P ILGRIMS N EWSLETTER Aylesford St. Anselm s School, Canterbury, leap for joy after a hard day s work in the Peace Garden Order of Carmelites SUMMER 2011 www.thefriars.org.uk
Dear Friend, Preparations seem well in hand now for The Friars Summer Fayre on Sunday, 19th June. We are hoping that the weather will be as good as it has been over the past couple of years when we have been blessed with enticing sunshine that has the good effect of encouraging visitors and supporters to come out for the day. Have you noticed that people seem to smile more when the warming energy of that celestial fireball breaks through misty clouds? A saintly person once said, Peace begins with a smile.we all need rays of hope to take us forward in life...and we all could do with a lot of peace. That same person also said, If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to one another. Now there s something on which to reflect. What do you think? And while you are thinking, please remember to return your Summer Fayre Draw ticket counterfoils (and money too!) to us by 16th June, so that we can prepare them. A Typical Weekend? A recent visitor who had not been to Aylesford Priory before enquired what a normal weekend for the Carmelite Community at The Friars was like. The bemused respondent had to think for a while, because there is always so much variety, never a dull moment and, of course, no chance of ever being bored! Perhaps just looking at one weekend might begin to form an answer... The Bank Holiday weekend marking the end of May brought mixed weather here in England s garden. Despite the forecast of lots of rain, there were plenty of opportunities in between things to wander around the priory grounds meeting familiar and new faces. We heard from Fr. Damian, who was in Scotland directing a retreat for young adults, that it had rained non-stop where he was in Argyll, but thankfully it didn t dampen the spirits of the young men and women with whom he was praying and reflecting. Fr.Joseph was also away that weekend directing a retreat with members of The Leaven who have had intimate bonds with the Carmelites since we returned to our ancient home in 1949.
Pilgrims to Canterbury Back at the ranch, Fr. Kevin led a heartfelt Service of welcome and mission in the Relic Chapel for some 200 walkers from St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, who were en route to Canterbury on their annual awareness- and fund-raising pilgrimage. The time of prayer involved a symbolic washing of hands in which participants were able to minister to each other in a very gentle yet poignant way. Glorious sunshine greeted them as they arrived at the priory on Saturday, 28th May for an overnight stay, which included a spitroast at the North Barn. Dick Sheppard was the first Vicar at St Martin s to open the doors to soldiers coming to and from the front line in World War I. Today St. Martin s continues its ethos of inclusiveness, welcoming people who are in transition to find a temporary home in a process of moving on, whether homeless, seeking asylum or new migrants. Through their pilgrimage they raised funds which will help to meet the needs of vulnerable people in the UK, especially for services to the homeless and individuals in crisis. Their visit gave a good reminder of the ministry of welcome and hospitality provided at the priory in the early years of the Carmelites presence here when the Pilgrims Hall offered simple shelter and warmth for travellers not only engaged in a physical journey but also a spiritual quest. That mission continues today because of your prayer and generosity. Praying with the Psalms During that same weekend the community of friars was delighted to be joined for our celebration of Midday Prayer by a group of young people preparing for Confirmation at Pentecost. Several times a day the friars gather with those staying at the priory to pray psalms from the Old Testament and other scripture passages from the New Testament. The Bible in its entirety helps us to appreciate how over the ages different people have approached the mystery of God s search for the human heart and have sought to find ways to express their sense of awe and wonder, dependence and thankfulness, praise and thanksgiving. As believers we have a strong sense that God continues to challenge us to new life through the scriptures, especially when we relate the unfolding story of God s chosen people to the
particular circumstances of daily life. Praying the psalms is particularly inspiring because they reflect in different ways the yearnings of very ordinary people with their thoughts, feelings, moods and aspirations. Of course, Jesus himself prayed the psalms daily and found in them a great source of strength and formation. Presumably he learnt many of them as they were uttered gently and prayerfully by his own mother, Mary. If you haven t looked at the psalms for a while,maybe it s time to pull out your own copy of the Bible and revisit some of them. A woman who prayed the psalms daily was Mother Teresa of Calcutta. A group of Co-Workers of Mother Teresa were here at The Friars for the Bank Holiday weekend making a retreat. We were also delighted to welcome earlier in the month so many of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa in 1950, here for the Pioneers and Matt Talbot Pilgrimage on Sunday, 15th May. Together with their band of helpers, they had journeyed to this sacred place with a large number of homeless people to whom they minister. Doing Something Wonderful Mother Teresa believed that using the psalmody and praying with the scriptures helped to develop within her the heart and mind of Christ. An essential aspect of her mission in life was to work for what she called the sanctification of the poorest of the poor. She was quoted at the beginning of this letter, so here s another one for you: What I do, you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do.the needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful. Reading her writings,one cannot help but notice an echo of the spirituality of that great Carmelite, St. Thérèse of Lisieux - the Little Flower. Mother Teresa s words are very inspiring, but they were given concrete expression in the ways in which she cared for so many for whom society seemed to have no real place. What one person can we include in our lives today? If we all do our small things, so much good can be brought about by the God who transforms.
Groups of the Society of St.Vincent de Paul regularly come to visit the priory. A group spent the day here during the Bank Holiday weekend reflecting on their present-day mission of Turning Concern into Action. Following the example of Blessed Frederic Ozanam, members seek to look at society from the perspective of people who are excluded, to become more compassionate and caring and to develop a deep commitment to the elimination of poverty and suffering. A Remarkable Gift What seems remarkable about the spirit of Aylesford - with its staff, volunteers and friars - is its openness to and ability to welcome such an incredible mixture of individuals and groups in one weekend, all of whom are trying in different ways to make a wonderful difference, one which will improve the quality of people s lives and encourage a deeper awareness of God and the intrinsic worth of every human being. Underpinning all the ministry that happens at the priory is the daily rhythm of prayer that has the power to transform attitudes and give real focus to sometimes fragmented lives. We, the Carmelite Community, remember our benefactors, supporters, friends and visitors daily in our prayer. Thank you for making possible the little we have to offer to become part of the great that God can accomplish. You are rays of hope for thousands of people. A Good Shepherd Experience
Schoolchildren with their parents, helpers and teachers from London and Kent filled the piazza of the Shrine to the Glorious Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, 26th May for the annual Good Shepherd Service of Prayer organised by the Cabrini Children s Society. Most Rev. Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark, presided over the creative and energetic celebration in song, drama, music and dance. The weather was somewhat unpredictable. One moment there was brilliant sunshine; another saw the opening of the heavens! But this did not dampen the spirits of the two thousand young people who were assured by one of the Carmelite friars that, because he had uttered a prayer of blessing in the direction of the clouds, God s loving Spirit might possibly be descending on them in the form of heavenly dew - well, more like great globules of spiritual excess really! Not a sound was heard when Archbishop Peter spoke of being a friend of Jesus and the importance of developing that relationship in prayer. Who said that children can t be still and listen? Not always true, friend. Fr. Tony Pelan Please remember in your prayer Fr. Tony Pelan, O.Carm., a member of our community, who died peacefully on 11th May aged 71 years.tony began to feel increasingly unwell after Christmas but his final illness was short.he was given great care by Maidstone Hospital, Burrswood Hospital,Trish Golledge (the Province Nurse) and by friends, family and Carmelite brethren. At the end he felt ready to allow the Good Shepherd to call him and even in his final few weeks in hospital was an inspiration to many who cared for and visited him. Tony began his novitiate at Aylesford Priory in 1961, professed Simple Vows in 1962 and Solemn Vows in 1965. Having studied in Ireland he was ordained to the priesthood in 1967 at Aylesford. He ministered in many places in the UK and Ireland, latterly as Catholic Chaplain to HM Prison Maidstone where he gained the respect of staff and inmates, always ready to walk the wings. Tony was cheerful and energetic. He loved a game of golf and was no mean player! He was also blessed with many loyal friends who valued his presence. Tony s family, friends and the Carmelite Order grieve at losing a brother, uncle and friend and extend their prayers to all who were an important part of his life. May he rest in peace.
Imitating Mary With the Summer months we expect many people to visit Our Lady s shrine. Can you join us on 17th July for our Day in honour of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or for our Sick Pilgrimage on the Feast of the Assumption on 14th August? In many images of Mary, she is most often portrayed gazing with a gentle smile towards her son. At the wedding feast at Cana she is recorded as saying simply, Do whatever he tells you. Perhaps if we can allow ourselves really to believe that the kind of faith she had in him and which gave her great joy could also be ours we might find ourselves smiling a lot more. She is the woman of the smile not because she has heard something humorous (although God does indeed have a sense of humour!), but because she has been led to experience the reality of God s unconditional love that breaks through every human frown. Perhaps you wish to join us in our Summer Novenas: In honour of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (8th-16th July); In honour of the Assumption of Our Lady (6th-14th August);In honour of the Birthday of Our Lady (31st August - 8th September). Just send us a note or return the Intentions leaflet, so that we can add you. Digging for Peace We thought it would be good to conclude with a photograph of some of the young people from St. Anselm s School, Canterbury, who have been helping with the Peace Garden. They are each holding one of the Peace tiles that will eventually be laid in the Garden. Oh, by the way, did you like the pictures of summer flowers already around the priory? We look forward to seeing as many of you and your friends who can join us for our Summer Fayre on 19th June. For now, know as always that you are in our prayer daily. May God continue to bless you for your kindness and generosity. Brendan Grady, O.Carm. (Prior) The Friars,AYLESFORD, Kent ME20 7BX Tel: 01622 717272 Fax: 01622 715575 Web: www.thefriars.org.uk Email: newsletter@thefriars.org.uk A Registered Charity Registered Charity No. 1061342 Printed by A.G.A. Printers & Sons Telephone (01795) 533295