After a full week of orientation about community living here at Hawkstone Hall (you know--time for meals, use of washers, answering the phone, etc), we finally began our first session entitled "Journey to Your Inner Self" taught by a resident priest from India: Fr. Ittoop. He calls himself "that little Indian Priest" and rightly so. He is about 2 inches shorter than me! His session dealt with our personal spiritual lives with special emphasis on how religious men and women as well as diocesan priests must have a spirituality that compliments our particular form of ministry. I think we all agreed that, in today's world, the decline of religious communities and parish priests has placed greater stress on those who remain. Even more important for us to develop a sound spiritual life.
Last Saturday we visited Shrewsbury-- the government seat and main city of the Shropshire district. Shropshire existed in the 11th century after having been founded by William the Conqueror. The former Benedictine Abbey there is ancient although King Henry VIII pulled most of it down during the Protestant Reformation. Even so, what remains is beautiful. Not only can one see priceless works of art dating back centuries but, unless you are looking down, you will walk over the tombs of 15th and 16th century monks, clergy and royalty. It is amazing to see how much history can be contained in one building! Because we were experiencing a particularly warm day (the warmest, they said, in 400 years), there were thousands of families out in the local park with their children. An ancient city that is still very much alive!
Next Saturday we are off to North Wales!
Perry
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Arrival in England
Hi Everyone;
Well, I arrived safely in England on Monday at 10:30 AM. The flight from NY was delayed for two hours. We were all ready to take off and then the captain told us we have to leave the plane for some mechanical reasons. Two hours later, we got another flight. I was picked up at the airport in Manchester by a man named 'Basil'. He was just like an English butler--very formal and all.
The place is beautiful. My bedroom window overlooks green rolling hills with a flock of sheep below me. There are lambs which are bleating all day--running back and forth. It's neat to watch. My room is pretty small--very crowded--but serves it purpose. The house is fantastic with library, sitting room, gym, classrooms, kitchen, etc. Last night I sat with 4 people from Ireland, Kenya and Australia. They thought I had a funny accent! By far, I am the youngest person here. I think everyone is on the verge of retiring! There is one other young person here- a nun from Gambia who is very funny. We were laughing at the food they were serving last night
There is also a Franciscan priest here from the U.S. He has been working in Kenya for 20 years. All have interesting stories to tell. The weather is drizzling rain with a little sun at times.The air smells great--very fresh and invigorating.Hopefully, we will be able to get out and see some sites this weekend. Give my best to everyone. I hope all is well. I will post again in a few days.
Perry
Well, I arrived safely in England on Monday at 10:30 AM. The flight from NY was delayed for two hours. We were all ready to take off and then the captain told us we have to leave the plane for some mechanical reasons. Two hours later, we got another flight. I was picked up at the airport in Manchester by a man named 'Basil'. He was just like an English butler--very formal and all.
The place is beautiful. My bedroom window overlooks green rolling hills with a flock of sheep below me. There are lambs which are bleating all day--running back and forth. It's neat to watch. My room is pretty small--very crowded--but serves it purpose. The house is fantastic with library, sitting room, gym, classrooms, kitchen, etc. Last night I sat with 4 people from Ireland, Kenya and Australia. They thought I had a funny accent! By far, I am the youngest person here. I think everyone is on the verge of retiring! There is one other young person here- a nun from Gambia who is very funny. We were laughing at the food they were serving last night
There is also a Franciscan priest here from the U.S. He has been working in Kenya for 20 years. All have interesting stories to tell. The weather is drizzling rain with a little sun at times.The air smells great--very fresh and invigorating.Hopefully, we will be able to get out and see some sites this weekend. Give my best to everyone. I hope all is well. I will post again in a few days.
Perry
Friday, April 13, 2007
My Sabbatical at Hawkstone Hall
Hello everyone!
Jesus and the Gospels I, II & III How did the early community move from the historical Jesus to the formation of the Gospels? We reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus as the central Christian message. We move on to focus on the person of Jesus of Nazareth; how his mission, his stories, his values had a profound effect in some people's lives, to become good news for so many.
The Spirituality of True Self-Esteem Our attitude to ourselves is shaped and formed by our spirituality, and self-acceptance or self-rejection is the fruit of that spirituality. A healthy spirituality is vital for our personal happiness and well-being. The spirituality of true self-esteem is based on the word of God and is our response to God's life affirming word to us and within us, to have a high regard for ourselves and to live accordingly. The spirituality of true self esteem is the fruit of many different forms of renewal in the Church: the renewal of the Word of God; the charismatic renewal, and the healing ministry especially inner healing.
Christian Spirituality In past times, spirituality was understood largely in religious terms. More recently, spirituality has been spoken of in broader terms, involving a way of viewing and experiencing God, ourselves, others, and creation. We explore the consequences of this dynamic vision.
The Parables One of the most interesting aspects of Jesus' ministry is how much he communicates through storytelling. We look at the parables as Jesus' subversive way of challenging people to think and act differently.
Christ: an Unfinished Portrait This week examines traditional images and concepts of Christ, and invites us to look again at the way we understand Christ and his saving work.
Catholic Morality Throughout its history the church has always been faced by new moral questions. How do we meet today's questions honestly? We explore ways of doing this with confidence and hope.
Living Pathways What does it mean to walk the pathways of our own personal experience as companions of the Lord? How might we be able to turn routine living into redemptive living, by attuning our own lives to the True Life in Christ? During the week we will reflect on our calling to become co-creators of the Kingdom in our personal circumstances and life situations, and we will look at some tools to help us put this desire into practice.
Don't these sound exciting?! I am looking forward to being a student for three months. Hopefully, though, there won't be much homework!
As I prepare to begin my sabbatical at Hawkstone Hall, I thought you might be interested in knowing what I will be studying. Remember, my sabbatical is not simply about playing around in Britain(!) but will be a time of study and spiritual growth for me. Take a look at these lectures:
Our own Story as a Source of Spirituality The course of these lectures extends an invitation to you: firstly, to be more grounded in your own humanity, and secondly, to appreciate that your authentic human living is closely linked to a deepening relationship with Christ.
Jesus and the Gospels I, II & III How did the early community move from the historical Jesus to the formation of the Gospels? We reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus as the central Christian message. We move on to focus on the person of Jesus of Nazareth; how his mission, his stories, his values had a profound effect in some people's lives, to become good news for so many.
The Spirituality of True Self-Esteem Our attitude to ourselves is shaped and formed by our spirituality, and self-acceptance or self-rejection is the fruit of that spirituality. A healthy spirituality is vital for our personal happiness and well-being. The spirituality of true self-esteem is based on the word of God and is our response to God's life affirming word to us and within us, to have a high regard for ourselves and to live accordingly. The spirituality of true self esteem is the fruit of many different forms of renewal in the Church: the renewal of the Word of God; the charismatic renewal, and the healing ministry especially inner healing.
Christian Spirituality In past times, spirituality was understood largely in religious terms. More recently, spirituality has been spoken of in broader terms, involving a way of viewing and experiencing God, ourselves, others, and creation. We explore the consequences of this dynamic vision.
The Parables One of the most interesting aspects of Jesus' ministry is how much he communicates through storytelling. We look at the parables as Jesus' subversive way of challenging people to think and act differently.
Christ: an Unfinished Portrait This week examines traditional images and concepts of Christ, and invites us to look again at the way we understand Christ and his saving work.
Catholic Morality Throughout its history the church has always been faced by new moral questions. How do we meet today's questions honestly? We explore ways of doing this with confidence and hope.
Living Pathways What does it mean to walk the pathways of our own personal experience as companions of the Lord? How might we be able to turn routine living into redemptive living, by attuning our own lives to the True Life in Christ? During the week we will reflect on our calling to become co-creators of the Kingdom in our personal circumstances and life situations, and we will look at some tools to help us put this desire into practice.
Don't these sound exciting?! I am looking forward to being a student for three months. Hopefully, though, there won't be much homework!
Stay tuned for more information as I begin my three months at Hawkstone! I look forward to sharing my travels and experiences with you!
Fr. Perry
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Fr. Perry enters this millenium
Greetings all,
I have joined the 21st century of computer use, and now maintain a blog. Check in frequently, as I will use this as a sounding board.
Peace be with you,
Fr. Perry
I have joined the 21st century of computer use, and now maintain a blog. Check in frequently, as I will use this as a sounding board.
Peace be with you,
Fr. Perry
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