Hi everyone, this is the second time trying to put this on so here goes -
I was Clothed as a novice at Colwich Abbey, uk last Friday (25th Jan) and received my new name
of Marie-Therese. The ceremony was simple and beautiful ( details on our blog - http://colwichnov.wordpress.com) and i became so emotional that i barely got the words out - Mother Abbess
told me later that she almost joined me with the tears of joy. During the ceremony i was presented with the Rule
and a candle to symbolise Christ lighting my path and my age in religion which begins with Clothing, so in a
sense i am new born - and of course i recieved our traditional Benedictine habit with black tunic and scapular,
and white cap, fillet, wimple, under and over veils.

It is truly awesome to be wearing this habit and i feel immensely priviledged and blessed by God to be called
to and gifted with this life. It is quite weird catching sight of myself in a dark window or a mirror and i do keep
tripping over the long skirts when genuflecting and the scapular when going upstairs. We have very long, wide
sleeves ( we roll them up to eat and work) which seem to attract food - as does the scapular - and throw things like lids and cutlery around so i am having to learn new ways of doing ordinary things like eating and walking. For the first few mornings i had help putting the head wear together but now i am flying free and taking 40 minutes to get dressed! It is all very comfy though and worth waiting for !!!
There will be pictures on our blog as soon as i can work out how again when i come back down to earth.
Thanks for all your support and prayers, Sr Marie-Therese xxx

Wonderful!!! I am so glad that you are so happy and you will be in my prayers!!

Congrats!!

Tears of Joy...thats just BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

God bless.

AWESOMENESS!!! PRAISE JESUS!!!
prayers dude.
<----P.S. I like your new name

Hi Mari-Therese, of course it's a wonderful name, its inspired, Pax Sr Marie-Therese, ha ha ha

You can ask dUST to change your username, you know.

Oh, I am so happy for you! Thank you for your card to me for my clothing day. Your description of the habit made me laugh because it is just the same for me - nearly 40 minutes to get dressed, and still learning how to cope with all the yards and yards of material!!! But oh how blessed to be in it at last! Praise God.

All the sisters here are praying for your perseverence and happiness. After all, we are neighbors!

You are in my prayers always.
Sr Teresa of Jesus
Wolverhampton Carmel

Deo Gratias! Congratulations!

lol

Here are some links to pictures of my dear friend Sr Marie-Therese and her community at Colwich.

marie therese

Marie Therese 2

Marie Therese 3

Enjoy

Thank you so much for sharing these lovely pictures of Sr Marie -Therese and her Community at Colwich. Sister looked radiant in her new habit.

Congrats dear Sr Marie-Therese.

Yayay Colwich photos!!

Thanks all of you, i think i will keep Stacey Brendan - though i liked the suggestion and thought about it - because it is my middle name and she is mentioned in the Mass - Anastacia. It's strange my family are not religious but i ended up with Adele -24th Dec and Stacey ( Anastacia) 25th Dec, so with my new name and St Paul I feel well provided for with close saints.
Puella, i hope the community pic brought back good memories and that if you are ever around you pop in to say hi - no expectations etc, i saw your post about vocation, told the sisters and we are praying for you to find your religious 'home' too.
We are trying to get pics on our blog - im told they've extended the space limit now, and other ways. I am getting used to my habit now and not tripping so much, also quicker at getting dressed. It is still very special to me and i hope that never wears off. Pax Sr Marie-Therese.

Lovely, photos! Brings back memories of my Benedictine upbringing!
May the Lord grant you perseverance!

Sr. Mary Catharine

Hi Sr. Marie-Therese,

it did bring back so many fun (and less fun ) memories of last August. Just after Christmas I plucked up the courage to write to Mother&Mother again, so I haven't completely dropped off the radar. It is just so very cool to see all of you (and in habits too!)...I really really hope that Colwich blooms with vocations. You're a special bunch of ladies and richly deserve every blessing the Lord passes your way.

If I'm in the area (completely not right now - try SE Asia!) I'll drop in for Midday or the like. I might even sing along too

puella

Hi everyone, i have no managed to join a photo album so you can see more pictures of us at http://colwichnov.myphotoalbum.com -i will be adding more general ones too.
I'm getting used to my habit now - no more tripping anyhow, though it still takes a while to get the veils on.
Have a wonderful, prayerful Lent too - here is a mnemonic i found years ago by
Joyce Huggett - i think it helps, Lay aside the non-essential; Enter in the fundamental;
Nurture through the sacramental; Things of worth, the transcendental,
Pax Sr Marie-Threrese.

Congrats on your clothing! Thanks for sharing ur pictures