26 October 2016
By Maria Dinnendahl, SHCJ
Mayfield School in East Sussex, England recently celebrated the Society’s Feast – as Foundress’ Day – on Friday 14th October as the students departed for Half-Term, the autumn holidays, that afternoon. So the next day Mayfield School should have been deserted and quiet.
However, some months ago Richard Moth, Bishop Arundel and Brighton had decided to arrange a diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Door at Mayfield on 15th October. Perhaps a hundred and twenty pilgrims, including children, from the East Sussex part of the diocese came to the Mass celebrated by the Bishop. Some of the students had stayed behind to lead the singing.
The Bishop actually said the Mass of the Feast of St. Teresa and referred at the beginning of his sermon to Cornelia and the 170th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated by the Society. After all, if Cornelia had not restored the ruin of the Great Hall ( which saw the first Mass celebrated in 1865 ) – there would not have been a Holy Door here for the Holy Year of Mercy.
After mid-morning coffee, the Bishop gave a talk on Lectio Divina which he is keen to promote among the members of the diocese. After an exchange of thoughts and reflection in small groups the ‘pilgrims’ departed after a closing prayer at 1 p.m .
Holy Child Sisters Teresa Joseph, Jean and Maria ended the day with a festive supper.
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