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Howton Grove Priory | Holy Trinity Monastery | Advent 2014 NEWSLETTER
Advent Greetings Advent is almost upon us, so it is high time we brought you up to date with our news. Those of you who follow us on Facebook or Twitter or read iBenedictines will know 2014 was not quite the year we were hoping for, but it has had its good points and many unexpected blessings. The Monastery Buildings Our little monastery seems to grow more beautiful by the hour. Thanks to Mary and Damien, the garden has been simplified and made more 'monastic', with a more fluid layout and much more manageable arrangement of Digitalnun, Quietnun and Bro Duncan lawns, fruit and vegetables. Our old shed, PBGV covered with tarpaulin, finally gave way, so we had to bring forward the Five Year Plan and replace it. A couple of coats of Sadolin from Handynun, and it is now is a resplendent bolt-hole for Bro Duncan PBGV and companions. The final tweak to the garden will be the planting of a small orchard, God willing, in 2015 and 2016.
Old shed
New shed
Parts of the garden are now Zen-like in their simplicity
Inside new shed
The cider-mill herb garden planted for winter
In the summer we repainted the outside of the monastery as the wood was beginning to show the wear and tear of months of rain. It made us realise just how many windows we have and why the building is so beautifully light inside! The repainting of the oratory was also completed, and a temporary fix made to the floor. Digitalnun's illness made it advisable to bring forward the Ten Year Plan and redo the bathroom, removing the old triangular bath (only ever used by the dog) and replacing it with a shower. The saga of our repainting it can be read on Facebook. It has proved very expensive and is still not finished, but we appreciate having somewhere suitable for our needs — and are very grateful to those whose generosity helped defray some of the cost.
The Resident Monastic Community The great sadness of the past year stems from the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma Digitalnun received in January. It has meant we have had to put on hold the candidates for admission we had 'in the pipeline,' as well as delaying our acceptance
Nusn are so strait-laced, aren't they?
of oblates and associates. Many other plans have had to be abandoned, too, as we got to grips with two lots of surgery, multitudinous scans, radiotherapy and now chemotherapy. The metastatic cancer is quite advanced, but that is the nature of sarcoma. Nevertheless, out of this seemingly negative experience has come much that is positive. We have been upheld by the love and practical help of friends near and far. Special thanks must go to Eric and Shellie, who did so much driving for us (and much else besides); Anthony and Celia who welcomed Digitalnun into their home while she was undergoing weeks of treatment at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford; our Trustees, who have been immensely kind and helpful throughout; and our Veilaudio volunteers, without whom our service of the blind and visually impaired would have collapsed entirely. We have learned a little more what it really means to live by faith; but do, please, continue to pray for us as each day presents a fresh challenge— and we're happy to admit we'd be very gruntled to have a miracle of healing sent D. Catherine's way. Our Oblate Community Although we have had to put on hold admissions to the oblate community, we have had a very good year in terms of mutual support and enrichment. Our online chapter on 13 November was voted a great success, although we felt the absence of Oblate Patricia, for whom we ask your prayers as she also has cancer. It was great to be together and pray and talk in 'real time', even though we were separated geographically — Canada, France, the U.S.A., various parts of England. If Digitalnun gets round to completing the work she is doing on the websites (please pray!), you will be hearing a lot more from our oblates, who are a very gifted and important part of our community.
The Wider World Our online hospitality continues to grow and grow, although there have been fewer radio broadcasts this year and no talks given outside the monastery, for obvious reasons. We had been discussing the possibility of offering monastic internships to those who would like to 'taste' monastic life without obligation, but this, too, has been put on hold for the time being. Our email prayerline continues to operate 24/7 and seems to be much valued — even by those who have no formal connection with religion. Our online retreat service has also met a need. Quietnun in the calefactory
We have had several people staying at the monastery for quiet times/retreats, but
have had to restrict these to people we already know and who are aware of our situation. This has been a great disappointment to us, but even Quietnun's heroic efforts cannot make up for the fact that we cannot plan very much in advance. Embrace Life As we turn our eyes towards the coming of Christ at Christmas, we assure you of our love and prayers. What we have learned this year is that good can come out of difficult circumstances. We have to embrace life, because if we do so with faith, hope and love, we embrace God himself. Let Bro Duncan have the final word. He is a wise old dog, and understands better than most what it means to welcome Christ in all his guises. May God bless you! Sr Catherine and Sr Lucy
Bro Duncan PBGV says ---------'Every guest should be welcomed as Christ.' (RB 53.1). Something to remember this Christmas.
The Boring Stuff Please, please, keep us up to date with your email address! We are always grateful for contributions towards our life and work. The easiest way to make these is online, via our Charity Choice facility: www.charitychoice.co.uk/benedictinenuns
PLEASE KEEP US UP TO DATE WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. Š2014 Holy Trinity Monastery | Howton Grove Priory | 1-2 Howton Grove Barns | Wormbridge | Herefordshire | HR2 9DY | Reg. Charity No. 1144001 | Company No. 7487215 |
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