| News from the Sisters at Slough |
| In August 2006, the Sisters leave Slough. Sr Elizabeth, Sr Mary, Sr M Stella, Sr Mary Helen, Sr Mary Bernard and Sr Michaela will be at Hyning Monastery : Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning Sr Mary Stephen, Sr Mary Lucy, Sr Catherine and Sr Maria will be members of the community at our new house in Stroud, together with Sr Elizabeth Mary, Sr Mary Philippa and Sr Frances of Hyning: Monastery of Our Lady and St Bernard More news about our new house in Stroud The following letter explains our decision to leave Slough : 5th January, 2004 Dear Friends We are writing to share with you an important decision that has been taken concerning the long-term future of the Community of Bernardine Cistercians in Slough. We are anxious that as many as possible of the people closely linked with our Community should receive news of this decision on Tuesday 6th January 2004. However, if by any chance you receive this letter after having heard the news from elsewhere, then we apologise. This letter is directed to our families and friends, similar letters are being sent to other groups and individuals. For several months now, the Slough Community, with all the Sisters of the Order, have been praying about the future of our Community in Slough. There have been several meetings at different levels and we have tried to discern what God wants of us in England at the beginning of this new millennium. We have come to the conclusion that we must prepare to leave Slough as we can no longer carry the responsibilities associated with two large schools. When our Sisters first arrived in England over a hundred years ago they started a school with very few pupils. Now we have nearly 900 in the Voluntary Aided Secondary School and 230 in the Independent St. Bernard’s Preparatory School. Our mission has always been to serve the Church through our monastic life with its emphasis on prayer and community; education has always been an integral part of that mission. Maintaining the balance between these three elements of our life has always been a priority for us and it has become increasingly difficult to do so. Both Schools have grown; education has developed, becoming more complex and demanding. At the same time vocations to our life have diminished. All these factors have contributed to our decision. The two schools are thriving, and much appreciated by the local Community. We have already spoken to the former Bishop of Northampton; he has accepted our decision and the Diocese is ready to work with us in order to transfer the trusteeship of St. Bernard’s Convent Grammar School from the Bernardine Order to the Northampton Diocese. The proportion of Catholic students in our Independent Preparatory School is now very low, and the future of the school is at present under discussion. It is obviously with great regret and sadness that we have made this decision. We intend to take all the time necessary to ensure that our withdrawal from Slough proceeds as smoothly as possible from all points of view. We also need time to discern the future of the Slough Community, and the Sisters will remain in Slough until at least August 2006. Although we feel sadness at moving on from all that has been accomplished in Slough, this decision is also a source of hope and confidence for us. We hope that letting go of these large responsibilities will enable us to focus more on our monastic life, and enable us to bear witness to the Gospel in a different way. We ask you to pray for us as we seek to discern our future and as we undertake all the various administrative and practical steps involved in our eventual withdrawal from Slough. With all best wishes, Yours sincerely, Sr Josephine Mary (Prioress General), Sr Mary Helen (Prioress of Slough) and all the Sisters of Slough |
© Bernardine Cistercians 2006
