Colwich Abbey - Chronicle 2006

The Colwich Chronicle

St. Mary's Abbey Colwich Stafford ST18 0UF

Advent 2007

Vocations, vocations, vocations !!!

The Noviciate was empty at the beginning of this year, but now we have a novice and two postulants! There are also some other enquirers and aspirants. This is a wonderful answer to our prayers and yours. Our novice was clothed on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady, 15th August, taking the name Sister Mary Magdalen. One of the postulants entered in July and the other in November, so let us pray that after six months each they too will be ready for their Clothing.

Now there is a Noviciate Blog. What is a blog? It is a sort of mini website, but more informal, giving their reactions to the life they are experiencing, and allowing you to reply. For those with access to the Internet, the address of the blog is:
http://colwichnov.wordpress.com

Playing of the merry organ . .

The singing of the Divine Office now benefits from new, younger voices.

Furthermore Sister Monica recently began to accompany the Office as well the Mass on our beautiful pipe organ. The cause was originally the failure of the little electric organ.

However we like the accompaniment much better on the pipe organ.

Sister Monica SR MONICA

The Peace Agreement

in Northern Ireland for which we have long prayed was signed on 26th March, which this year was our titular feast, the Annunciation.

Father Edward Delepine

our Chaplain was rushed to hospital on 5th August, but he made a great recovery, was home on 15th August, and was soon 'back to normal'.

. . sweet singing in the choir

Sister Theresa Mary

SR TERESA MARY

Sister Theresa Mary is the Second Chantress. Outside the choir, she is cook, seen here making traditional Colwich ginger biscuits before Advent.

Earlier in the year she was hopping about the kitchen with her leg in plaster! Each nun had to take a day in the kitchen: we survived. Now the noviciate are beginning to share in the cooking and making jam as well.

Sister Davina is also a Chantress. She cooks one day a week, helps with the guests, looks after our dog Chelsea, and this year gained by distance learning a certificate in Adult Studies in the Catholic Catechism from the Maryvale Institute.

Sister Davina

SR DAVINA

May They Rest in Peace

Harold Hine who used to keep cows on our farm died on 29 December 2006. His sister Ada, who died some years ago, was also a great friend to us.
Mother Prioress lost both her nephew David McKay and her brother Albert Bromwich in February.
Two of our oblates, Pat Fairclough and Joan Goodall, died this year.
Our retired Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville died this November. It was he who presided at the Abbatial Blessings of both Abbess Edith Street and Abbess Gertrude Baker.

Forty Years Ago: Amalgamation

This year 31st July was the 40th anniversary of the amalgamation of the Colwich and Atherstone communities. Of the original members, Mother Abbess (from Atherstone) and Mother Prioress (from Colwich) remain. Mother Abbess attended a ceremony on 17th August at the Atherstone cemetery where the nuns from the old community are buried.

We also celebrated on 31 August the 200th anniversary of death of Mother Teresa Joseph Johnson, the Prioress who brought our community to England after the French Revolution.

Photos by Nicole Frost