A BRIDGETTINE DAY...

...organised by the Association of Catholic Women, and held at the Bridgettine Guest House at Iver, Bucks.

The Bridgettines were founded by St Birgitta - mystic, energetic worker for the poor, campaigner and organiser of good things in and for the Church...

A new branch was founded by M.Elisabeth Hessleblad - now newly-canonised as a saint - the in the early 20th century.  

 Fr Nicholas Schofield, an excellent historian and speaker, opened our Bridgettine Day with Mass in the Sistrers' simple and prayerful chapel, and then we all  went into the dining-room for a talkative and friendly lunch. It was a bring-and-share thing, and there was a grand buffet spread. Then we moved into the conference room and Fr Nicholas told us about St Birgitta, and about the Bridgettines in England, Syon House, and more.... A fascinating story - St Richard Reynolds, the events of the 16th century, and the tragic demise of the great house with its magnificent chapel...

Then the Rosary in the garden shrine in the warm sunshine. We were a good crowd: a number of people from the nearby parish of Uxbridge had come - Fr N. is their parish priest - along with ACW members from across London and elsewhere.

I then gave a talk about M.Elisabeth Hessleblad, and about Sisters Riccarda Hambrough and Katherine Flanagan who helped her to found a new branch of the Bridgettines. An exciting story, as the nuns hid Jewish people in their convent in the PIazza Farnese in WWII...

We finished the day with tea and cake and it has launched the new season of ACW's activities on a good note.  Next event is on Oct 8th - at Holy Redeemer Church, Chelsea, on the theme of Pilgrimage, with speakers telling us about the Holy Door in Rome,  walking the Camino to Santiago in Spain, and his year's World Youth Day in Krakow. All welcome: come and join in!  Starts 2pm...