer in God, but didn’t go to church. When we arrived we asked him what he was
going to do, and as we had told him there was to be a Mass, he asked if he could
come. So he did, and after Mass Sr Leo
announced that all were welcome to join the community for lunch in the
refectory. So Clive came too and really
enjoyed the hot dinner they provided.
Then we were invited to go to the Community room for a ‘Street Party’ –
ie games suitable for those whose legs have seen better days! Clive came and actually was persuaded to join
in the fun! With much difficulty we tore
him away at 4 o’clock, but he had enjoyed himself so much he could have stayed
on for ever!! The next evening he came
up with his two daughters, two bottles of wine and a box of biscuits as a thank
you for the great day he had had in Arundel!
We cannot end without telling
you about our ecological garden! In our
nest box with the camera we had Great Tits who laid, hatched and fledged 8
chicks, much to our delight, though we were at Sunday Mass when the last one
went, so we missed it! Our fruit trees
were much better that last year, except for the cherry plum tree, because the
pigeons were so hungry they ate all the buds! Our bees produced 200 lbs of
honey between the two hives. The Bee Man
was delighted and so were we. The latest
project has been the enlarging and re-lining of the pond which is going to be
stunning with the plants around and in it.
None of this could happen so well if it weren’t for the four lads who
help every week. We also have news of
two others who used to come: Charlee aged no more than 16, is now a very proud
father but clearly needs our prayers, and
Danny is out of prison and is determined not to go back; he now has a
job so we are cautiously hopeful! .
With much love
and prayers for a happy Christmas and a blessed 2014.
Sr Frances
Teresa, Sr Paul, Sr Marie V and Sr Clare Agnes and Miss P.
