VIDEO : Sister of Christ, who is your God ?
An ordinary day in May at St Thomas Priory, Epernon
Actually, the baker has already been and gone. There is a smell of fresh bread in the corridor and coffee as well. The early risers are coming down for breakfast: a pilgrim on his way to St James, a professional man doing temporary environmental work for a firm in the area, the Sisters of Christ, students here for a time of revision for exams, a catechist doing a silent, individually guided retreat.
A chaplain with his confirmation candidates arrived yesterday. They had asked the Sisters to give them some testimonies of the call of God. This morning they are coming to pray the Office of Laudes with the community. We, Sisters of Christ, pray with and for everyone who comes to the Priory to find God, tranquillity and rest. After Laudes with the community, breakfast for the confirmation candidates will be plentiful...
The employees’ work is taking shape: house work, cooking...for the good of all. At reception, a kind volunteer answers the telephone.
At break time, the young people disperse into the park, the students have a coffee after completing the first measured time of work. Then it’s the noise of plates: tables are being set: 45 here, 7 there, one person in silence, another 15 over there. During the meal, every dish of chips is emptied; “Thanks to the cooks.”
In the afternoon, we await the arrival of a group training in PRH (Personnalite, Relations Humaines....Personality, Human Relationships) who will stay for five days. In the park, the priests’ white albs stand out against the grass. It’s time to celebrate the sacrament of Forgiveness. Near the water feature, the wild geese teach their young how to swim. Tomorrow they will already be able to fly! It’s a little like the young people who will receive the sacrament of Confirmation.
A pilgrim who has not booked in has arrived at Reception. There isn’t an available room but we cannot refuse a pilgrim walking to Compostella. What can we do?
The Sisters and the spirituality team are already reflecting on the forthcoming weekend: a Jesuit who is a Scripture scholar is coming to talk about prophets. Twenty people are expected from the diocese and the Paris region. The Chaplaincy group leaves this evening. Tomorrow the workers will have to quickly clean the rooms.
Father Michael Bouaye celebrates the parish Mass here at 6.30 pm: thanksgiving in Christ for this day so rich in grace. The prayer intentions left by the students will be read at this Eucharistic celebration.
The young people asked us: “Why do you live here, you, Sisters of the community?”
“To say that God is Lord of this house, and of our lives. He lives here. And all others find shelter near Him.”
All this started 960 years ago when the Benedictine monks arrived in Epernon.
Michele Marchant,
Sister of Christ at St Thomas Priory.