Another amazing Angelus moment!

Courtyard Cafe at Tabor

My Angelus window at Tabor

Prayers from our Hearts Assembly Script

Reception at Tabor

Yesterday I made a trip that I should have made long ago. Tabor is a retreat centre just outside of Preston that I have wondered about for a few years now. I know a several people who go there quite a bit and lots of others who have been once or twice. I got in touch with Fr Frank Gallagher, the Director, a while ago to ask whether he would like some Persecuted but never Forgotten booklets. He replied positively, so when I sent the booklets I asked if he would consider hosting a Prayer Vigil for Religious Freedom. We agreed that I should head to Tabor for a bit of a chat.

Tabor has been constructed out various ranges of farm buildings that the Carmelites purchased twelve years ago. The facility is wonderful—calm and tranquil—with lots of amenities from chapels to function rooms to café space to guest rooms. Fr Frank was brilliant—really helpful and supportive; I left with my mind buzzing (never a good sign!) with lots of ideas about ways we might work together in future. I joined their e-mailing list and will now receive their schedule of events twice a year. Our Prayer Vigil at Tabor will take place on Monday 2 March 2015 between 7 and 10pm—I am looking forward to it already!

Some interesting smaller things came out of the meeting as well. Fr Frank says that most of the PbnF booklets are already gone. I’ll look into sending some more info when I get back from holiday the week after next. I also mentioned that, with my academic hat on, I would be happy to help out with a talk or day-long course on medieval art if that appealed; I would waive any fees in return for a donation to ACN—everyone’s a winner! My long-suffering husband, who is a professor of medieval history, is happy to do the same; he has even written a book about the Carmelite Order, so he may be in higher demand than yours truly. He told me that he would also be happy to ‘sing for an ACN supper,’ as it were—so maybe we can use our lengthy liberal arts educations to help persecuted Christians. (I’ve just remembered that when our children were little, they used to tell people that their Mummy and Daddy were ‘useless’ doctors because we were doctors, but we couldn’t make anyone feel any better; a sad, but true indictment of our PhDs. Children don’t half know how to cut straight to the heart of the matter!)

Just as I was packing up to leave, my Angelus alarm went off—what a surprise! I was alone in the Chapel facing a beautiful stained glass window with sunlight pouring through it. It was a lovely place to stop for a few minutes and pray. I loved Tabor, and that made me feel that Tabor might just love me, too!

Btw: we are now up to ELEVEN confirmed Prayer Vigils for Religious Freedom, with at least another five in the pipeline. I’ve got a very busy few months ahead of me…

Thanks for reading!  Caroline