Presentation
of the Gifts / Preparation of the Altar:
The bringing up of the Eucharistic gifts will be preceded
by various symbols
of the presence of the Bernardine Sisters in Slough.
First a copy of the
Rule of St Benedict will be presented. This Rule is, for
the Sisters, an interpretation of the Gospel and one of
the guiding forces of their daily life, inspiring them to
prefer nothing whatever to the love of Christ. Together
with thousands of monks and nuns throughout the world,
they endeavour to live in a school of the Lord's service.
Education has always
been an integral part of the Sisters' life in Slough. A
student from St Bernard's Preparatory School will bring
up the St Bernard's badge with its motto "God is my
shelter". A student from St Bernard's Convent School
will bring up a book of mementoes prepared by all the
students for the Sisters.
The parish of the
Holy Family, Langley, was founded from St Bernard's over
50 years ago, and it is in this thriving parish that the
Sisters have lived their local mission, grateful for the
support of the priests and people. The banner of Holy
Family Parish will be brought forward.
The Bernardine Order
has monasteries throughout the world. An Oblate of the
Community will bring forward an African drum symbolising
the international nature of the Order.
The Sisters will be
moving to Stroud and Hyning. The icon of St Bernard
represents the link between past and future. The Sisters
of the Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning and of the new
Monastery of Our Lady and St Bernard in Stroud look back
to the past with thanksgiving, and to the future with
hope.
Finally we bring the
Eucharistic gifts, which will become for us the bread of
life and the wine of our joy.
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