Outward from a Private Spirituality

We have our Central Region Regional Day at the Boars Hill Friary tomorrow.  It reminds me that I had to make a long journey in Carmel because in my first years I was only interested in my own spiritual development.  I was only interested in how my own OCDS group could help me.  I heard about Regional Days, but somehow I thought of them as being for other people who ‘liked that sort of thing’.  I have always distinguished between ‘being interested in spirituality/spiritual things’ and real spiritual hunger for God.  It was only after a good many years in Carmel that I was drawn into the wider Secular Community, when the person who had been my formator asked me if I would be ready to become the Regional Representative for the Central Region.  By that time I had for a while been learning to say ‘yes’ to God and my stubbornly selfish preoccupation with my own spiritual development was beginning to melt.  It was the beginning of a new era for me because the Regional Reps make up the National Council so that I was now meeting Seculars from all over the country.  I am truly grateful that my formator overlooked my weaknesses and caused me to be entrusted with a role which hugely enriched my life.  I am no longer Regional Rep, but that experience prepared me for other roles in Carmel.  Now I can see that my involvement with the wider world of Carmel - as well as making a contribution to the general work - has actually at the same time been hugely beneficial for my own spiritual development.    

Intercessions

RIP Chinaka, Jacqui

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Sophie – newborn having heart surgery; Sianna, young child in the post-operative phase

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

Illness:  Katy Keeling, Noreen

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

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

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly