  Abba Joseph's Fingers A new carving by Christopher Lewis has been given to the Priory chapel by Margaret Harcus in memory of her late husband, Fr Reg Harcus. He was a student in the early 1960s of the Society of the Sacred Mission's theological college at Kelham. When Christopher Lewis was asked to undertake the commission, his thoughts turned to the Desert Fathers. He chose a saying of Joseph of Panephysis, part of which has been carved onto the base of the sculpture: "Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, 'Abba, as far as I can, say my little office; I fast a little; I pray and meditate; I live in peace as far as I can; I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?' Then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards the heavens. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, 'If you will, you can become all flame'" [1] Various ways of depicting the saying were considered, settling eventually on what may be seen as representing one of Abba Joseph's hands. The base of the carving is a slab of copper beech, which grew on a farm near Slaidburn in Lancashire. The fingers, or flames, are cherry from Riding Mill churchyard in the Tyne Valley. Christopher Lewis taught himself to work with wood when he was a missionary in Borneo in the early 1970s. It was not until 30 years later, when he was a Canon Residentiary of Bradford Cathedral, that he began to take carving more seriously. He was invited to contribute some of his carvings to exhibitions by local artists in the Cathedral. He now lives in Northumberland, and in retirement is able to give more time both to wood carving and to offering retreats and quiet days using his carvings. In 2009 he published "Cleave the Wood and Here I Am - Meditations With Carvings and Music", available through the Priory. [1] Saying 7 of Joseph of Panephysis in Benedicta Ward's "The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection" |
Booking: Wednesday, March 17: Tending the Garden Within: Discovering Beauty and Life in the Unexpected and Hidden Places of Our Lives The day is run by Joan Golightly, who is a member of the team at St Antony's and is involved in the ministry of group and individual faith accompaniment. Saturday, March 20: My Song is Love Unknown Violin music and meditations on the words of this much-loved hymn. The day is run by Tom Gregory-Smith, the composer of the CD "Love Unknown"; and by Paul Golightly, Director of St Antony's Priory, who will lead the meditations to accompany the music. Saturday, March 27: MBTI Basic run by Angela Griffiths Saturday, April 10: A Morning of Silent Meditation led by Paul Golightly at the Priory. [See here for times and more details ...] including Crafts at the Priory led by Heather Keogh and Lynne Burke. Friday,
April 16 to Sunday, April 18: Type
Talk Saturday, April 24: Feathers on the Breath of God Hildegard of Bingen and Julian of Norwich are the focus of this quiet day. Participants are invited to open their hearts to the beauty and encouragement of the life and teachings of these 12th and 14th century visionaries and theologians. They bring discovery of creative ways of growing into a deeper communion and closer union with God. Denise Treissman lives in Norfolk. She encountered Dame Julian when she was introduced to her book "Revelations of Divine Love" by the Reverend Robert Llewellyn, then Chaplain at the Julian Church in Norwich. Both have had a profound influence on her spiritual path. Lynn Nausner, from Durham, was first introduced to Hildegard of Bingen during her years in Germany. She has more recently been drawn into studying Hildegarde's life and spirituality. Saturday, May 1: Glimpses of the Carmelite Way The quiet day is a gentle introduction to the major themes of Carmelite spirituality by Mark Davis, a Catholic layperson who has worked with the Carmelite family for the past seven years. He is the author of a book with the same title as the quiet day. He is Principal Consultant for the Shoreline Consultancy, an ecumenical organisation devoted to supporting and developing Christian communities. Mark is also a member of the Spirituality Committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales. Saturday, May 8: A Morning of Silent Meditation led by Paul Golightly at the Priory. [See here for times and more details ...] Saturday, May 15: Exploring the Quaker Way The day serves as an introduction to the ethos and spirituality of the Quakers. This is a spirituality of the mystical tradition - a focus on silent waiting and listening as a foundation for daily values and actions. Michael Wright has been influenced by Quaker spirituality since his student days in Durham in 1957 - even though he was ordained in the Church of England in 1962. Quaker spirituality undergirded his Anglican ministry for 37 years before he laid his priesthood aside and became a Quaker in 2000. He is Clerk of Trustees of the Teesdale and Cleveland Area Meeting and has written on Quaker matters in "The Guardian" newspaper. Friday
May 21 to Sunday, May 23: An
Introduction to Bio-spiritual Focusing
The time is dedicated to listening to God in and through the body. Sister
Felicity and Sister Margaret are Ursuline sisters who have
been working with the bio-spiritual process for several years. They have
both received training in accompanying others and have been teaching the
process to groups in England and Europe for some time. N.B.
Attendance is limited to 10 persons, as all participants will
receive individual attention over the weekend. Suggested
donation: £80.00 Saturday, June 5: Dancing Our Prayers This is a day of sacred dance as "The language that unites body, mind and soul". No previous dance experience is necessary. Judy Turner and Janette Blakemore both regularly lead circle dance at the Priory. Saturday, June 12: A Morning of Silent Meditation led by Paul Golightly at the Priory. [See here for times and more details ...] including Tai Chi with Terry Doyle. Saturday, July 10: A Morning of Silent Meditation led by Paul Golightly at the Priory. [See here for times and more details ...]
Saturday, September 4: MBTI and Spirituality A day run by Prof Chris Cook Saturday, September 11: A Morning of Silent Meditation led by Paul Golightly at the Priory. [See here for times and more details ...] including Tai Chi with Terry Doyle. Saturday, September 25: Spirituality - A Passing Fashion? The day explores what spirituality has to offer to a world searching for meaning. Peter Verity is a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Lancaster. Since September, 2008, he has been spiritual director and lecturer at Ushaw College, Durham. Before that he spent time as a parish priest in Blackpool, Preston and Cockermouth and 16 years working in London for the Catholic Bishops Conference and as Director of the Catholic Media Office. He has trained in Ignatian spirituality at Heythrop College in London and at St Beuno's Spirituality Centre in North Wales. Saturday, October 9: A Morning of Silent Meditation led by Paul Golightly at the Priory. [See here for times and more details ...] Friday, October 15 to Sunday, October 17: Nine Doorways to Grace Introducing the Enneagram as a map for the personal spiritual journey. The Enneagram is a profound psychological and spiritual tool - a development of modern psychology which has its roots in spiritual wisdom from many traditions. It focuses on a fundamental element of all spiritual paths - self-knowledge. In this practical workshop we will: [1] Discover each Type's gifts, healing attitudes and specific transformation process; [2] learn how to observe and let go of our more troublesome habits and reactions; and [3] understand how to use this system for continued spiritual growth. A powerful mix of presentation, discussion, group exercises, meditations, interactive panels, spiritual teachings and music aims to give a rich, multi-dimensional experience of each personality type. Janet Blakemore has been working with the Enneagram since 1998 and has studied with many of the leading Enneagram teachers, including Sandra Maitri and Helen Palmer. She is a certified teacher of The Enneagram Institute as well a an ordained Interfaith Minister and Spiritual Counsellor. Saturday, October 30: Music and Meditation A day of quiet and meditation led by Deborah Thorne (cello), Denise Treissman (flute) and Julie Darling (harp). Friday, November 5 to Sunday, November 7: An Introduction to Bio-spiritual Focusing The time is dedicated to listening to God in and through the body. Sister Felicity and Sister Margaret are Ursuline sisters who have been working with the bio-spiritual process for several years. They have both received training in accompanying others and have been teaching the process to groups in England and Europe for some time. N.B. Attendance is limited to 10 persons, as all participants will receive individual attention over the weekend. Suggested donation: £80.00 Saturday, November 13: A Morning of Silent Meditation led by Paul Golightly at the Priory. [See here for times and more details ...] Saturday, November 27: Do We Really Believe in Christmas? Christians believe in God - but do we truly believe that the God of all creation actually became a human child 2 000 years ago? And are our lives transformed by the implications of that astounding fact? This day offers reflections for deepening our human joy during the weeks of Advent. Daniel O'Leary is a Catholic priest whose ministry is now in retreat work, and in spiritual writing which is enjoyed by many through his books a addresses. Saturday, December 4: Carvings, Music and Poetry for the Advent Season The quiet day is run by Christopher Lewis who taught himself to work with wood while a missionary to Borneo in the early 1970s. It was not until 30 years later, when he was Canon Residentiary of Bradford Cathedral, that he began to take what he did more seriously. He was invited to contribute some of his carvings to exhibitions by local artists in the Cathedral. He now lives in Northumberland, and in retirement is able to give more time to wood carving and to offering retreats and quiet days using his carving. In 2009 he published "Cleave the Wood and Here I Am: Meditations on Carving and Music" (available through St Antony's Priory). His carving "Abba Joseph's Finger" is a focus for prayer in the Priory Chapel. |