Bishop William Kenney was the chief celebrant at a Holy Mass of Thanksgiving at Maryvale on September 8 for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Bridgettine Order by Blessed Mother Elisabeth Hesselblad, writes Józef Łopuszyński.
The order came to Old Oscott, Birmingham, in 1999 after the former director of Maryvale, Mgr Daniel McHugh, and the then Archbishop of Birmingham, Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville, asked Mother Tekla Famiglietti, the Mother Abbess, if a convent could be established at Maryvale.
Finance to support the establishment of the convent was provided by Blessed Pope John Paul II.
Current Maryvale director Mgr Paul Watson said: “It’s been tremendous to be celebrating with the Sisters. They make such a wonderful contribution to the whole work and mission here at Maryvale. We’re so thrilled to be sharing in this day with them.”
Mother Giacomina, Mother Superior, said that the day had been very peaceful. “We were a little bit busy, but a wonderful celebration we had,” she said.
Bishop Kenney has had a long association with the Bridgettines, having spent most of his life in in Sweden and having been an auxiliary bishop there for 19 years.
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