Franciscan Missionary Sisters of
Littlehampton
| Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Littlehampton |
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Latest News
| Chapter 2008 | ||||
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Our 2008 Chapter
took place 14 -18 July 2008. Photo: (Left to right) Sisters Elizabeth,
Felicity, Anastasia (Mother General) Clare and Martha. |
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| Final Profession 18 June 2008 | ||||
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On Wednesday 18 June 2008 nearly one hundred people gathered at St Joseph’s
Convent Littlehampton, to witness Sister Antonia McGarrigle profess her
final vows.
Mass was concelebrated by Mgr Michael Jackson, Br Philippe Yates OFM Principal of the Franciscan International Study Centre (FISC) Fr Peter Rogers, Fr John Healy and visiting from the Ukraine, Fr Vasyl. During the ceremony, Sr Antonia promised to lead a life of dedicated service and to keep the Rule and Constitutions of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Littlehampton (FMSL). In his Homily Br Philippe reminded the congregation “Our Lord tells us that it is only by abandoning all that we think is so important and placing him at the centre of our lives that we will come to a fullness.” This is the heart of Sr Antonia’s dedication and life of service. After Mass, relatives, friends and FMSL Sisters joined Sr Antonia in a celebratory lunch. As always the staff at St Joseph’s excelled with their culinary skills and hospitality.
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Sr Antonia lies prostrate before the altar Following the Congregation’s Chapter in July 2008, Sr Antonia will take up her new mission with the FMSL formation Community in Mysore, India. We ask your prayers for Sister and the FMSL Chapter. |
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| Diamond Jubilee 8 May 2008 | ||||
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On Wednesday 8 May 2008 St Joseph’s Franciscan convent was filled for a thanksgiving Mass to celebrate the Diamond Jubilees of religious profession. The five Jubilarians
are, Sisters Bonaventure, Annunciata, Stanislaus, Benignus, and Ignatius.
All are Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Littlehampton (FMSL). Between
them they have three hundred years in God’s service. |
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| Sisters
(left to right) Ignatius, Benignus, Bonaventure, Annunciata and Stanislaus
after receiving their Papal Blessing from His Eminence Cardinal Cormac
Murphy O'Connor (centre). Bishop Kieran Conry (right) and Bishop Hugh
Lindsay (left) |
The Mass was followed by a celebratory lunch where our staff excelled themselves by sharing their expertise and hospitality. It was a joyful and spiritual day enjoyed by everyone present. Our congratulations to our five Jubilarians Sisters and we wish them continued blessings from the Lord in the years ahead.
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In Honour of Sister Stanislaus 60th Jubilee, The Yanks visit. (Letter from Presentation Sisters)
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We were warmly welcomed to the Magnificent Jubilee Mass by Sister Anastasia, Mother General. Later in the week, in expressing his gratitude to the Sisters at Holy Mass, Father Tom Dillion, cousin of Sister Felicity and Sister Ignatius, said, “You are an oasis in the wilderness on our journey through life.” He captured our experience with you beautiful sisters who truly reflect the image of God in your warm and welcoming hospitality, prayerful, respectful spirits, fun and charming ways, and delightful and engaging conversations. We were blessed to be with you as guests of Sister Stanislaus and Sister Martha whose auntie, Sister Martha Raleigh, was our beloved friend and mentor at our Presentation Sisters Motherhouse in Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA. We leave you and your oasis with our hearts filled with gratitude and renewed energy. May God bless you and all you embrace a thousand fold with peace, love and joy. In
the words of your Jubilee song, Laudato si, we pray, “Be praised,
O my Lord. For our life is but a song and the reason for our singing is
to praise you for the music; join the dance of your creation.” Sisters
Kay and Michelle, |
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| Franciscans Lobby Parliament | ||||
Seven Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Littlehampton joined about 300 fellow Religious from all over the country in a lobby of MPs in Parliament on the Feast of St George, 23 April 2008. This photo shows one group of Sisters from Littlehampton with their MP, Nick Gibb who shares our concerns for the imbalance in our world between the haves and the have nots. Sisters Angela, Felicity, Clare and Anastasia with The Right Honourable Nick Gibb (MP) outside Parliament. |
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We
all have a responsibility to share the goal of protecting the environment
and all of God’s creation. Climate change is threatening the future
of our planet which we all depend upon for our food, water and shelter.
St Francis offers us the example of sisterhood and brotherhood with all
God’s creation. Let us find ways to live simply, in harmony with
all people and Mother Earth; not exploiting but respectfully using and
enhancing God’s gifts. Thus we co-operate in the renewal of creation
with God the source of all good. |
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To
follow Jesus with a Franciscan heart is to lead one’s life with
the charism of St Francis. St Francis had a passion for peace. He searched
for simplicity. He respected creation. He had empathy for the poor and
lived his life in self giving. Our congregation inherits his charisma
and makes Gospel Living a simple reality, through community living in
sisterhood, sharing and working together for the spread of God’s
kingdom. |
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| St Francis (Mysore India) |
| Priya
Niru Damor from Gujerat has been received into the Postulancy. She has
completed her pre-postulancy and is very happy to continue her Spiritual
journey in the FMSL. Arpitha
and Jyothi have joined the pre-postulancy stage.
Please
keep all this new Community in your prayers. They pray each day for you
and your families. |
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St
Anthony’s (Bradford) |
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Juliet, Mary Ann and Tracy were received as Postulants into our Congregation on 2 February 2008. The ceremony took place in the presence of our Bradford Community. All three women spent their pre-postulancy in Littlehampton and have now joined the Bradford community for their formation. We hold them all in prayer and wish them every blessing for the future. |
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The Barn Choir gave their annual Christmas Concert on Tuesday 18 December 2007 in St Joseph's Convent Chapel. Nearly two hundred people joined the Sisters to listen to the Barn Choir Christmas Concert. The audience was captivated by the enthusiasm and energy of the Barn Choir as they performed a festive selection of traditional, classical and humorous music, under the direction of David Rudling. Admission and refreshments were free and the retiring collection together with a number of donations after the concert has resulted in the grand sum of £1,815.85 being raised for the Sisters Mission in Peru. The Sisters are delighted with the amount raised and would like to thank all who made the above possible. Their thanks go out to The Barn Choir, and all those who helped serve, wash up after the refreshments, count the money and helped prepare the chapel for services. Watch this space for dates and details of the next Barn Choir concert. |
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REPORT
FROM SISTER BARBARA FROM PERU VISIT |
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The
earthquake affected Ica, Pisco & Canete. A lady from Santa Rosa (Our
Mission) had visited her sister in Pisco and told us that they had received
little help. We decided to go to Pisco and see for ourselves. The day
before we went, two of our parishioners went to the market to check various
prices and so we knew where to buy the goods that we needed. We hired
a mini bus. It arrived at 7 a.m. and Srs Anne Clare Barbara and the two
parishioners set off for the market. Where they bought 10 sacks of rice;
5 sacks of sugar; 5 boxes of tuna; 5 boxes of milk (canned) 3 boxes of
cooking oil (1/2 litres); 10 bags of Quaker oats.
Because there are 3 soles to the Dollar, we did well with our shopping. On the journey we opened the bags of rice and sugar and put them into smaller bags with about 2 lb in each bag. Then we put these smaller bags inside a larger bag with the tuna milk cooking oil and quaker oats. When we arrived at Pisco about 5 hours later – what a shock – buildings down & rubble everywhere. This had been put out to side of road to clear the site for reconstruction of houses. We had arranged to meet a Vincentian priest, who took us to various places to distribute the food. This was the same Priest who had just finished saying mass the day the earthquake struck, when the whole roof of the church caved in. Many people were killed including two Vincentian Sisters. He got a head injury and broken arm and was unconscious for 2 days after in hospital. We distributed the food to the people and gave the remaining sacks of food to the communal kitchens. The last place we visited had been a school. The rubble had been cleared away from the school and playground and there were 650 people living there in tents – it was cold as it is their winter. There was also a tent for a classroom for younger children and one for the older children; one for a chapel. The kitchen was outdoors. The food was in one place with tarpaulin round it and guarded by police. We left the remainder of the food there. We did what we set out to do i.e. to bring the food to those who needed it. Our deep gratitude to those who made it possible for us to do this through the donations sent with me. I went out to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of our Sisters in Santa Rosa but we did not have any singing and dancing that normally goes with a celebration like this. So many people were mourning the death of someone in the Earthquake. I will never forget the devastation and poverty of so many people – yet they were happy and content with their lot, amid the loss of home, family, friends and loved ones. A great lesson for me coming from a country of resources that can cope with even the smallest devastation. I just wished I had had a truck to remove the rubble at least! Please keep these people in prayer. It will be a very long time before they get their lives back together again. Santa Rosa, De Puenta Piedra Lima Peru. 10/10/07 |
| Sisters Renew Their Commitment | ||||
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Sisters Antonia and Clare Bernadette have both received the FMSL habit and veil. They both renewed their commitment for a year during the ceremonies, which took place on 18 June 2007 (Sr Antonia) and 8 September 2007 (Sr Clare Bernadette). Sister Antonia (left) and Sister Clare Bernadette |
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Peru Earthquake: We
are pleased to announce that the Sisters are all fine.
Everyone is shaken by the magnitude of the quake but little structural
damage appears to have been suffered in Santa
Rosa. Over the hill in Project Peru orphanage, some old houses
suffered, but no one was hurt. Sister Barbara has flown out to help. Please
pray for all those involved in this tragedy. |
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St Joseph's (Littlehampton) Sister
Elizabeth Miriam was received into the Novitiate on the 15th August and
has now moved to Canterbury. Her Uncle and Aunt were in England for a
wedding in London and spent some time with us. We hold Elizabeth in prayer
and wish her every blessing for the future. Sister Elizabeth being received into our Congregation. (Left) |
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| Jubilee 2007 | ||||
The
9 May 2007 saw St Joseph’s Convent “bursting at the seams”
when Sisters Anne Joseph (Kerala India) and Clare Bowers (Knottingley,
West Yorkshire) celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Religious Profession
as Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Littlehampton. Sister Clare’s
Mum, her sister Marie and aunt Ivy were present from Yorkshire. Sister
Anne Joseph’s sister Daisy and husband Tony and family, her brother,
cousins, and their families and friends of both Sisters and representatives
from all our Convents as well as the resident Community at St Joseph’s
joined our Bishop Kieran Conry and 9 Priests in the celebration. There
was a mass followed by photo call and lunch. Our Kitchen Staff and our
other Staff, excelled in their hospitality and care of everyone. IT WAS
A GREAT FRANCISCAN CELEBRATION! Congratulations to our two Sisters and
we wish them continued blessings from the Lord as they begin another 25
years!!! |
Sister Clare Bowers and Sister Anne Joseph receive their Papal Blessing from Bishop Kieran |
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St
Joseph’s (Littlehampton)
and Santa Rosa (Peru) |
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On
the night £927.50 was raised to help keep the Comedor project safe.
A generous donation of £72.50 was received to bring the total up
to £1000.00. Further donations have since been received and the
total now stands at £1422.00. |
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We
the Sisters are grateful to all who share our work and to those who direct
money to the fund, in memory of a loved one who has died. All of you share
in the prayers of the Sisters, and Masses are offered each month for all
our benefactors. |
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What
is the Comedor? The Comedor is basically a canteen. It is an area where
food is cooked, en masse, for the community of Santa Rosa de Puente Piedra,
Lima Peru. |
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We
would like to take this opportunity to share with you some photographs
to show you where and how your money is used. |
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| St Anne’s (Burgess Hill) | ||
In
2006 St Anne’s Convent celebrated 50 years since the Stonor family
donated the building, which is now St Anne’s Convent and Rest Home
in Burgess Hill. To mark the event Mass was celebrated on 23 November
2006 by Bishop Kieran Conry. The Bishop was assisted by Reverend Rick
McGrath (parish priest) and Father George (assistant parish priest) who
is from Kerala, India. |
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| Some
of those who celebrated in St Anne's Chapel after the celebration Mass. |
Bishop
Kieran cuts the anniversary cake under the guidance of Sisters Stanislaus
(left) and Veronica (right). Sisters Clare, Attracta and Concepta look
on. |
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