News

The winter this year saw us in our usual rounds of activities. Our regular Eucharists and lunches, our French conversation groups, computer classes, English lessons. Cécile’s trip to Paris for Synod and to England for Community Chapter and a whistle-stop tour visiting friends. Including seeing "A man for all Seasons" at the Haymarket Theatre which was also a reunion for ex-staff of Immanuel School.

In July Cécile had the privilege of conducting a retreat for Elaine and Sara who were ordained priest at Petertide. One in Rome, the other in Paris. In October Jean went to England for the deaconing of June Boyce Tilman. She and her friend Pamela have visited us regularly for many years. June has enriched our musical repertoire and the two are famous for their poetic contributions to our visitor’s book.

We welcomed the Hutchings family once again when they came for the christening of Madeline Lucy. I previously married her parents and christened her “big” brother. Her great aunt was a colleague at Emmanuel School. Her maternal grandparents live in a nearby village. It was a lovely family occasion.

Cécile attended the annual conference of the Society of Catholic Priests in Manchester in July. The Bishop of Manchester who is visitor to the society was with us. The theme was “On the margins”. We were privileged to have a number of people who were or had been marginalized to speak to us. For some it took great courage to share their stories. Some had found help and encouragement in the church others felt repelled. It was good to share a healing service with some of them and to acknowledge that we are all sick and in need of a physician.

Jean in her turn went to the Affirming Catholicism conference in Durham. The theme was living the Magnificat. There were talks about the wider church one by a Sister of C.S.M.V. who shared some of her African Experiences and commented on the generosity of the poor. The general Secretary of USPG Bishop Michael Doe gave an update on the work of the society.

In August we welcomed Bishop David Hamid for a pastoral visit. He celebrated the Eucharist on Saint Bartholomew’s Day. Bartholomew being the patron Saint of Montauroux we felt it was a good day for a celebration. This was followed by lunch which gave the congregation an opportunity to meet the Bishop. In the evening we were invited to the house of an extended family and about twenty sat down at a beautifully decorated table to a curry supper. The meal concluded with a celebration of the Eucharist. The next day he visited a friend who was temporally housebound with a broken vertebrae

Earlier this year we sold some of our land which is down the eastern side of the garden which took up a lot of time to keep reasonably clear but otherwise was hardly ever visited. The buyers are now living in the house which was built on the land. All we can see of it from our terrace is one chimney. They have worked hard to create a garden, so we feel that it was a good move, the land is now loved and we have some money to use for various projects. We have now turned the little bedroom at the end into a kitchen/dining room. So we now have two little flats for our visitors, with of course the share of the library. If visitors want an extra bed there is a chair which can turn into a bed.

Our next project was solar heating. From early June when it started to function, until mid October our hot water was heated entirely by the sun. Even now, most days the solar heating works but needs a little boost morning and evening.

At present we are surrounded by workmen who are extending the balcony on the front of the house, over the chapel. We can often use the balcony during the winter to eat lunch or to sit and read, but it is too narrow to have people round a table. We hope it will be useful, not only for us but for the occasions when we have friends to visit and for our bring and share lunches after Mass.

Next year is the tenth anniversary of Cécile’s ordination and the fiftieth anniversary of her Profession as a Religious Sister. We look forward to welcoming Dominic Bishop of Monmouth, who is a friend of forty years standing and was once a brother in the community. He will Preside and preach on the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15th August) to celebrate these occasions.

Alto

As usual we went to our Caravan in the Vaucluse for holiday, walking, reading , resting and exploring the surrounding countryside. Sadly, this year our lovely little dog Gari became ill during our stay in June and died two days before the end of the holiday. He was individually cremated and on our return home we had an Evensong in thanksgiving for all animals and their contributions to our lives. Afterwards we buried his ashes in the garden under the palm tree near our departed cats. The good news is that we now have another little poodle, Alto, who is a year old. He and Cécile go to school three times a week and he is beginning to learn a little discipline although one of his teachers said his is as stubborn as a mule. He is now allowed to attend the agility classes and shows great promise. He can jump as high if not higher than dogs twice his size. He attends Chapel and is usually quite well-behaved during services.