These
questions which follow are not necessarily what we think are the most
important aspects of our life but they are the questions sometimes
asked by visitors.
1.
How do you keep enclosure?
2.
Do you still have contact with relatives and friends?
3.
How do you know what is going on in the outside world?
4.
Do you have your liturgy in English?
5.
How long is it before you make a total commitment?
6.
What are the vows?
7.
Do you grow your own fruit and vegetables?
8.
Where do you all come from? What made you join the
community?
1.
How do you keep enclosure?
We
have kept Enclosure since the founding of our community in 1621. We
have not had a grille at Woodchester in our guest rooms or our Church
since this house was founded in 1860. We know our limits and we accept
them. We only go out for necessary reasons: to visit doctors or dentists;
to visit a sick member of the community who is hospitalized; to visit
a parent who is unable to visit us, and for important religious meetings
as allowed in our Constitutions.
2.
Do you have contact with relatives and friends?
Our
immediate family members may visit us once a month for a few hours
if they live locally or once a year for about a week (or two shorter
visits) if they live farther away.Close
friends may visit less frequently and we keep in contact by letter
as often as is compatible with our life of prayer and seclusion.
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3.
How do you know what is going on in the outside world?
We
take a daily newspaper which is put out for any sister who wishes
to learn of important national or international events. We also take
Catholic papers and magazines. We make prayer for the world a very
important part or our apostolate and we receive many requests for
prayer.
4.
Do you have your liturgy in English?
Our
liturgy has been celebrated in English since Vatican II and the introduction
of the vernacular. For the Divine Office we use simple chant tones
which have been adapted from the Gregorian Chant.
5.
How long is it before you make a total commitment?
After
a decision to try our way of life a woman becomes a postulant for
a year to get accustomed to the work and routine. She can then decide
to go forward as a novice for two years where she deepens her relationship
both with the Lord and her sisters in community. If she wishes to
persevere she then takes her vows for three years. At the end of the
three years she can renew her vows for life. The only way to see if
this way of life is for you is to come and see.
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6.
What are the vows?
The
vows are the Evangelical Councils of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.
We also observe Enclosure and stipulated times of silence to promote
an atmosphere of prayer.
7.
Do you grow your own fruit and vegetables?
Work
in the garden brings us very close to God. We have a large one and
we do what we can. There are fruit trees and bushes, flowers and some
vegetables as well as wild patches for butterflies and birds, rabbits
and deer - a Franciscan garden!
8.
Where do you all come from?
Each
of us come from a varied background both materially and educationally
from different parts of the country. The Holy Spirit guides people
to where He knows they will best fit in but He needs you to be open
and to listen to His promptings.
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