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Dorothy Jones
My wonderful new experience
Since entering the programme of formation to become an Associate of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, two big highlights of my year have been the Associate Day and the Associate's Retreat. This year, I was told it would not be a preached retreat but an individually guided one. Oh, what would that be like I wondered, never having been on one before!
Came the day and there we were, gathering for tea, renewing acquaintance and meeting new people. One of the sisters gave an introduction explaining how the weekend would work. Three sisters would each be guiding three of us with a preliminary session that evening, then sessions on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. These discussions would be based on given texts of Scripture which we would have studied and could last up to half an hour if we so wished. I couldn't imagine myself being able to talk for half an hour, having occasionally, in the past, during a day of recollection been invited to consider a scene from the Gospel such as the return of the prodigal son, then giving comments. Fortunately, then I was in a large group and was able to evade having to speak since I had nothing to add.
This is different! Having read through my given text at intervals, I turned up at my allotted time to see my Sister guide. She very gently and skilfully, led me through the text, drawing me out - What was the meaning of that? - How was it relevant today? - How did it apply to my life? I noticed Sister glance up at the clock. Surely we had not been half an hour yet? Yes, it was time for the next retreatant and off I went with a new text - this time a Psalm. By Sunday afternoon, I had been shown how to expand and deepen my prayer life using Scripture. Would I like to go on an individually guided retreat again? Yes, definitely!
Going home the next day, the train was delayed, due to overhead cables being down - but it didn't matter - I was in my own little bubble, thanking God for the privilege of being in Ladywell for that weekend, and for what He had given me through the Sisters there.
Kim Pemberton
I became associated with the Franciscan order, when I was twenty six years of age, and living rough in Paris. Through the grace of God I became a fellow worker with a first order friar, who was working in Paris.
How our coming together happened is a long story, and can be viewed in my tale of the “journey of a soul”. Enough to say, God led me through a wilderness, in which I tried, without success, to disobey him, for a period of six years, after leaving an Irish Seminary.
When I now look back, after seventy seven years of life, I see plainly that I never
did anything that God, in his wisdom and love, had not intended me to do.
He has walked beside me, every step of my journey. All the attitudes that he used with me I now try to use for the good of my soul. His love; patience; care; support; warmth; and so much more, has guided me to where I now am, living my life in the manner that I believe he wishes me to do, making myself available to and for others.
After the age of twenty six, I went back to school, or more correctly, universities (the plural use of university being correct, as I attended a number of different ones.) Having not succeeded in my earlier endeavours to become a priest, God had led me along a path of working with young people, whose lives were on the margins of society. This needed much academic study and, over a period of nearly eight years I obtained the necessary qualifications, whilst working with disadvantaged young people, using every spare moment I had.
I have never given up the celibacy that I practised when training to be a priest but, due to Gods grace, I have adopted two boys and fostered five others. I can truthfully say that I have had more children than is the lot of most people, because the number I have related to is myriad.
As I have already mentioned, I have been a Franciscan since I was twenty six, fifty one years so far. My desire to visit Assisi, to walk where Francis and Clara walked, brought me into contact with the FMDM’s. They were organising a pilgrimage to Assisi, led by Sister Hazel Buckley. There was humour in our relationship from the outset. At the airport, Sister Hazel had trouble locating a pilgrim called Kim, because, logically, she was looking for a female. What macho man would be called Kim? Well I was so called, and so started what was to become a very close, spiritual, relationship, between myself and the FMDM sisters.
My fellow pilgrims were rather surprised when I told the group that I had come to Assisi to have a row with Saint Francis. However, that was my major reason for being there. I had prayed for some inner strength from Francis and he seemed to be refusing it, so Mohammed went to the mountain. The ‘mountain’ threw me to my knees, on the steep steps outside the church at Greccio. Francis is good at reminding us to be humble. I have made many trips to Assisi, always receiving instruction there, always being given new graces, always being accompanied by brothers and sisters of the Franciscan order.
I still manage to come to Ladywell, usually twice a year, despite my being given the gift of a cancer, a cancer through which I receive so much grace.
I am no longer able to go to Assisi, but Assisi is always here, deep inside me.
Being an Associate of the FMDM’s has given me much joy. I have become friends there with so many very special and spiritual people. My connection helps me to visualise myself carrying the child Jesus within me, until through my pregnancy I can bring him forth, to all of the world.
Much grace do I receive through Ladywell and much time and space for contemplation and meditation. May it continue so, until my Lord calls me home, and even there, I will still be surrounded by FMDM’s and all the Holy Franciscan Order.
Kim Pemberton.