February Sewing Retreat: report

 Lucy writes: Our annual February Retreat took place between 13th and 15th February at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Boars Hill, Oxfordshire. Our chaplain, Fr Andrew Southwell, gave us a series of talks on holiness, with a particular focus on the spirituality and mission of St Clare, our heavenly patron.

We had many repairs to tackle, including making a new chasuble with the orphrey from an old one, patching holes in the lining of a gold Dalmatic, replacing the orphreys on a Cope, making a burse out of remnants of an old one, stitching lace protectors round the necklines of chasubles, and re-lining a maniple, among others.

Especially delightful was the presence of several children, who participated whole-heartedly in the vestment mending. Seeing young girls repairing a chasuble together, encouraging and helping one another, was a beautiful and touching sight. Their work of prayerful restoration extends beyond the vestments - these young ones are literally building the Church of Christ on earth with their own hands.

As well as daily Mass, we said the Rosary together each morning and sang Compline in the evenings. We also had Benediction on Saturday, when we were thrilled to see our own recently restored Pelican Cope in use.

The Retreats are increasingly popular, both here in the UK and overseas: we have welcomed retreatants from all over Europe, and the US. They attract a diverse crowd, including students (men and women), mothers, young working people and the retired. With the success of this initiative has come increased pressure on places; the waiting list is sometimes as long as the list of participants. Our November Retreat is already fully booked: dates for our February Retreat will be announced shortly.