CHAPLAINCY REPORT 2021
The Communities of Saints John, Luke and Teresa of Calcutta The three quotes at the start of this report are You did not choose me, no, I chose you; from the gospels of St John and St Luke, and and I commissioned you to go out from St Teresa of Calcutta. These three saints and to bear fruit, fruit that will last. are the patrons of the three communities at the St John 15: 16. heart of the spiritual life of the School. The three Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, communities have continued functioning and have adapted in the way they have had to meet regularly he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my and reach out to others. body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ The members of the Community of St John’s are St Luke 22: 19 all lectio leaders in the School. The community is led “The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or by the St Scholastica Community, the members of leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. the Manquehue Apostolic Movement, who do so We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the much to encourage, support and listen to all pupils in their spiritual journeys. only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a The many lectio groups across the School meet piece of bread but there are many more dying for a on a weekly basis to reflect and pray the scriptures. During the meetings all listen with the ear of their little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but heart to God’s word and often share with the others a verse that has resonated with them. Over also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, time the members of the Lectio group grow in as there is a hunger for God.” friendship with each other as they learn to listen to St Teresa of Calcutta one another and share what the Word of God is saying to them. This year’s report, September 2020 to July 2021, What is Lectio Divina? Lectio Divina is an ancient covers the period of lockdowns with the many monastic way of praying and opening oneself to be restrictions in the way we have had to function. challenged by the Word of God. It is about stepping Much of the Lent term took place with no out of time and shutting out the noise, bustle and pupils at Downside, all classes and activities being the hundred and one cares of the world so that conducted online. The Sunday online service, as God can reach me, God can rest in my heart, and I well as the Friday afternoon online hymn practice can then listen to him. Lectio Divina is about looking and assembly, became part of school life. It was for the living Christ, having contact with the living good that we were able to return to the Abbey word, and when one has found and made contact Church for the Sunday Mass towards the end of with the living word, enjoying and savouring it. the academic year. We had to adapt the way we delivered retreats and the way the House prayers Enzio Bianchi in a little book – Lectio Divina – Scripture and Community Life – writes, ‘as we read were conducted. the Bible, our listening should turn into prayer: Amidst all the changes in order to meet the prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred requirements of Covid-19, the life of prayer and Scripture, so that God and man may walk together’. service, the love of God and neighbour, have continued, and pupils have adapted to the changing Listening is how this dialogue begins. Then, as we expose ourselves to the text and apply it to our circumstances with goodwill and humour. lives, new life is breathed into the Bible and the result is genuine theology: not so much speaking
84 The Raven 2021
