A baronial retreat

Yesterday we visited Buckden Towers, near Huntingdon, to evaluate its suitability for an OCDS Retreat.  The buildings are magnificent, I would call them baronial, the interiors are delightfully antique.  This is in many ways perfect for one of our retreats, it is close to the A1 and the A14 (which runs East to West and connects the Midlands with East Anglia), and rail connections with London are excellent.  Believe it or not, there are actually three chapels!  There are beautiful views out on the grounds from upstairs – particularly beautiful in this Autumn season with the trees in their different colours.  The main drawback is that most of the rooms are not ensuite, there are shared bathrooms.  I myself have become so accustomed to ensuite living that I do not relish this idea, but a little voice says to me that one should be prepared to put up occasionally with things that in earlier generations were taken for granted. – and particularly on a retreat, which surely does have a penitential dimension.  It remains to be seen whether we do actually organise a retreat there - but I do like the idea.  My thanks to Karen, a very committed Secular who came with me to help appraise the premises and offered useful input.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Theresa K, Fr Jon B, Catherine

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – in hospital

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Lucia – Overwhelmed by weariness

 Mark – brain infection

Joy Smith – in hospital

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

 RIP Martin Gilham, Sue Burton, little Matthew (six years old, died of cancer)