Colwich Benedictine Monastery

[faithcecelia]

[quote name='brandelynmarie' timestamp='1317695962' post='2314986']
The dog is an extern?!
[/quote]

Yep, he was bought to keep the extern sister company

[Nunsense]

We had five dogs at Nedlands - I think that was a bit too many.

We had three cats at Wolverhampton.

No pets at either Edmonton or Kirk Edge.Interesting how some communities like them and others don't.

[faithcecelia]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1317720799' post='2315062']
We had five dogs at Nedlands - I think that was a bit too many.

We had three cats at Wolverhampton.

No pets at either Edmonton or Kirk Edge.Interesting how some communities like them and others don't.
[/quote]


Gosh, I don't think i could handle FIVE dogs, but one and his friend who comes to play seems okay. Cats are easier as they fend for themselves more. We used to have a lovely cat that visited at Q, but the frogs and sheep were my friends

[Nunsense]

[quote name='faithcecelia' timestamp='1317721499' post='2315065']


Gosh, I don't think i could handle FIVE dogs, but one and his friend who comes to play seems okay. Cats are easier as they fend for themselves more. We used to have a lovely cat that visited at Q, but the frogs and sheep were my friends
[/quote]


I remember the days when I had five horses! And cats and dogs etc etc... I used to own a ranch! Now I have no pets, even though I love animals. I just have been in one place long enough to make that sensible for the animal.

[Nunsense]

I'd like to ask for some VSer prayers. I wrote to Mother today to ask if we could change the guest visit next Feb to a guest visit, short break (where I would stay with my friend) and then a live-in if they liked me. The reason for this is to save money on another trip back there (at a cost of over $3000AUD) for the live-in. I would then come back to my job and flat while everyone did some thiking and praying, while saving up money to pay for another trip back to the UK if they say yes to entrance. It just seems so practical for me not to have to make three trips over there if we can do it in two.... but she might not see it that way so I need prayers that she will agree.

I can get up to a month off work for annual leave so I know we could work it out time-wise, if she is open to the idea. I know the ideal would be for me to go for the guest visit, then come back here and then later go back for the live-in and then come back again.... that is how they do it for the UK residents, but let's face it, Australia is literally at the end of the world, and the travel back and forth isn't easy, not only from a financial perspective, but also from a work-based one, as trying to get more time off again might not be that easy. Jobs aren't easy to come by in this small country town, so I can't afford to lose mine by taking time off without their agreement. The days when I could just quit a job and find another one easily are long over!

So, please, prayers...

In other news, my sister phoned me tonight and we had a long talk, including my plans for the convent. All she wants is for me to be happy, so naturally she is concerned that things won't work out for me again. She wants me to stay here and get a better job, and perhaps even move closer to Melbourne (and her), but she is so supportive of my dreams that she doesn't try to discourage me but supports whatever I choose to do -- isn't that sweet? So whatever happens, I know that she is there for me, and that really feels good. I am trying to take each day as it comes, and not to get too far into the future, or dwell too much on what has happened in tht past, but since there are practical things like booking flights to think about, and annual leave to schedule with my boss, so it would be good if I could hear back from Colwich about this.

So, keep those lovely VS prayers coming please

[faithcecelia]

Lots of prayers for you nunsense. I can completely understand the practical side and pray it will work out in a way that is sensible both financially and spiritually.

[Nunsense]

[quote name='faithcecelia' timestamp='1318156659' post='2318483']
Lots of prayers for you nunsense. I can completely understand the practical side and pray it will work out in a way that is sensible both financially and spiritually.
[/quote]


Thanks faith. It would be nice if everything were able to be done on the spiritual plane, but let's face it - the world requires our responses, and we just have to be practical about some things!!

[bernadette d]

Praying for you, and sending you love. I think you are truly blessed in your sister (and she in you)

[regina_coeli]

Prayers! And it seems so sensible, I can't imagine Mother Abbess not agreeing!

[Nunsense]

[quote name='bernadette d' timestamp='1318165789' post='2318494']
Praying for you, and sending you love. I think you are truly blessed in your sister (and she in you)
[/quote]


Yes, God has blessed me with a lot with my sister. she and I weren't all that close over the years since she and I are five years apart (she is younger) and I used to be closer to my older sister who is only a year older -- but after I got kicked out of Kirk Edge and came back to Oz, this sister stepped up and started helping and supporting me so much that we have become very close now. God obviously has His own plans. Tonight she encouraged me to watch the Steve Jobs video of his commencement speed at Standford (2005 I think) because she said it would help me to follow my dreams and she was so right! I just finished it and he said so much that was quotable and dealth with issues like facing death and being happy and following one's heart and all kinds of things.

And what was especially significant to me was his description of being fired from Apple, the company he helped to found, and how at the time he couldn't see what he can now that he is looking back, that all the dots connected to lead him to where he is today, having created Pixar and Next and meeting his wife and starting a family and then having Apple by out Next and hire him back again etc. He said we can't see how the dots connect if we look forward, but later when we look back, we can see how they all connect. Despite my trust in God, sometimes I have really wondered why everything has had to happen to me the way that is has, and yet the story isn't over yet, and one day when I look back, I'm sure it will all make sense, and all the dots will connect.

Another thing he said was that we need to keep looking at our lives as if we were going to die soon and ask ourselves if we are doing what we want to be doing before that happens. And no, I am not. So whatever fears or doubts I might have about what I hope to do, I have to push them aside to follow my heart. I also like that he told us not to worry about what others think about what we are doing, that we can't live for the opinions of others. And of course, his final quote was from the last issue of the Whole Earth Catalogue, which was 'stay hungry, stay foolish'. That pretty much sums up the attitude I want, which is to stay hungry for the possibilities God is offering me and to stay foolish enough to ignore the fears and doubts.

Then my sister wrote an email to me asking if I needed financial help to get the documents I need to go to England. I don't because I am working now, but I just thought that was so sweet of her to offer. Here is a person who is a non-Catholic (agnostic) but who completely respects my faith and shows me more charity than many nuns I have known! So, one day when I look back to see how the dots all connect, I will know for sure that one of the reasons I had to leave KE was to come here and develop a close personal relationship with my own sister and to get advice from Steve Jobs !!

[bernadette d]

What a lovely post, thank you

[Feankie]

Nunsense,
Prayers ascending

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1318167451' post='2318499']


Yes, God has blessed me with a lot with my sister. she and I weren't all that close over the years since she and I are five years apart (she is younger) and I used to be closer to my older sister who is only a year older -- but after I got kicked out of Kirk Edge and came back to Oz, this sister stepped up and started helping and supporting me so much that we have become very close now. God obviously has His own plans. Tonight she encouraged me to watch the Steve Jobs video of his commencement speed at Standford (2005 I think) because she said it would help me to follow my dreams and she was so right! I just finished it and he said so much that was quotable and dealth with issues like facing death and being happy and following one's heart and all kinds of things.

And what was especially significant to me was his description of being fired from Apple, the company he helped to found, and how at the time he couldn't see what he can now that he is looking back, that all the dots connected to lead him to where he is today, having created Pixar and Next and meeting his wife and starting a family and then having Apple by out Next and hire him back again etc. He said we can't see how the dots connect if we look forward, but later when we look back, we can see how they all connect. Despite my trust in God, sometimes I have really wondered why everything has had to happen to me the way that is has, and yet the story isn't over yet, and one day when I look back, I'm sure it will all make sense, and all the dots will connect.

Another thing he said was that we need to keep looking at our lives as if we were going to die soon and ask ourselves if we are doing what we want to be doing before that happens. And no, I am not. So whatever fears or doubts I might have about what I hope to do, I have to push them aside to follow my heart. I also like that he told us not to worry about what others think about what we are doing, that we can't live for the opinions of others. And of course, his final quote was from the last issue of the Whole Earth Catalogue, which was 'stay hungry, stay foolish'. That pretty much sums up the attitude I want, which is to stay hungry for the possibilities God is offering me and to stay foolish enough to ignore the fears and doubts.

Then my sister wrote an email to me asking if I needed financial help to get the documents I need to go to England. I don't because I am working now, but I just thought that was so sweet of her to offer. Here is a person who is a non-Catholic (agnostic) but who completely respects my faith and shows me more charity than many nuns I have known! [b]So, one day when I look back to see how the dots all connect, I will know for sure that one of the reasons I had to leave KE was to come here and develop a close personal relationship with my own sister and to get advice from Steve Jobs[/b] !!
[/quote]


That's beautiful. I wish my sister and I were closer. She lives about 3 hours away and I rarely see her anymore. When my parents visit her, I have to stay here because they stay in her flat and there isn't enough room with my sister's roommate. When she comes home, she is only here for 2 days before leaving really early Sunday morning so she can make it back in time for church (non-denominational). We are closer than we used to be, but not as close as I would like. She respects that I am discerning and doesn't try to dissuade me anymore from the Catholic faith since she sees how important it is to me. She used to try to convince me that I could go to any old church and find God, and for a while I believed her, but that was before my reversion. I never did go to a different service out of my own will. Now, I don't attend any service except the Catholic Mass. I remember that I once went to a Christmas performance at one of the non-denominational churches she used to be a part of. I felt so out of place. It seemed more like an auditorium than a sanctuary. They had a stage instead of an altar and there was no cross to be seen anywhere. It was weird. I don't even go to the Methodist church anymore where my grandmother and grandfather go for Christmas service. It doesn't have the fullness of the Mass and I miss the Eucharist immensely when I'm there.

Anyway, I am praying for you. I hope Mother Abbess sees that your financial and career stipulations require that you be more discerning about where your money goes. I hope she allows you to do a live-in soon after instead of having you return home.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='brandelynmarie' timestamp='1317695962' post='2314986']
The dog is an extern?! I think pets can be very beneficial as long as they contribute to a sense of family & are not interrupting monastery life. As I've I said somewhere else. "Peace is a prayer on the lips & a cat in the lap." [u]The Little Monk[/u] (Of course I wouldn't mind a bird &/or a dog either!) My family once had Jake, the 80+ lb. black lab, who thought he was a lap dog! I kinda miss him
[/quote]

Apparently, the RSMs have a dog in the postulant house. The postulants take turns walking, bathing, and feeding it. I like that a lot although it's not a deal breaker for me if they don't have one. I know that I'm going to miss my dog tremendously if I leave. She is almost 13 years old (next month) and has bad arthritis, but she has given us so much joy over the years. I love her so much and she is like family. When she finally leaves us, it is going to be a very difficult time. It's so difficult that I can't even think about it without getting tears in my eyes. I can't remember a time when there wasn't a pet of some sort in our house. We grew up with (at varying times):

3 dogs named Dixie, Muffy, and Lucy (Lucy is our current)
6 Hamsters (mostly mine) named Scooter, Clifford (sister's), Ashes, Buddy, Tigger, and Ruby (she was a Chinese dwarf)
1 mud turtle named Myrtle (she is no longer with us; she died earlier this year at 15 years old)
1 musk turtle (accepted him as an adoption; I cannot remember his name because I didn't have him for very long before he died)
2 red eared slider baby turtles (don't remember their names)
1 white guinea pig named Cosmo (after Kramer from Seinfeld)
2 zebra finches (that I was given by my 10th grade science teacher) named Daisy and Magellan (later called Julian)
2 baby zebra finches (Daisy's babies) named Gabriel and Lacy (I gave them to my sister)

Lucy is our only pet right now. I don't want anymore small pets at this time.

This is the RSMs dog, Kirk, that lives in the postulant house (this was in March this year, so I hope he's still there so I can meet him):

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ygFe4dY-eT0/TMGjVJDhdaI/AAAAAAAABpg/Mg4xGeB9i98/s640/moving%2520and%2520much%2520more%25202010%2520034.jpg[/img]

Edited October 9, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae

[LaPetiteSoeur]

Prayers for you, nunsense!

[brandelynmarie]

Yep, more prayers nunsense. Keep connecting them dots!

[Nunsense]

Thank you all for your prayers and keep them coming please. I heard back from Mother Abbess today and she confused me a little so I have written back asking for clarification again. She can't have me in the enclosure after a certain date (but she doesn't say why so I don't know if they are on retreat or what is happening there) so our original two week period would have to include the guest visit and a possible few days of aspirancy if they voted for that, but then she went on to suggest a May visit, and it wasn't clear to me if that was to replace the Jan-Feb visit or in addition, but this would be hard since getting time off work and enough money for another visit within a few months might not be possible (if I want to have a job when I get back) so I just wrote back asking whether she means one visit at either date or two visits... and suggested that this might be really difficult to do.

It may be that since there are only two weeks available in the Jan-Feb timeslot, she is suggesting a longer visit during May, but I just need to make sure that is what she means before I start planning travel. England is going to be very busy in 2012 because of the Queen's Jubliee and the Olympics so any planning needs to be done now!

Anyway her email didn't sound discouraging at all, so we just need to get the dates all lined up so I can get things organised at this end. So prayers, prayer and more prayers please!! And thank you.

[Nunsense]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1318181151' post='2318560']


That's beautiful. I wish my sister and I were closer. She lives about 3 hours away and I rarely see her anymore. When my parents visit her, I have to stay here because they stay in her flat and there isn't enough room with my sister's roommate. When she comes home, she is only here for 2 days before leaving really early Sunday morning so she can make it back in time for church (non-denominational). We are closer than we used to be, but not as close as I would like. She respects that I am discerning and doesn't try to dissuade me anymore from the Catholic faith since she sees how important it is to me. She used to try to convince me that I could go to any old church and find God, and for a while I believed her, but that was before my reversion. I never did go to a different service out of my own will. Now, I don't attend any service except the Catholic Mass. I remember that I once went to a Christmas performance at one of the non-denominational churches she used to be a part of. I felt so out of place. It seemed more like an auditorium than a sanctuary. They had a stage instead of an altar and there was no cross to be seen anywhere. It was weird. I don't even go to the Methodist church anymore where my grandmother and grandfather go for Christmas service. It doesn't have the fullness of the Mass and I miss the Eucharist immensely when I'm there.

Anyway, I am praying for you. I hope Mother Abbess sees that your financial and career stipulations require that you be more discerning about where your money goes. I hope she allows you to do a live-in soon after instead of having you return home.
[/quote]


It is hard when you are not close to a sister. My older sister, with whom I had a very close relationship, cut off all communication with me over eight years ago and despite all my efforts to make it better, she refuses to have anything to do with me - so there was a lot of grieving over that lost relationship. Maybe that's why connecting with my younger sister now is so special - she and I comfort each other over the fact that our older sister doesn't want anything to do with either of us. There were times when the three of us had such fun together and it is sad that our older sister would continue to hold a grudge for so long and deny us all that joy again! She is missing out as much as we are... that's why forgiveness is so important - not to do so is damaging to everyone!

I hope over time your sister and you will become closer.

[Nunsense]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1318181572' post='2318561']

Apparently, the RSMs have a dog in the postulant house. The postulants take turns walking, bathing, and feeding it. I like that a lot although it's not a deal breaker for me if they don't have one. I know that I'm going to miss my dog tremendously if I leave. She is almost 13 years old (next month) and has bad arthritis, but she has given us so much joy over the years. I love her so much and she is like family. When she finally leaves us, it is going to be a very difficult time. It's so difficult that I can't even think about it without getting tears in my eyes. I can't remember a time when there wasn't a pet of some sort in our house. We grew up with (at varying times):

3 dogs named Dixie, Muffy, and Lucy (Lucy is our current)
6 Hamsters (mostly mine) named Scooter, Clifford (sister's), Ashes, Buddy, Tigger, and Ruby (she was a Chinese dwarf)
1 mud turtle named Myrtle (she is no longer with us; she died earlier this year at 15 years old)
1 musk turtle (accepted him as an adoption; I cannot remember his name because I didn't have him for very long before he died)
2 red eared slider baby turtles (don't remember their names)
1 white guinea pig named Cosmo (after Kramer from Seinfeld)
2 zebra finches (that I was given by my 10th grade science teacher) named Daisy and Magellan (later called Julian)
2 baby zebra finches (Daisy's babies) named Gabriel and Lacy (I gave them to my sister)

Lucy is our only pet right now. I don't want anymore small pets at this time.

This is the RSMs dog, Kirk, that lives in the postulant house (this was in March this year, so I hope he's still there so I can meet him):


[/quote]

You have certainly had a lot of pets... very much like me. I do so love animals and I haven't had one in years because of all the discerning, visits, live-ins, entrances, etc. My sister usually has dogs but this year she and her hubby got a cat, and she has taken over the house - she is still a kitten basically and she is so sweet and playful. So even though I can't have my own, I can live vicariously through her. It would be so nice to go to the convent and be with the two poodles. I didn't really relate to the dogs at Nedlands - there were too many of them and they were the responsibility of one of the sisters, so they seemed to be 'hers' rather than 'ours'. And besides, I do love poodles, so it will be good to be around them again!

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1318208077' post='2318824']

You have certainly had a lot of pets... very much like me. I do so love animals and I haven't had one in years because of all the discerning, visits, live-ins, entrances, etc. My sister usually has dogs but this year she and her hubby got a cat, and she has taken over the house - she is still a kitten basically and she is so sweet and playful. So even though I can't have my own, I can live vicariously through her. It would be so nice to go to the convent and be with the two poodles. I didn't really relate to the dogs at Nedlands - there were too many of them and they were the responsibility of one of the sisters, so they seemed to be 'hers' rather than 'ours'. And besides, I do love poodles, so it will be good to be around them again!
[/quote]

LOL, I used to very much want to be a veterinarian. It was my dream when I was 7 years old and I was heavily pursuing it (even looking at veterinary schools and had chosen one to apply to) when God pursued me and called me to discern. So I gave up the idea.

I always said as a young girl that I wanted a lot of animals. I am very fond of horses and wanted a barn so I could care for them. I also liked the idea of owning several different kinds of pets like dogs, cats, birds, etc. I love Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers, so having a house and barn out in the country seemed ideal so they could run around and have plenty of room.