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Dec 16th, 2017
Sisters joined residents from St John’s Home, representatives from the Porch and parishioners from Greyfriars church to enjoy the carols sung by John Brennan’s Greyfriars Singers on Saturday evening in the Friars Chapel. It was a lovely occasion and thanks to John Brennan, Choir Director, and to the Friars for their hospitality in the Chapel and for mince pies and mulled wine in the Refectory afterwards!
Oct 18th, 2017
Sr Jane was blessed into office as Community Leader yesterday, 18th October , St Luke’s day and also the Foundation day of the Society of All Saints.
The ceremony took place within the Eucharist in St Mary and St John Church, Cowley Road , the parish in which the community live and worship.
Our Chaplain, Canon David Lawson was the celebrant, assisted by the parish priest, Fr Phil Ritchie and Canon Robert Wright.
We were supported by both members of the parish and also our Companions, some of whom had come quite some distance!
Thanks be to God for a joyful and hopeful day in our community life.
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Oct 2nd, 2017
The Sisters are delighted to announce that Sr Jane has been elected as Community Leader.
She will be blessed into Office by our Chaplain, Canon David Lawson on St Luke’s day, which is also our Foundation Day, 18th October and will take place in St Mary and St John Parish Church in Cowley Road.
We are immensely grateful to Sr Jean Raphael who has been our Community Leader for the last seven years.
September 29, 2017
Sisters celebrated Michaelmas on Friday 29th and were joined by our Chaplain, Canon David Lawson, our Parish Priest, Fr Phil Ritchie and our Companion Bunty Hinchliffe.
Here we all are after the Eucharist in the Upton Chapel enjoying a festive lunch.
September 27, 2017
Sr Mary Philip SPB, sister from the Society of the Precious Blood at Burnham Abbey, near Maidenhead, who is having some holiday in Oxford, visited us today 27th September.
It was good to get to know here over lunch in our Conservatory and then to take her for a walk around the grounds, pointing out all that goes on here on this site. Sister Mary Philip is a keen gardener and one of the pictures show her and Jean discussing finer points of horticulture!
September 23, 2017
We were very pleased to have the Reverend Dr Megan Daffern, the chaplain to Jesus College, Oxford, with us this week to celebrate Harvest in our Upton Chapel.
Here she is with Sr Helen Mary in our Conservatory after the Eucharist having lunch with us.
September 11, 2017
Our Companion Hazel Harrison and her friend Shirley visited us last week. Hazel lives in Pocklington, near York and is a Friend of York Minster who had arranged a trip to Oxfordshire visiting churches and places of interest.
We were delighted to see them both. Our Companion Eliana Sestini, who lives in Italy, was staying with us in the guest house that week and so another happy ‘Companion’ link up!
August 31, 2017
Sisters had their usual conference days away at Stanton House during the last week in August. It is a time we spend, usually with our Chaplain, looking at our life together, mission , vision.
It really beneficial to 'be' somewhere else and away from the usual day to day needs in order that we can see the bigger picture.
In between times, we enjoyed some lovely meals and the country setting, particularly the sheep in the field next to the house!
August 26, 2017
Jane went to Greenbelt on the Saturday of the Bank Holiday weekend with Srs Margaret Theresa and Catherine, from Fairacres, and Madeleine, a young American woman who was staying with them.
The weather was glorious this year and we were glad that the Anglican communities tent was not facing the sun!
Greenbelt takes place in Northamptonshire each August and attracts all ages and denominations.
August 20, 2017
We sisters were delighted to host the Society of St John the Evangelist brothers when they made a return visit to Oxford to conclude their anniversary tour in the UK.
Brothers James Koester, David Allen and Jonathan Maury stayed with us and here we are celebrating on the night before their return to the United States. Brother James preached at St Mary and St John earlier on the Sunday morning. SSJE was founded in Oxford in 1866 in our parish in Cowley by Richard Meux Benson , and a branch house was first established in the US IN Boston in 1870.
August 2, 2017
On the 2nd August, the Sisters were invited to the Life Professions of three Friars who were amongst the first of the Franciscans to come and live here on our site in 2014.
They are pictured here, in Greyfriars Church, Iffley where the ceremony took place, with their Custos, Fr Peter Damien.
There was much joy as we shared such a special day with the Friars, their families and the congregation.
July 30, 2017
Frances and Jane were delighted to be invited to the Ordination to the Diaconate of Friars Gerard Mary and Benedict at Blackfriars on Sunday, the 30th July.
This is the last before one step to being ordained Priest and it was a joyful occasion, shared with three Dominicans, in whose Chapel the ordination took place.
July 15, 2017
A damp start to the annual St John’s Home fete today, Saturday, 15th July. It meant the residents didn’t sing outside as usual, but invited guests into the dining room to hear them,
The catering team cooked a great BBQ and the children enjoyed the bouncy castle.
Lots of happy winners of the raffle and at the bottle stall and it was good to see the Porch Preserves selling well!
July 2, 2017
Sisters joined the rest of Oxford on Carnival Day, July 2nd, in celebrating the diversity of communities that live in and around our city. The Cowley Road Carnival takes place just a few minutes’ walk from our garden. Our parish church, St Mary and St John, housed the Discovery Zone and the Old Curiosity Shop, where Age UK volunteers were making tea and cake for carnival goers, while the Zone had all sorts of workshops including international song and dance opportunities. The weather was superb and everybody seemed to be having a great afternoon out!
June 29, 2017
The Oxford Annual Faith Walk took place on the 29th June. It began at the Synagogue in Jericho and different faith leaders, including the Bishop of Oxford, The Rt Rev Stephen Croft, were there to pray and lead us on our way. A cheerful band of police officers accompanied us and it seemed that a larger group of people had gathered this year to show solidarity in the light of the recent terrorist events. Srs Jane and Jean joined various members of our parish to make the walk, which finished at the Mosque in Manzil Way, where the Muslim community were offering supper to us all. We were delighted to hear that the organizing committee were going to give part of the donations given at the end of the walk to The Porch.
February 20, 2017
Our Sister died on Tuesday 31st January after a long illness. She was 77 years old. She was an Oblate of our community for a number of years before making Profession as a Sister in 1981 and is seen below right as we remember her in healthier times, enjoying a joke with another Sister.
We are immensely grateful for the loving care that the staff gave her in St John’s Home during the past three years. The funeral will be on the 24th February.
May she rest in peace and rise with Christ in glory.
January 16, 2017
All Saints Sisters (ASSP) are pleased to announce the transfer of St John’s to new owners Accurocare Ltd. –an associated company in Ensemble Healthcare Group whom we appointed as operational managers in 2014. Whilst a big change for ASSP following over 140 years of unbroken residential care and respite, it builds on Sisters’ achievements and the new management have consolidated and sustained our ethos whilst operating in a challenging financial and regulatory environment. During the last two years we have worked together to ensure that our historic building meets all the demands made of a modern care home with substantial new investment. This has included installing a brand new fire safety system and plans that will soon create an extended reception area in the Oak Hall for families and visitors.
Under the direction of Matthew Nutt, Accurocare are specialists in domiciliary care in Hertfordshire and are now extending this community care approach to provide a seamless service to those needing care. Our agreement provides assurance for the future of the home under caring professional managers but also the resources necessary to maintain the listed buildings in good condition.
Our committed care and staff teams, working with Pat Dillon and Joyce Roachford, have continued to provide the high quality of care that continues to keep St John’s high on the list of those looking for a home from home. Residents, families and friends have got to know the new managers in the last two years and we are assured that this approach and quality of care will continue for many years to come. For further information contact Matthew Nutt 01865 247725 www.stjohnshome.org.uk
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