Another event by Donna

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL (John 4:1-42)| An invitation to journey to the well, to Christ the Living Water.

7pm - 9 pm An evening in October 2023 Monday 9th October at Hyning

At Jacob’s well, Jesus broke strict rules of his time in order to reach a woman who was struggling with past relationships, exclusion and isolation; he listened to her in a non-judgmental way, saw her huge potential and she was transformed, finding her own confidence and her own voice. We will explore this intriguing Gospel passage, which helps to illuminate women’s inner soul journeys and offers an invitation to walk to the ‘well’, to Christ the One who restores us. The retreat will include a short theatre piece, discussion of the Gospel passage, Ignatian guided prayer based on the beautiful journey to the well and a short presentation of guitar music, words and candlelight.

Christian retreat information

Online and In Situ Christian Retreats led by Donna Worthington. Donna is a long time friend of Hyning and recently led a superb creative writing day for us at Hyning in February.

For bookings, please see the website or contact Donna Worthington: drworthington@live.co.uk  www.christianretreats.live

All retreats cost £20, unless otherwise stated.

MARCH 2023

(ONLINE) LENTEN JOURNEY| Into the Wilderness, Jesus’ final words in his Farewell Discourses, waiting with him in Gethsemane.

Monday 6th March 10am-1pm

(IN SITU) LENTEN JOURNEY| Into the Wilderness, Jesus’ final words in his Farewell Discourses, waiting with him in Gethsemane.

Saturday 11th March 11:30am -3:00pm

Venue: Our Lady of Lourdes and St Gerard Majella RC Church, Brownedge Rd, Lostock Hall Preston PR55TA. Cost £20. For bookings, please contact the Parish office: 01772 335387 or email:  office@saintgerards.org.uk  Places are limited.

APRIL 2023

A JOURNEY WITH VAN GOGH | ‘There is nothing more artistic than loving people’ and ‘What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?’ These quotes from the artistic and wounded genius Van Gogh, are just some of the windows into this retreat which will offer creative, reflective sessions to deepen our humanity and spirituality. 

Saturday 15th April 10am-1pm

MAY 2023

(ONLINE) PENTECOST | The divine fire and the call to go forth into a life based on freedom and hope.

Monday 15th May 10am-1pm

(ONLINE) GETTING CREATIVE! | A five week course on Creative Writing. 7-9pm. Cost £80

Monday evenings: May 1st, (NOT the 8th), then 15th, 22nd, 29th, June 5th. 7-9pm. This is a general course on creative writing. We’ll explore nature as a meditative window into writing and explore key writing strategies to deepen our understanding of character, dialogue, structure, dramatic action, the use of archetypes, how to evoke responses in readers / audiences etc. No writing experience at all is necessary to join this course, just a willingness to enjoy exploring creative writing!

JUNE 2023

(IN SITU) THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD | Br Lawrence’s wisdom on prayer as part of our daily lives.

Wednesday 7th June 11:30am -3:00pm

Venue: Our Lady of Lourdes and St Gerard Majella RC Church, Brownedge Rd, Lostock Hall Preston PR55TA. Cost £20. For bookings, please contact the Parish office: 01772 335387 or email:  office@saintgerards.org.uk  Places are limited.

(ONLINE) LEARNING FROM NATURE | We seek the divine through Creation…

Sunday 4th June 2-5pm

JULY 2023

(ONLINE) ‘’I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’’. | We explore Jesus' compelling words. Saturday 1st July 10am-1pm

(IN SITU) LECTIO DIVINA | An ancient monastic approach, being led by the Holy Spirit through Scripture.

Monday 3rd July 03-07-23 11:30am -3:00pm

Venue: Our Lady of Lourdes and St Gerard Majella RC Church, Brownedge Rd, Lostock Hall Preston PR55TA. Cost £20.  For bookings, please contact the Parish office: 01772 335387 or email:  office@saintgerards.org.uk  Places are limited.

(IN SITU) OCTOBER   EARLY NOTICE! One of the evenings will be at Hyning.,date tbc.

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL (John 4:1-42)| An invitation to journey to the well, to Christ the Living Water.

7pm-9pm Evenings in October 2023:

At Jacob’s well, Jesus broke strict rules of his time in order to reach a woman who was struggling with past relationships, exclusion and isolation; he listened to her in a non-judgmental way, saw her huge potential and she was transformed, finding her own confidence and her own voice. We will explore this intriguing Gospel passage, which helps to illuminate our inner soul journeys and offers an invitation to walk to the ‘well’, to Christ the One who restores us. The retreat will include a short theatre piece, discussion of the Gospel passage, Ignatian guided prayer based on the beautiful journey to the well and a short presentation of guitar music, words and candlelight.

February news

It is lovely to be able to share our monastery with the increasing number of guests who are beginning to return. We rejoice to see people we have not seen since the pandemic and welcoming new faces as well. There are a series of days coming up on craft and calligraphy. There is a beginners icons course and the Lent retreat! All details to be found on the programme page.

We hosted the day for Religious and Consecrated Life in our diocese on the 4th of February. We had a really stimulating online session with Gemma Simmonds, C.J. followed by questions, group work and of course, feedback! During the afternoon we looked at ways we could support each other and share each other’s joys and celebrations, learning to understand more the work of other religious of the diocese. Sr. Philomena and Sr. Anne, both Holy Child sisters had organised the day with a team and animated the day brilliantly.

Saturday 11th February saw a new venture, a creative writing day led by Donna Worthington. An inspirational speaker, she used imagery, nature, poetry and movement to get the creative juices flowing.

Our new event is the lent retreat with input from Sr. Mary Stella, Fr. Anthony and Sr. Michaela.

January news and programme

Today at Mass we celebrated the renewal of vows for Sr. Pauline, one of our juniors. pray for her as she continues to explore her monastic vocation with the Bernardines.

We re-open next week after a short January break and a list of this year’s events can be found on our programme page. https://www.bernardine.org/hyning-programme Please click for more details.

Happy New Year, we look forward to welcoming our guests again.

Vocation weekend

Re-opening!

Hyning is now officially reopening and Sr. Mary Bernard is now taking guest bookings. Last week we had the family of Sr. Mary Lucy as the first official guests. They came for the burial on Friday morning. It was a lovely send off for her and those of the Hyning community who weren’t able to attend the funeral were able to say goodbye to her too.

On a more joyful note our junior at Hyning, Sr Pauline, will renew her vows on the 11th january. Please pray for her as she continues her monastic journey.

There are several events coming up if you check the programme page for more details, gardening days, drawing weekends etc. I’ve also been asked to advertise this event organised by a youth leader. It is aimed at 18-25 year olds but please check for more details. The posters will give all the contact details and for more information please contact .Rina

Prayer and gardening days

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bernardines These are some of the pictures from Lisa from the 5th October. There a series of days coming up, the next one is on Wednesday 12th october. There are some photos on the Garden page. Be prepared for all weathers, especially rain. Lunch will be provided. Contact Sr. Stella 01524 732684 or Sr Mary Bernard hyningbookings@yahoo.co.uk for more details.

Guest House reopening

After a long period of very limited activity because of COVID and then the refurbishment project, we are delighted to announce that our Guest House will be opening again from the 4th of November 2022 onwards. There may even be the possibility of bookings in the last week of October.  

We are looking forward to welcoming back old friends and making new ones! The new en-suite bedrooms in the main house are splendid!  

We are suggesting a minimum stay of two nights so that you can fully appreciate our lovely new rooms and help the smaller community maintain the guest house.  

August news

In August we finished the work of the General Chapter. Previously we had announced the election of our superior, Sr. Elizabeth Mary, as the new General of the Order. On August 15th Sr. Mary Helen was appointed prioress of Hyning. Many of you will remember her as our prioress in 2006 to 2008. So we are pleased to welcome her home. Yesterday we said goodbye to Mary-Ann who has been living with us for a year’s experience. Our community here for 2022 consists of Sr. Mary Helen, Sr. Mary Joseph who is in Nazareth House, Sr. Mary, Sr. Mary Stella, Sr. Mary Colette, Sr. Mary Bernard, Sr. Michaela, Sr. Reina and Sr. Pauline, our junior.

The building work is nearly complete and we look forward to re-opening in the near future, no dates decided yet, not before October because of work needed on fire doors.

Sr. Michaela is recovering from surgery for cancer but is making good progress and counts very much on your prayers.

July news

Today we started our General Chapter, or in reality continued on from the work we began in September 2021. Please pray for the needs of the Order and the work of the new General Council. Changes in all the communities will take place and we will give news when that happens.

Work on the building project has been further delayed but much progress has been made. I hope to put some photos with this post. The first Slide show is from the First Floor, including the East Wing and LSR. The second is from the GRound Floor, including toilets! The third will be from the Top Floor and the Middle Section.

May building work progress

It’s been a while since we posted any updated photos. The work is going really well even with the presence of nesting bats in the roof, rather than the belfry, delaying roof works. All the legal procedures have been put in place though as bats are a protected species and the building contractors are observing all legal channels to ensure both the workmen and the bats are working in harmony.

Hammering, drilling and general working noise are a daily feature but the community have adapted to the noise and the sight of many vans and workers in the building area. Floors are being laid, walls being plastered and tiles are appearing on the ensuite areas. The completion date is still a while off but here are some pictures taken on Friday 20th May.

May news

In 2020 the Bernardines Cistercians of Esquermes were due to have a General Chapter. This involves the election of the new offices and the work of governing the Order. The pandemic led us to postpone the elections and meetings for a year. However Rome eventually allowed, with a series of conditions, General Chapters online with some limits. However, today, we elected Sr. Elizabeth Mary, present superior of the community at Hyning as our new Reverend Mother General. She will move to La Plaine but be based at Hyning until August. A lot of changes will follow in the following months. Today though,we ask for your prayer for our new Superior, all her intentions and the work entrusted to her.

Easter news!

Fortunately Easter lasts 7 weeks so it’s good to be able to wish you all Happy Easter knowing it is still the season of the resurrection. Unfortunately it hasn’t been as joyful as usual because of the Covid outbreak in community. Please be understanding if the phone isn’t answered or no -one appears on the door. We are taking measures to keep ourselves and our staff safe. We will update when we are open again and the streaming is back on.

Holy Week

For a few moments during Holy Week ponder this amazing fact….

Jesus Christ, the crucified and Risen Christ loves you and accepts you as you are. 

You don’t have to change; you don’t have to do anything.

You have his love here and now, in this place.

Do you believe that God loves you so much that Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled with God? 

His death was the ultimate expression of his love for you.

He gave up everything He loved so that He might gain your love.

Nothing will ever separate us from God’s love again.

The essence of this exercise is to accept the fact that Christ loves us unconditionally, that he is love incarnate.  How can this incredible fact not transform us?  At times we are too afraid to let God’s love pour out upon. God’s will be done yes, but God’s love may seem too scary, we may feel too unworthy. We are but it really doesn’t matter!  God will never demand that we love him as much in return, we cannot.  All he asks is that we accept his unconditional love, unconditionally. 

Think of St Paul’s passage to the Romans 8:31-38

“God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won't he freely give us everything else? 33If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? 34Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side, [e] speaking to him for us. 35Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? 36It is exactly as the Scriptures say, "For you we face death

all day long.

We are like sheep

on their way

to be butchered."

37In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love--not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!”

April

The days seem to be flying by and it is already the 5th Sunday of Lent. Holy Week is nearly upon us! The building work continues to go well but the presence of bats in the roof may prove a potential problem! Apparently they are a protected species and cannot be disturbed while nesting. The rest of the work continues to progress well.

On the 9th April we begin our ‘2020’ General Chapter! It was postponed because of Covid and we are now having it online. We have had 5 preparatory sessions on Zoom during the course of the year. Friday 8th is a day of prayer and fasting with the official Chapter opening on Saturday. We ask for your prayers as we prepare to elect a new Reverend Mother General and Council over the course of the next 2 months and prepare for the future of the order. The main sessions will be in July. It is very exciting but at the same time also a time of uncertainty. We ask for your prayers over the coming months.

News

Some of you will already know this sad news and we have tried to contact as many people as possible over the last few days. On Wednesday afternoon, February 16th, our former superior, Sr. Josephine Mary, died after a long battle with cancer. She died peacefully in St. John’s hospice in Lancaster. Sr. Mary Helen, our Prioress General, was with her and over the previous few days, the community had been with her, praying and being with her as she journeyed to her eternal reward. Her funeral will take place at Hyning on Monday 28th February at 10 am. There will an evening service of prayer the night before and people are welcome to attend the funeral. In the light of Covid restrictions, please contact Sr. Elizabeth Mary if you would like to celebrate the life of Sr. Josephine Mary. sisterelizabethmary@yahoo.co.uk . We thank you for your prayer and support at this time, especially the wonderful District Nurses from the surgery, care teams and the staff of St. John’s Hospice in Lancaster.

Building progress...

Top floor of the guest house!

February news

A range of events and activities are happening at the moment. The daily life revolves around the demands of the building work, zoom meetings, formation courses, creative work and of course the Divine Office. We ask you for prayers for Sr. Josephine Mary as her cancer progresses and for Sr. Mary Joseph in respite care at Nazareth House, Lancaster.

On February 5th 2022 we hosted on Zoom, the religious and consecrated women of the diocese. Bishop Paul attended the opening prayer and Fr. Chris attended the session as Vicar for Religious.

The Icon studio reopens on Wednesday 9th February. The chapel is open for prayer and restrictions are gradually being lifted at Mass. Please still contact Sr. Mary Bernard before you come however.

We do not forget to pray for our our guests, oblates, friends. You can follow our services on Facebook and via the website.

Building work

The building work is continuing with much progress made. (It just looks like a bomb has hit us). The workmen are working very hard and in spite of hearing bumps, banging, loud noises, are very discreet. Asbestos is being removed and rooms are being demolished while at the same time we are busy looking at samples, carpets, colour schemes etc. We are having lots of meetings, especially Sr. Elizabeth Mary and she is working hard to organise meetings for us as well. Here are some of the pictured from the past 2 weeks.

January news

Happy New Year to all our guests, oblates, friends of Hyning. Just a general update to let you know how things are. The building work has started in earnest. There are just a few pictures but more will come.

Most of the asbestos has been removed, the scaffolding is up and the stripping of rooms has begun. You will notice that the front door is out of bounds and the site offices are being constructed if you come down our drive! Various doors are missing and corridors blocked off!

So far we are Covid free but we are praying for all those among our guests, families, friends who are affected at this time. Live streaming is continuing but we are still open for Mass. Contact Sr. Mary Bernard for details on times and access etc.