It was with shock that we learnt of the sudden death of Louise Zanré last month. Louise had just retired from her post as UK National Director of JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service), Wapping London, to take on a lighter job of avocation for Refugees, which was her life-long passion. Louise who had experienced sadness in her own personal life was ...

“The more you go with the flow of life and surrender the outcome to God, the less you seek constant clarity and the more you will find that fabulous things start to show up in your life.”                                                                          [Mandy Hale – The single Woman] 1848 had been a year of political upheaval in France but in the peaceful countryside of ...

“On one such occasion the Shepherd said to Much-Afraid, “When you continue your journey there may be much mist and cloud. Perhaps it may even seem as though everything you have seen here of the High Places was just a dream, or the work of your own imagination. But you have seen reality and the mist which seems to swallow ...

“When there’s a big disappointment, we don’t know if that is the end of the story.  It may be just the beginning of a great adventure! Life is like that.”    (Peria Chodron – ‘When things fall apart.’)  It seemed to Euphrasie that things were indeed falling apart!  The thought of going back to school at the age of nineteen years ...

When charity and union of hearts reign in community, the Lord is there. Guard this precious treasure well. . .  (Euphrasie Barbier 1867) On December 18th Wealdstone welcomed Sr Gertrude Atua from Wewak, Papua New Guinea, to spend Christmas with us. Gertrude is presently studying at St Anselm’s, Cliftonville and during the holiday break had to find a place for ...

We all know that God is a God of surprises, but I never expected to experience something so ordinary, and yet, paradoxically so extraordinary! Last Saturday afternoon, I decided to cook frozen, green, garden, peas for our midday meal.  While I was engaged in other activities, I could hear them bubbling happily in the pot.  As I rarely cook this ...

“Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal.  Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs.” [Mario Andretti – Racing Driver] It was October 1848.  After a long, tiring and  eventful journey, Euphrasie had finally arrived ...

New Year! New Resolutions! They go together like hand and glove. As I throw last year’s calendar into the bin and hang up a new one, I am as compelled as the Wise Men drawn by the shining star, to set out on a new spiritual journey of discovery; to make a brand new start. Of course, there are times ...

“It is always harder to be left behind than to be the one to go.”   [Brock Thoene]  Guilt and grief were like dark clouds hanging over the Barbier household, even though Adele and Louis had now, albeit reluctantly, agreed to allow Euphrasie to go to the convent.  It was days before anyone could broach the painful subject of her leaving ...

Our Julie has reached such a wonderful stage, The records all show that she’s now come of age. A hundred long years she has been on this earth, And seen many changes occur since her birth, No Radio, films or TV in her day. Penicillin, or drugs, to keep sickness at bay. No dishwasher, credit cards, carpets, or phones, And ...