Chapter begins in Rome

The Chapter has now begun. 

Go out into the deep and with courage and hope welcome the future 

 Between now and the 10th of October Sisters Ann-Marie Gardner, Provincial, Kathleen Colmer Delegate, will be in Rome for the General Chapter.Sisters Jayne Horswill, Maureen Moloney, Damien O Mahony and Jayne will also be in Rome working on Chapter business.

Safe arrival in Rome for Sr Jayne Horswill from
St Thomas More who meets up with Sr  Ruth Durick

For further details you may wish to read updates on the Roman Union website. 

Live a new life - The Company of St Ursula

A member of the company at Castlerigg World Youth Day Festival

Poster of The Company of St Ursula

At the recent vocations event at the World Youth Day Festival at Castlerigg Yvonne supported me in sharing information about The Company of St Ursula which was founded by St Angela Merici in Brescia, North Italy on 25th November 1535.  This is  a way of life for women who wish to consecrate themselves totally to God by living the Evangelical Councils of perpetual celibacy, poverty and obedience in the world.  The Company at Lancaster was the first established in England.  If you'd like to find out more see Company of St Ursula page or contact me for more information.

Is God calling you to give your life to Jesus through consecrated poverty, chastity and obedience lived in the world?

Angelinas - I AM LOVE – I AM GOD – I AM YOUR STORY

Next Wednesday evening there will be a meeting of the Angelinas.  My thanks to one of the Angelinas for their reflection on one of our earlier meetings.  If you'd like to find out more please get in touch.

We are a group of mothers of young children who come together for mutual support and to find inspiration in the writings of St Angela Merici.  We are blessed to have the Ursuline sisters to guide us in the spirit of St Angela as we strive to live out our vocations as wives and mothers. The meeting begins  with time to chat and share our experiences, joys and challenges over a delicious meal prepared by some of the Angelinas.  We then have a reflection led by one of the Ursulines inspired by St Angela Merici, see below reflection from an earlier meeting.  

We thank God for the life and inspiration of St Angela and for the work and friendship of the Ursuline sisters in our Parish.  St Angela Merici – pray for us.

I AM LOVE – I AM GOD – I AM YOUR STORY

My story is a song … sung countless times before; yet different in its rendering,

Discovering anew … an ageless vibrancy, because in time and space,

There exists an ONLY MOMENT and an ONLY ME.

                        Unique in my centre,

                        And opening afresh

                                                each day

                                                to a LOVE SONG.

My story is a story of my depths …

                        Blended with the Divine,

                        Hearts meet heart,

                        And I hear the words

                                                of a God.

Like music on a harp string, I play a song of love.

Each day upon your heart, my notes are stroked

                                                with tenderness …

                        Some softly with the awe of peace,

                        Some sombre with the ache of suffering,

                        Some joyful with the ring of hope,

And all played gently with my hand.

                                                I AM LOVE – I AM GOD.

Be my joy and open yourself completely.

Let my music flow in full resonance for

                        In truth, a note rings free,

                        In truth, a note rings clearly.

Let me play upon your heart …

                                                A melody of being,

                                                A melody of truth.

                                                I AM LOVE – I AM GOD.

Do not be afraid … I am a gentle conductor.

                        I tune your heart, and I alone

                        Can bring its richness

                                                into full melody.

Do not be afraid … as I play my melody …

                        For it is a SONG OF LOVE …

                                                Played upon your being,

                                                Played upon your story,

                                                Played upon your heart.

                                                I AM LOVE

                                                  I AM GOD

                                                      I AM YOUR STORY

Reflection by Sr Zela on the following poem:

Chapter Logo - The Sun

On this sunny Bank Holiday Monday a word or two about the sun in the Chapter Logo

• The colour yellow evokes Christ, “our Rising Sun”: his Light shines out guiding the life of the Church. 
• The circle connects with the shape of the boat, showing how the boat which represents the Church and Christ are in Communion and united as One 
• The red ring around the sun represents an 'ardent love of Christ that the Church receives' from Christ, it is symbolic of the ardent Love of the Passion, of the Eucharist and life given for the new covenant between Christ and his people.

The calendar for the chapter is now available on the website of the Ursulines of the Roman Union, please remember those sisters who are preparing to come to the Chapter.  

Catlerigg - World Youth Day Festival

 

Table and display at Vocations Session



Here I am at the World Youth Day Festival at Castlerigg where there was an opportunity for young people to come and find out more about different ways in which they might respond to God's calling.  To find out more about the Castlerigg World Youth Festival visit their Facebook Page.

To find out more about what happens throughout the year at Castlerigg Manor, the Lancaster Diocesan Youth Service Retreat Centre visit their website. 

World Youth Day Festival

Like many I didn't get to Rio, but this week I am pleased to be joining young people from the Diocese of Lancaster and Salford as Castlerigg Manor (Diocesan Youth Centre), where they are having a World Youth Festival.  This will give me an opportunity to meet young people who are discerning what God is asking of them.  I am looking forward to joining others who I met at the recent Invocation in the North and talking about vocations.

Image for World Youth Festival at Castlerigg Manor

Lancaster Martyrs

This week I am back in Lancaster where Lancaster Cathedral have had an exhibition entitled 'My Faith is My Crime' it provides details of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales, the Lancaster, Lancashire and Cumbrian Martyrs.  Although the last of the Lancaster Martyrs died in 1646, the exhibition reminds us that people continue to die for their faith today.  

World Map with Martyrs

To find out more about the Lancaster Martyrs a video made by one of the parishioners of Lancaster Cathedral.