This month offers an opportunity to focus on faith, hope, and the beauty of new beginnings, both in nature and in our spiritual lives. Especially when the church celebrates the Jubilee year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ The Jubilee encourages people to embark on pilgrimages of faith and to perform works of mercy, bearing witness to the hope that dwells within and ...

I was struck with the thought of spring has sprung when I saw it on the notice board in St. Anne’s.( see photo) After some thought, I reached a conclusion that the difference is the sense of hope that spring brings; sure, it does bring beauty and joy to our hearts. Hope is such a powerful state of being. It ...

Reflecting over the past few weeks of March, we have been focusing greatly on the role of women in society – International Women’s Day, celebrating one of the first women writers of the 17th century, Aphra Behn in Canterbury, and honouring our own religious women including our former Superiors, in Hasting’s cemetery with a new Memorial stone. Plus the many ...

The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions joyfully share with you a reflection on the  theme of our forthcoming  29th Congregational Chapter in 2026.  United with Pope Francis during this Jubilee Year We see ourselves as Pilgrims of Hope in our world. For over 164 years, we have walked in the footsteps of our Foundress, Euphrasie Barbier. We treasure ...

Hope is not mere optimism, or simply wishful thinking, Not a fervent plea to keep one’s faith from sinking. Hope is based on promises already pledged and given, That we are loved by God and sins have been forgiven. There’s nothing to be feared, we are joyfully accepted, The heaven for which we hope, is rightfully expected. Salvation has been ...

 As our world faces another year, we still are aware of the negative aspects that so many people are daily continuing to deal with: racism, terrorism and more so, of brutality and violence. Like us RNDMs, I’m sure that your Christmas Prayer was for world peace – even in this Holy Year, the cry goes forth for HOPE. The Holy ...

What we call the beginning is often the end And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. (Little Gidding – TS Eliot)   As we reflect on endings, we are often reminded of the beginning of something new and life giving.  What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, someone ...

 “Death is neither to be sought nor resisted. It is only to be accepted as the exclamation point of life. “Do not seek death,” Dag Hammarskjold wrote, “but seek the road which makes death a fulfilment.” A Month of Memories. Joan Chittister, 2009. Benetvision. This year as we have been surrounded with daily accounts from media news of death and ...

Surrounded as we are with constant devastating news about climate chaos, bio-diversity loss and the ever-growing mountains of pollution it is easy to fall into despair. And yet as people of faith, we have hope – the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance of what we do not yet see (cf. Hebrews 11:1). In the words of ...

As autumn fast approaches, we do not fail to notice around us how nature is changing; giving up its treasure of leaves and once blooming flowers ceasing to produce such colourful carpets of gold and sparking gems in various shapes and sizes.  But it is time! Everything has to undergo change. “There is a given time for everything and time ...