Community News November 21
St Helens Community
The movement of our Brothers from Clayton Court continued into the beginning of October and by the 4th most of them had arrived. The exception was David Scarpa who was unable to travel at the time. He eventually made it at the beginning of November. Matthew returned to us from the nursing home in Rainford on the 28th, but then he went straight into isolation for ten days. You all know by now about our sad loss of Allen Geppert. He made the transition northwards successfully, but then managed to strain himself and bring on a strangulated hernia, which meant hospitalisation for an operation. That led to complications involving heart trouble and pneumonia, and he finally lost the battle on November the 2nd.
We were able to hold our first meeting as a new Community on Sunday October the 10th. It began with the reading of a letter we had received from Brother Ben Hanlon wishing us well in our new venture. He also made a point of praising the hard work put in by Brother Sean in his capacity as Director responsible for so many of the details of the transition, which has gone so smoothly. We all concurred in that assessment.
The meeting itself was mostly an introductory warm up, in which we started to get to know one another and explore our diverse preferences for things like the timing of morning prayers and the organising of places in the dining room. The serious business of tackling our new CAP was left for future meetings. How do you produce a CAP for a collection of aging individuals? One positive outcome was an agreement that we should accept the challenge presented to us when we were asked to take on the task of organising the next online District Retreat, which is due to take place in Lent of next year. Plenty of time to prepare you would think.
We also agreed to plan more community recreational activities, and a small group of volunteers is already at work devising schemes. Inevitably, there will be restrictions imposed by the pandemic and by our own individual ailments. All the same, it should be an interesting development in our Community living.
With the increase in numbers, more names are available for the lists of Community duties such as leading the prayers, taking Eucharistic services and acting as projectionists for our zoom masses. Joseph O’Keefe is our new sacristan and his experience and energy will be most welcome. The same applies to Ben Foy who has taken on responsibility for the pots and tubs on the patio in front of our Community lounge. He has already been working hard on planting bulbs and things for the spring show to come. Something to look forward to already. Bernard on the other hand is taking the indoor plants under his wing. They are rather numerous and varied in species, and we wish him and them well.
The increase in Brothers and their diverse maladies has meant that our valiant staff have been under strain, especially since one of our principal carers (Julie) has been off sick for a few weeks now. The upshot has been the need to increase staff numbers, and two new members have been appointed.
Care for our physical health was ensured on the 5th of October, when we were visited by Doctor Flett and a couple of nurses from our medical centre. We all received our flu’ jabs, and more importantly we had individual face to face consultations with the Doctor, who spent the whole day here until late in the evening. We certainly cannot complain about our health provision in St Helens. We are all in the process of going for our Covid ‘booster’ vaccinations, and every Brother should be done by the middle of November. Our spiritual health received its boost when our Vicar for Religious, Fr. Godfrey Timney, came to meet the new Community in the second week of October. He said Mass and administered the sacrament of the sick. A very moving occasion and good for our mental health too.
Later in the month we were happy to welcome our Brother Michael’s youngest brother, Fr. Dominic O’Hara, who is parish priest of St Mary’s church in Crowborough (Easy Sussex). The three O’Hara brothers (Michael, Patrick, Dominic) were pupils of the De La Salle Brothers in Brighton. Dominic’s stay with us meant that we were able to have ‘real live’ masses for a few days. Other welcome visitors to the Community were Tom Campbell’ sister (Cora) and brother-in-law (Terry). They called in after the sad occasion of the funeral of Tom’s sister Mary. We were represented at the funeral by Sean, Joe O’Keefe and Maureen, our manager.
Developments and adaptations of the property include a new greenhouse and a new potting shed to cater for all the extra gardening activity. They are a replacement for the conservatory that was attached to De La Salle House (Number Five). It was old and decrepit and just not fit for purpose. (The conservatory I mean.) Too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer!
We have also had some scaffolding up in the chapel, in an effort to do something about the lighting. The ceiling is much too high and changing a bulb has always been a major difficulty, consequently those on one side of the chapel have been praying in obscurity for the past six months. Things are much improved, and we can all now see the light!
There is one significant addition to our garden ornamentation to be reported. In their move from Clayton Court, the Brothers were accompanied by none other than the Founder himself in the shape of the statue of him which is now ensconced in our courtyard. It had been standing in the garden outside the library in Clayton Court since 1989. It is a statue of some significance, a genuine work of art carved in stone by a French sculpture of high repute. His name was Emilien Cabuchet (1819-1902), and his signature is clearly visible carved into the base of the statue. He specialised in religious sculpture and is well known for his statues of Saints Vincent de Paul and Jean-Marie Vianney. You can get to see them by doing an internet search for ‘Cabuchet’.
The statue in question has had an interesting history of travels from place to place. Before being in Clayton Court, it was displayed in Hopwood on a three ton plinth of Cornish granite at the top of the steps leading to the chapel, and before that it was in the De La Salle Agricultural College in Beauvais, with which Hopwood had exchange arrangements. Through the intervention of Brother Vincent Flemming, the statue was donated to Hopwood to mark the completion of the new chapel, and when the College closed in 1989 it was driven south to Clayton Court by Terry McKiernan, although the three ton plinth remained behind.
The oral history that came with the statue from Beauvais says that Cabuchet carved it as a small scale model, which he submitted in the hope of landing the commission to do the large statue which would adorn the top of the monument to the Founder to be erected in Rouen in 1875. The story is convincing enough, otherwise why would an artist of national standing like Cabuchet get involved with doing a statue of De La Salle which did not go anywhere? He did not get the commission, which went to one Jean-Alexandre-Joseph Falguière, so the Brothers were left with the small scale version for which (of course) they had paid. The Rouen monument to the Founder stands in the Place Saint Clément next to the church of Saint Yon, and you can see a picture of it in the Institute Bulletin No. 224, December 1980, page 42. You will easily see why Cabuchet’s effort was not successful, but it is still a nice piece of carving. It was entered in a competition, so he would not have held back on the quality of his work. Sad to say, when it went to Clayton Court the statue suffered a further humiliation, because some well meaning but ill-informed philistine covered the fine Normandy stone with cheap white paint. The paint is now peeling and cracking and the Founder looks miserable, which makes him one more candidate for the loving care and protection provided by our Caring Community. Symbolic don’t you think?
- Terry C.
Castletown Community
It’s always good to see buses pull up outside our entrance on weekday mornings and watch students wend their way to the Pastoral Centre to be met by Derek and his team for whatever programme is on offer on that particular day. Since the beginning of September, the bookings have been excellent and remain good into the new year.
At the end of October, we had the first of our weekend groups in and we have weekend bookings into December. Of course, Covid has not gone away - and the current increase in numbers is worrying as we try to keep the PC open and safe. Our staff work exceptionally hard to keep the place sanitised and ensure our visitors observe the safety protocols in place; it’s a delicate dance without any guarantees of what might or will happen over the coming weeks and months.
There was a lot of activity on the compound on Monday, 8th November, as local man, Damien Brophy, and his team cut down and removed the four large spruce trees - two in front of the Pastoral Centre and two at the top of the cemetery. It was a decision that wasn’t taken lightly but health and safety matters dictated that they’d have to go.
The tree-fellers worked with great efficiency and dexterity and by Tuesday evening all four trees were downed and removed from the place. With COP26 taking place in Glasgow and all the talk about Climate change, cutting down mature trees isn’t the most politically correct thing to be doing these days, but we’ll see that appropriate replacements are found for our much-loved spruces.
Before…and after
The sudden death of Brother Martin Kearns on Friday, 22nd October, was a huge shock to everyone associated with our Centre here in Castletown. Everything that could have been done for Martin, was done, but it was not to be. He endeared himself to the brothers and staff in Miguel House and his musical prowess during the Thursday socials were really appreciated.
He was really looking forward to returning to his community in Belfast following some further treatment, but, as the Irish proverb reminds us, “Ní mar a shíltear, a bhítear”(It is not always the expected that happens). We also offer our heartfelt sympathies to both Brothers David and Stephen on the recent losses of their brothers Mossie and Tommy respectively. Go dtuga Dia suaimhneas síoraí dá n-anamacha uaisle.
Brother Jarlath Forde has moved over to Miguel House temporarily for some observations: we hope to have him back in the central community before too long.
Finally, there is a “For Sale” sign in front of the Corn Mill down by the River - all reasonable offers considered! Slán go fóill.
- Kevin McEvoy
Rose Cottage Community
Having the Bosco lads here and seeing their tents on the front field was reassuring for us that despite Covid they had returned for yet another camp. We were very pleased to join them for daily Mass as usual. Unfortunately, half- way through the camp one boy tested positive for Covid and had to return home together with his “bubble”. The camp continued to the end without further trouble and was declared to have been a great success.
The “Fan the Flame” gathering of a large group of youngsters and helpers who came to renew and deepen their faith as Catholics was also judged to have been a great success. We were able to join most of their Masses which were celebrated with great enthusiasm. An initiative of the Dominican Sisters: “Fan the Flame” has been going for a number of years at the Sisters’ base at Sway in the new Forest. With increasing popularity, size of venue has become an issue, hence the move to the more spacious surrounds of St Cassian’s. They were delighted with what the Centre had to offer and have booked again for next year.
We have had the pleasure of meeting up with the new Team, on one occasion joining them for a meal at the Blue Ball. As usual we were present at their Inauguration Mass when they were commissioned as Lasallians to spread the Good News to young and old who will come to Kintbury over the coming year. Afterwards the traditional taking of photographs took place in Our Lady’s Garden.
Recently two former Team members had their marriage blessed in front of Our Lady’s statue. The statue is much admired, and Bernard keeps the statue itself and the garden in good trim. Liz Richardson who had been senior Team member when the couple were here on the Team, had been invited to say prayers and give a blessing. They were blessed with lovely weather and drank a stimulating fizzy drink in celebration.
Another visitor from the past was Karen, Shelagh’s successor on the catering staff. She is now a proud grandmother of Rory, Martin’s son. She came up recently to show the baby to the Brothers and members of staff who knew her. We enjoyed afternoon tea in the sunshine on the patio adjoining the cedar tree.
Due to the efforts and ingenuity of Charlie, our handyman and with the help of a substantial donation many of Terry McKiernan’s Koi carp are now swimming around contently amongst the lily pads of the bottom lake. They were first treated with disinfectant and then examined one by one before being released.
Fish of course are not the only things from Clayton Court that have made their way here and handsome old furniture now sits comfortably in different places but particularly so in the oak -panelled hall.
Bernard and I went to Clayton Court on 4th September to join the Thanksgiving for Care. It was a nostalgic but very enjoyable occasion going round meeting staff and the Brothers still in residence, as well as remembering those who’d been cared for within its welcoming walls over the years. I paid a further visit in the final week before closure to have a last look round and to bid farewell to such a beautiful place. I was, as I’ve come to expect, made most welcome by staff and by Brothers. For which many thanks. It was a disappointment for me that I was not able to meet Brother David, who has been conspicuous in his hospitality to the Brothers from our Community over the years.
A large group of sixth formers from St. Joseph’s, Reading came here on Retreat a couple of weeks ago. Sister Helen as is customary when a group comes from St Joseph’s, came along for one the days herself. As well as meeting staff and students she came over to Rose Cottage to meet the Brothers, as usual with gifts of beer and cakes. Her visit coincided with the time of transmission of the Mass from Castletown on Saturday at the end of the Retreat. She much enjoyed joining in with us and felt very much one of the family being as she is a Marie Madeleine Postel Sister.
- Brother Terence.