The Great Silence

The SPES students hadn’t planned to get involved with the postal strike…

Sorry to anyone who's been checking this blog hoping to hear something from the new students. We're nearly four weeks into term and we're finally ready to emerge from our silence.

From now on we'll be updating regularly!

There are seven students at the school this year. Six of them are shown in the photo above. From left to right: Anthony (England), Marcus (Germany), Allen (China), Jenny (USA), Mirela (Romania) and Teresa (England).

Edna, from Brazil, will finally be joining us on Tuesday. Our community has been very much incomplete without her, but after many prayers she has finally got her Visa! So the wait is almost over.

Please pray for her safe arrival and keep us all in your prayers during the exciting months ahead. And say hello in the comments box - so that we can pray for you too.

Opening Retreat

Happy Feast of the Little Way! The students have arrived, and are slowly settling into their new home, and new community. Mirela and Jenny arrived on Friday afternoon, and were greeted by Allen who arrived on 15th September from China. Teresa, Anthony and Marcus arrived on Saturday ... and we are just waiting for Edna to arrive! This year there is a student community of 7, from 6 different countries. All come from ranging backgrounds ... and you will get to know more about them and their lives as the year continues on. Today the students met Father Matt Blake, as well as two of their Spiritual Companions. Spiritual Companions are a married couple that spends time with a student and walks with them on their journey through the school year. They introduce them to married life and love, exposing them to another way of serving God through one's vocation. Father Matt Blake is the Chaplain of the School and leads the retreats for the students. He is the students' Spritual Director and also leads Spiritual Conferences with the students every fortnight. Father Matt began the 3-day silent retreat this afternoon with evening prayer and a meditation. Meditations and Spiritual Direction will continue in the coming days as the students open their hearts to God's plan for them this year. Please pray for them as they are in silence ... and thats always a mouth full to keep in!