NEWSLETTER Autumn 2011

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful

committed citizens can change the world: indeed it’s the only thing that ever does.

(Margaret Mead)

Prayer for Autumn Days

God of the seasons, there is a time for everything; there is a time for dying and a time

for rising. We need courage to enter into the transformation process.

God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye to their green, letting go of what has been.

We, too, have our moments of surrender, with all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so.

God of fallen leaves lying in coloured patterns on the ground, our li ves have their own

patterns. As we see the patterns of our own growth, may we learn from them.

God of geese going south for another season, your wisdom enables us to know what needs

to be left behind and what needs to be carried into the future.

God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us, you entrust us with the freedom to choose

life. For all this, we are grateful.

Members of the Community have enjoyed time during the Summer for

holidays and retreats. But as you will see from the pages that follow there

has also been a lot going on for us!

GENERAL CHAPTER X

As you know our General Chapter took place in Belgium in July this year. We would like to share with you

some of the highlights.

Celebrating the granting of Autonomy in African style

Rwanda was granted its Autonomy: thus the Priory of the

Resurrection, Rwanda became the ninth Priory of our

Association.

Three Sisters from Rwanda are seen here with one of their

gifts from the Association - a hanging designed by S. Mary Stephen and made by the Colversons, parishioners

of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Melbourne.

FOLLOW UP TO THE CHAPTER

In September, the Community gathered

for the first session of feedback from

the Chapter: for discussions and

reflections.

And together we continued to weave!

Section B of the Chapter

Chapter delegates were joined for four days by other Sisters and associated Lay people from all the

Priories for some days of reflection, sharing, praying and companionship.

The whole Section B Community at the

Chapter.

One of the Reflective Workshops in the

beautiful grounds surrounding the Conference

Centre at Ter Dennen, Westmalle.

Susy Brouard of CAFOD was one of the people

giving input and we used sophisticated audio

equipment for translation at each of the work

tables.

Creative li turgies were an important

part of the Chapter experience.

AFTER THE CHAPTER

During the Chapter, S. Margaret Mary was re-elected as

Prioress General and S. Moira was re-elected as a member

of the General Counci l, and soon after the Chapter they

both went to Congo and Rwanda, primari ly to officiate at

the first elections in the new Priory in Rwanda. During their visit to Mirhi , Congo, they met the ten

orphans (pictured here) who are being looked after by the

Community, who found them foraging for food in the

nearby fields.

SNIPPETS FROM THE COMMUNITY’S SUMMER

The Community in East

London welcomed

parishioners, friends

and neighbours into

their home to celebrate the feast of

St Augustine on August

the 28th.

Over 160 chi ldren

participated in the 8th Fun

Week run by the Community

on the Melbourne Estate.

Activities included, drumming, craft, circus

ski lls, science and stunts.

S. Patricia with two of our Companions – Clive Joyce and

Marilyn Beattie were privileged to be part of the

Essex University Choir’ s performance of Beethoven’s

Missa Solemnis in St Alban’s Abbey in June this year.

S. Pauline attended the New Dawn Charismatic Conference in Walsingham in July along with some of our

Companions - Trish McCaul, Carol Smythe. Val and Roy Hi lsley joined them for the day on the Tuesday.

It was a week of prayer, singing, fun and Community bui lding.

S. Mary Thérèse attended a Hospital Chaplaincy day at the Colchester

Synagogue. The day focused on the Jewish approach to sickness and

dying especially as practised in our local Hospital. And also the Jewish

form of prayer and thinking.

The Wisdom group enjoyed the last of the sunny

September days at the Ritchie’s farm in

Margaret Roding - ‘best ever’ according to one Wisdom

member after their tractor ride around the farm!

S. Angela led a day of reflection looking at two of the longer poems of

Wordsworth - Tintern Abbey and Ode: on intimations of immortality.

She explored with the group the way in which Wordsworth considers

that the memory of the beauties and majesty of the natural world can

connect us with the past, give us pleasure once more in the present and more importantly, hope for the future, asking if his spirituality

opens doors for us onto the reality that lies within nature and beyond

the senses?

S. Christina and S. Teresa Ann participated in a candlelight

prayer si lent vigi l on the evening of the 12th August on the

steps of the Excel exhibition centre. Bishop Thomas was also

present at the protest against the Arms Trade.

The Community in Colchester

were pleased to welcome

members of the local Coffee,

Cake and Company group to lunch

at our house in Howe Close.

S. Mary Stephen has been helping to create a mural

for the restaurant in Buckfast Abbey which depicts

the Monks bui lding the original Abbey Church.

On Sunday 23rd September the new Visual

Arts centre in Colchester was officially

opened. Four of the Community were present

at the prayer event there that day, followed

by a prayer walk around the town and ending

with a service at St Botolph’s Priory ruins.

PLEASE JOIN US! As part of our celebrations of 370 years of foundation, we are

taking a trip to the Holy Land during February half term 2013.

The cost will be approximately £1,500. If you would like to

have more information as and when we make further plans,

please contact us at anderson2003@blueyonder.co.uk

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Quiet Day 7th October 10:00am to 3:00pm at 74 Howe Close, CO4 3XD.

Mass for the Dead at New Hall Saturday 5th November 2011 2:00pm. All welcome.

Welcoming Advent 27th November 2011 5:00pm at 74 Howe Close, CO4 3XD. All welcome.

Contact us:- www.canonesses.co.uk

74 Howe Close

Colchester CO4 3XD 01206 867296

43 Anderson Avenue Chelmsford CM1 2DA

01245 604108

71 Cundy Road

Custom House London E16 3DJ

020 7476 5490

22 Anderson Avenue

Chelmsford CM1 2BZ

01245 604128 The Association website: www.crss-worldwide.tk

For further detai ls of any of the events below, please emai l

admin@canonesses.co.uk or telephone 01206 867296.

THE HOLY LAND TRIP

St AUGUSTINE

“The service you owe the needy is to join in bearing some part of the

burden that oppresses them.”

St Augustine.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

S. Christina has joined the ‘Welcoming team’ at the Multi -Faith

centre at newly-opened Westfield Centre near the Olympic site

in East London. She hopes to become part of the Chaplaincy

team when it is set up.