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June 2024
Sr Pat of the Salesian Sisters up the road came to supper with us . Here she is with Jean and Helen Mary.
Our long serving Trustee and for recent years, the Chair of the Trustees, Nicholas Bell stepped down at the end of his long tenure, following his father and grandfather. Thank you so much, Nicholas!
Another of our Companions from overseas, the Reverend Arnold Klukas from USA , made a flying visit to Oxford. Here he is with Jean Raphael in the guest house.
John Hammock, our other Companion from the USA was back with us this month and it was lovely to have him join us for lunch one Sunday.
Bishop Richard, our Visitor, came to celebrate the Eucharist for us with a small group of invited guests and to mark the last time we will be in the Upton Chapel here together. It was a wonderful occasion ! Here is Frances, along with Joyce Roachford, Manager of St John’s Home and Lesley, her long serving Administration colleague.
And here is Sr Margaret Anne , along with Guy Scotece, the Director of the Porch and Jane Long, CEO of Helen and Douglas House.
April & May 2024
April saw Rachel leaving the Porch after great service to the members and also a great team worker. We wish her well in her new post. The Porch continues to be a blessing to many of the vulnerably housed and homeless around our streets in Oxford.
Towards the end of April, our parish had Bishop Steven, our Diocesan Bishop come to celebrate at the main Sunday Eucharist. As he knew that we are planning to be on the move, he wanted to be with us one more time and kindly paid tribute to the Society’s many years in Oxford. One of our Companions, Virginia and Sr Margaret Anne read the lessons, Sr Frances led the intercessions and I was asked to be Sub Deacon which was a great privilege. After the service, we all enjoyed a buffet lunch at the back of church. All the Sisters were at the service despite there not being a photo of Helen Mary!
In May, we were delighted once again to be invited by our good friend, Dr Andrew Allen, the Chaplain at Exeter College to join them for the Ascension Day Eucharist on the 9th May. It is such a beautiful Chapel and it was uplifting to be there once again. We have donated a cope to the College Chapel and Andrew is wearing it in the photo!
Helen Mary’s brother Arthur came down to stay for a few days in May and the weather was good to us while he was here. Hence the photos outside the guest house!
Kieran Gallagher has joined the Porch team and here he is in a photo with me. I am sure that he will be making a great contribution to the team there.
March 2024
The Society of All Saints Sisters of the Poor was founded in 1851 and has had a presence in Oxford since 1879.
The site in Oxford became the Mother house in 1976.
In 1982, the Sisters founded Helen House, a hospice for children with life-shortening conditions, followed by Douglas House in 2004 for young adults.
Earlier this year, Helen and Douglas House acquired from ASSP the freehold of the land they stand on , thereby securing the presence of the hospices.
In 1986, the Porch drop-in centre for homeless and vulnerably housed people moved from a café within the property of the Convent to a house across the road and operates independently.
Established in 1873,St John’s Home was run by the Sisters for many years. It continues to operate under independent management as St John’s Care Home.
The site comprises a number of substantial buildings which need to be managed.
The Sisters, after consultation with the Trustees, have now reluctantly taken the decision to vacate the site during 2024. Their intention is to move back to London where the Community was originally founded and where they can continue their ministry , without the burden of managing such a large property- based estate.
They do so in the knowledge that they leave behind in East Oxford an important legacy comprising thriving and relevant institutions which will continue to support the local community long after they have moved away.
January & February 2024
Here is Frances Dominica on a cold morning in January. We are waiting for the Mass to start in St Alban’s church on a Friday morning and she is the first to arrive!
We were invited to the Friary for Evening Prayer and supper one evening. Here is Helen Mary enjoying a chat with Fr Andrew OFM.
We were delighted to see Br James SSJE when he visited Oxford recently. He is the Superior of SSJE in America and loves to visit Oxford where the community started.
Our Companion, John Hammock, who lives in America, was over for a visit and here he is enjoying supper with Frances Dominica and Helen Mary. We love to have him come to the Office in our Chapel when he is here.
Our good friend, Janet from church , enjoying Sunday lunch with us. Frances Dominica and Helen Mary yet again got themselves in the photo!
It was good to visit Margaret in Worthing where she lives – very near the sea! Here is David, our Chaplain with her on a dry but very cold day by the beach.
All Saints Sisters of the Poor
15A Magdalen Road
Oxford
OX4 1RW UK
T: +44 (0)1865 249127
E: Vocational enquiries: leaderassp@socallss.co.uk
E: Hospitality enquiries: guestsister@socallss.co.uk
W: www.allsaintssistersofthepoor.org.uk