Invitation to retreats at Boarbank Hall

Sister Margaret Atkins writes: This year's residential programme got off to a varied start with our three May events. Crafts & Arts, a weekend for people to bring and share their crafts and handiworks, included a visit to the Quaker Tapestry in Kendal, a fascinating shared project which tells the history of the Society of Friends. (The café there is also well worth a visit.)

Two Wings & Some Prayers took us birdwatching to Hay Bridge, Leighton Moss and Hodbarrow, near Millom, as well as spending time in and around Boarbank. Dr Margaret Phillips was our chief bird guide and shared the talks with Sr Margaret. Themes for the latter included 'Birdsong for Beginners', 'Birds in Music' and 'Birds in the Bible'.

Despite the dry weather, which had some bird lying low, we reached our usual target of 100 species for the week, after a debate on the last evening over whether a racing pigeon counted! Fortunately a real wild stock dove called early the next morning to enable to hit the century without cheating!

Finally, Sr Margaret was joined by John Paul de Quay of the Ecological Conversion Group for a week of Celebrating Creation. Our theme was 'The Joy of Limits'. Talks included 'Art and the Power of Limits', 'Respecting God's Structures', 'Being Created and the Incarnation' and 'What is Enough?'

Our guest speaker, Jane Pendlenton inspired us with her work with schoolchildren and nature. The documentary Demain provided further food for thought. We also had a day out at a local bee reserve (many thanks to Julia and Martin). As usual all our events included the opportunity to join the Sisters for Mass and sung daily prayer, as well as time for socialising and creative activities.

Sr Margaret invites you to join us for our summer residential weeks:

There are still places available to learn Latin through the hymns to Our Lady (Our Lady in Latin, 18th-20th/21st July), explore the background to Pope Leo (Thinking Faith, 26th July-2nd August, for working age Catholics), and study St Augustine's Confessions (18th-22nd August). Celebrating Creation will be repeated on 4th-10th October.

See a video about Boarbank Hall:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TesGza4M0ez_pP5CpuhWBJQ-tBsycVQS/view?usp=sharing

For the full programme and more details, see: https://boarbankhall.org.uk/whats-on/.

For more information, please contact Sr Margaret on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk.