News

You are invited to join the Community   Meditative Reflection for Advent at 5.30pm on Zoom  Sunday 1st December – “Come now O Prince of Peace” Sunday 8th December – “A voice cries out in the wilderness” Sunday 15th December – “Gaudete” Sunday 22nd December – “Emmanuel”   And IN PERSON at Blessed Sacrament Church, Melbourne CM1 2DU…

The Community invites you to join them for a talk by Dr Cormac Begadon and Evening Prayer (for the beginning of Advent) on Saturday 30 November at 3pm at 74, Howe Close, Colchester CO4 3XD. 3pm – talk 4pm – tea followed by Evening Prayer for the beginning of Advent followed by mulled wine and…

We are recruiting – please see job outline below:   Cook (Full-time) – Howe Close  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12.00- 19.00hrs   Required to work in a unique position within a small religious community, based in Colchester – The Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre. Pay negotiable depending on experience, qualifications, and availability.   If…

We are celebrating the Annual Mass for our deceased relatives and friends, in particular those buried in our cemetery, on Saturday 2 November (All Souls’ Day) at 2pm at New Hall in the School Chapel.  The celebrant will be Fr Martin Hardy who is one of the team serving the Chelmsford parish and chaplain at…

You may be interested to read the article written by Dr Cormac Begadon, about our Community and school in Liège. It appeared in the Tablet in September 2024.   {{ vc_btn: title=ENLIGHTENED+ATTITUDES&color=danger&size=lg&align=center&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcanonesses.co.uk%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2024%252F10%252Ftablet-article.pdf }}

We began a second year of our series ‘Today’s Big Questions: towards a Christian Response’ with a fabulous in-person talk at New Hall by Prof Tina Beattie. The talk was entitled We need to talk about gender: Christian approaches to challenging questions for changing times. Tina tackled the complex issue of gender and sexuality, and…

We are inviting applications for Senior Carer position as per below:   Recruitment – Senior Carers 2 x part-time   Experienced Senior Carers required to work in a unique position within a small Religious Community based in Colchester – The Canonesses of The Holy Sepulchre. We are looking for individuals that are warm-hearted, professional, compassionate…

Dear Friends, Good to be back with you & Saturday Reflections.  We hope these last weeks have been good ones for most of you, though I am sure amongst us there will be some sadness & distress.  Today’s blessing comes from Sacred Pathways & is called ‘Deep Peace’ May those of us who have had…

We were happy to see that Cormac Begadon’s research was featured in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday 29 June. Christopher Howse’s piece was partly based on a forthcoming publication by Cormac – ‘A case for continuity? From Liège to New Hall: the English Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre’ – in which the cultural continuity from…

On Sunday 28 April, S. Moira was installed as a new Ecumenical Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral. S. Moira was pleased to accept this honorary position on behalf of the Community.  She and the Community were joined by many friends and family for the installation ceremony, where S. Moira had also been asked to preach on…

We are planning another pilgrimage from 22-27 April 2025, journeying along the newly-established St Patrick’s Way in the North of Ireland.  The pilgrimage is open to all faiths and none and is aimed at being accessible to everyone – walkers and non-walkers. For full details please see the BROCHURE. If you are interested in joining…

On Friday 8 March 2024, Dr Cormac Begadon visited the Community in Colchester, to report back on the next stage of the excavations on the site where the Community had their house in Rue St Gilles. Cormac had made a follow-up trip to Liège in December and was welcomed by the lead archaeologist, Guillaume Mora…

Do join us for all or any of the Zooms below:   Ash Wednesday A reflective moment to start Lent 14th February – 7.30pm for 20-30 minutes   Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87916139002?pwd=NGNmdHdSNDhIT29PSWxnMXVKQUNZQT09     Lent Course – ACT ON POVERTY    Mondays in Lent: 7 – 8pm 26th February, 4th March, 11th March, 18th March…

The sisters are grateful to all those who give so generously through our Advent appeal, and at other times during the year.  Treating young children with malnutrition and running the school for the disabled in Muhanga are just two examples of the work our sisters are involved in, helping the poorest of the poor, and…

On Saturday 2nd December the Community and guests gathered, at Howe Close, for a talk by researcher Dr Cormac Begadon (University of Durham).  Cormac shared details and insights following exciting new finds at the excavation site of the Community’s old convent in Liège. The talk, detailed below, was followed by Evening Prayer for the beginning…

This Eastertide (2023), we held Reflections on the WAY OF LIGHT – Stations of the Resurrection paintings (by Sister Mary Stephen).  Alongside a slideshow of the images, Sister Mary Stephen described each of her paintings, followed by readings of the Meditations by Sister Petra Boex OSB. We recorded Part 2 which you can listen to…

Calendar and Zoom Links   ASH WEDNESDAY A reflective moment to start Lent 22 February – 7.30pm for 20-30 minutes – ZOOM   Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86540176014?pwd=WkJpWjdjUThlOTVuWnJpdGxEd0M1UT09  Meeting ID: 865 4017 6014 Passcode: 586752      LENT COURSE – Faith Through The Senses: A Lenten Journey   Mondays in Lent: 6.45 – 7.45pm – ZOOM…

Meditative Reflection  every Sunday in Advent at 5.30pm on Zoom    November 27th – Listening to the Word December 4th – Prepare a way for the Lord December 11th – Mary’s Magnificat December 18th – The Coming of the Christ Child     All welcome, no registration, just come         Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86310896698?pwd=TWJOdEhDUW9EVHJQZ0ZubmRlQ2VWdz09 Meeting…

The child in the photograph below is being treated for malnutrition in Goma, D R Congo; one of the many children being cared for by our sisters.  The sisters here and elsewhere in D R Congo and Rwanda are grateful to all those who give so generously, for example through our Advent appeal.  Treating young…

  We are celebrating the Annual Mass for our deceased relatives and friends, in particular those buried in our cemetery, on Saturday 5th November at 2pm at New Hall in the School Chapel.  The celebrant will be Fr Martin Hardy.  You are most welcome to join the Community that afternoon.  The Mass will be followed…

PLEASE JOIN US TO REFLECT ON THE THEMES OF HOLY SATURDAY 11.30AM 16th APRIL AT BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH MELBOURNE AVENUE CM1 2DU     Holy Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Melbourne poster

The Community is offering a series of opportunities to meet and reflect during Lent and Eastertide.   REFLECTIONS No need to book in advance, just join us via the Zoom links below   Ash Wednesday A reflective moment to start Lent 2nd March – 5.30pm for 20-30 minutes   Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81914900556?pwd=Nnk4ekNvU0hnTVZjZW9PbnZFU0lPdz09   Meeting…

Dear All, Already a week of Advent has passed – Lent usually drags a bit on me but Advent – never!  It always seems to spin by hardly allowing time for real reflection on all the richness.  I hope that you are finding it rich & renewing. I came across a prayer this week  adapted…

The Community welcome all to join them for Advent reflections and prayer – details as follows:   Advent Meditative Reflections Sundays on zoom at 5.30pm for 30 – 45 mins November 28th  Learning to Wait December 5th    Seeking the Light December 12th  Finding Joy December 19th  Preparing for the Coming of the Christchild ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88333391691?pwd=SjhrYnFBUEZndVVIMTRRTEJqRVduQT09…

The three little children in the picture above had malnutrition and were cared for at one of the sisters’ Nutrition Centres in Africa. They have now all got better, due to the intervention of the sisters.  The sisters say this is because of the support they get from people who give so generously, for example…

We were delighted to welcome Dr Cormac Begadon to deliver the Foundation Day Lecture 2021 at New Hall.  Cormac is Assistant Professor (Research): Sepulchrine Fellow in the History of Catholicism at University of Durham and is researching the Community’s archive. Dr James Kelly, Sweeting Associate Professor (Research) in the History of Catholicism, University of Durham, managed…

On 18 September this year, the eve of the first anniversary of Frances Wood’s death, the Community, family and a few close friends came together to remember Frances (formerly SM Francis) and to celebrate her life.  Mary Francis played a pivotal role in the development of the Community’s school at New Hall. Fr Leslie, friend…

Following the popularity of TEA BOXES in 2020, & given a little uncertainty about exactly when we will be free from COVID restrictions, we want to invite you to book in for some tea-boxes.  If you live in a CM postcode they can be delivered to your door (or as a gift to a friend’s…

The Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales and Scotland have chosen a new Bible translation for use at Mass that translates women out of Scripture.  Does this matter, and how do we respond?  In a 25 minute talk, Liz Dodd (Home News Editor at the Tablet) guided us through all the issues surrounding the New…

We were delighted to attend Durham University Centre for Catholic Studies two-evening online event in March 2021.  The series of talks focussed on the importance of the archives of religious congregations, from the break with Rome to the present day Dr Cormac Begadon and Dr Hannah Thomas were on the panel of speakers and spoke…

As part of our 2021 Lenten Reflection series, the Community and friends reflected on the paintings of Sieger Koder, led by Sister Moira. The recording of our reflection can be found below together with notes from Moira’s introduction. {{ vc_btn: title=INTRODUCTION&color=turquoise&align=center&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcanonesses.co.uk%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2021%252F03%252Fkoder-intro.pdf%7C%7C%7C }} {{ vc_btn: title=REFLECTION&color=warning&align=center&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fyoutu.be%252Fitj7p7Mp3tg%7C%7C%7C }}

During Lent 2021 the Community led a time of prayer and reflection on the last days of Jesus’ life which centred on Sister Mary Stephen’s paintings of the Stations of the Cross, as described by the artist and dividing Christ’s journey into two halves: The first ends with Simon of Cyrene’s help… Narrators: S Mary…

Enlightenment from within the Cloister? The Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre and their Embrace of a Global Intellectual Movement We were delighted to welcome Dr Cormac Begadon, on 21 February 2021, to update us on his research into the Community’s archive. Dr Cormac Begadon is Assistant Professor (Research): Sepulchrine Fellow in the History of Catholicism…

LENT PROGRAMME 2021 (For a downloadable list click on above link)   Wednesday 17th February: 5.30pm for 20-30 minutes Ash Wednesday A reflective moment to start Lent   Mondays in Lent: 5.30 – 6.30pm – 22nd February; 1st March; 8th March; 15th March; 22nd March Lent York Course – Caring for Creation Purchase the course…

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Ann Playfoot who died peacefully on Sunday morning September 6th 2020 in Cherry Wood Grange Nursing Home.   After a series of admin jobs, Ann gained a degree in History from Kent University. She then joined the Community later on in life and was finally…

  At the beginning of June, Dr Cormac Begadon, of Durham University, gave an update on his research to the Community, via a ‘Zoom’ meeting. The path his research is following concerns the Community’s role in the Catholic Enlightenment.   Dr Begadon will be exploring the suggestion that Christina Dennett inspired the Jesuits (not the other…

GARDEN PARTY FOR AFRICA JULY 5th 2020 is sadly postponed until 2021 BUT………….. would you like an alternative to be delivered to your door (or as a gift to a friend) on that same afternoon?   A Tea Box For Two containing:   Finger sandwiches selection (smoked salmon & cream cheese, mature cheddar and tomato,…

As we all find new ways to pray and reflect, during our time spent in isolation, sometimes images speak louder than words.  In her own words, Sister Mary Stephen explains the inspiration behind her art:  “In my artwork I try to make visible God’s invisible energy, that life which flows through all creation and is…

As you might have seen, the historic archives and ancient book collections of the Canonesses was transferred to Durham University in 2018. There a tri-party project has commenced, with an archivist and rare-books cataloguer caring for the archives and books, and a historian working on the project’s research element. The historian, Dr Cormac Begadon, has…

The Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre have pleasure in informing you of the results of their Elections held on 21 & 22 March 2020.   Sister Moira O’Sullivan was elected as Prioress.   The following members of the Chapter were elected as Councillors: Sister Margaret Mary Horton. Sister Teresa Lenahan.   Sister Teresa Lenahan was…

The thoughts and prayers of all our Community are with you – our friends and family. And also with those affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak around the world. We pray for those who care for the sick, for those who are combatting the spread of the virus, for those who are lonely and isolated…

The sewing group in Melbourne are preparing for Easter! Using their creative talents, learning how-to from each other and from you-tube, the fortnightly group based at Langton Hall is working on Easter projects – knitted bunnies and chicks to decorate the neo-natal baby unit at Broomfield, brightly coloured chicks with a drawstring pocket to hold…

The Community’s library collection featured as February’s ‘Item of the Month’ on Durham University’s Palace Green Library website. Over the next 9 months, the book collection, now in Durham, will be catalogued to make it available to scholars of English Catholic communities in exile, religious education, and the history of the book.   Click on…

Last week members of the Community attended a workshop at Durham University to explore the significance of our archive and book collection which the Community gifted to the University in 2018.   The workshop was attended by academics from the University and other interested parties who discussed the potential of the collections for teaching, research, outreach…

The Community brought local people together over Christmas for parties (including some bell ringing at Howe Close!), a trip to the pantomime for the young people of Melbourne and singing and dancing on Christmas day in Langton Hall.  

Christmas Blessings to all our friends, known and unknown.  

The new Priory building in Kindu, DRC was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop In August this year (2019).  It was a busy time for the sisters, with the election of their first Prioress for Kindu, S. Jacqueline Kadorho; the profession of first vows of S.Francine and the entering into the noviciate of 4…

S. Marie Rose reports that last week there was a flood in the dormitory at the Centre for the Disabled in Muhanga.  ‘It was terrible” she said,  “There was  heavy rain; the floodwater came through the school playground and into the dormitory. Some of the disabled children had to be carried out.” On a brighter…

An exciting new community facility – Langton Hall – was opened by the Mayor on 21st September, in the heart of Chelmsford’s Melbourne Estate. The Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff, the deputy Mayor and Mrs Vicky Ford were also in attendance. “Our Community came to live in Melbourne from New Hall 16 years ago and…