After several busy days in London, we were all ready for a change of pace. Felixstowe, a peaceful seaside town, is a perfect fit. After eating breakfast at the hotel, we boarded our bus to Felixstowe. The ride took just over two hours, and we arrived at the Convent of Jesus and Mary around midday. There, we were welcomed by the women who have made this part of our journey possible—Carol, a lay member who helps manage the convent; Sister Helen, the Provincial Superior who oversees RJM communities in England, Lebanon, and Syria; and Sister Joan, the Superior of the convent. The girls were also treated to a light welcome snack of juice and ‘biscuits,’ which included familiar treats like Kit-Kats. 

After settling into their rooms, we had a lunch of chicken and chips. Shortly after, we set off to explore the town of Felixstowe. On their walk, the girls saw the sea and explored Felixstowe’s main street. They visited local shops, including record stores, bookstores, antique shops, and boutiques, and picked up a few souvenirs along the way.

To continue our afternoon, we walked to the nearby woodland where Sister Joan and Sister Helen met us with another snack of donuts and juice. The girls explored the woodland to collect flowers and leaves they will use for an art project tomorrow. After walking back from the woodland, we officially kicked off our retreat program: Finding God in a Leaf. The retreat focuses on recognizing God in all aspects of creation, even those as simple as a leaf. It also emphasizes care and stewardship of our natural environment. In order to reinforce this lesson, Sister Sheila–a talented artist and former art teacher–guided us through an art project using wooden leaves. The girls painted the leaves with the goal of reflecting the beauty and love of God’s creation.

After exploring their creativity, we had a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs. We ended our day with a candlelit service in the chapel. The service focused on humanity’s role as stewards of creation with readings from Genesis 1. The girls also had time to pray and reflect individually. All in all, it was a relaxing day that allowed the girls to see a side of England other than the bustling energy of London. We look forward to having students from St. Claudine’s join us tomorrow!