The Carmelite monastery at Wood Hall, near Wetherby, has been there since the late 1960s. During the 1970s and 1980s the nuns were a regular source of inspiration to members of the J&P Commission and their supporters.
Also, in those pre-internet days, the Commission made good use of the printing services that they offered in order to make some money to support themselves. During the 1980s, especially, they printed a number of booklets produced by working parties of the Commission. Although old, many of them are sadly just as relevant today as when they were written.
They also received many visitors from guest speakers that the Commission organised events around – such as Dom Helder Camara (archbishop of Recife in Brazil) and the newscaster Jon Snow.
Contact has been more with individuals in recent years, though we did hold a Day of Reflection there a few years ago to better understand how Carmelite spirituality related to working for Justice and Peace. You always knew that a visit to them would be an occasion of many laughs as well as challenging questions.
In the last few years, as the sisters became older, the community made the decision to close the monastery. Now the last 4 nuns left are ready to move. Due to differing needs, the members of the community are being dispersed to different Carmelite locations across the country. The monastery and grounds will be sold, although no final decisions have been taken to date.
So many members and supporters of the Commission became good friends with the sisters that it was fitting that they got together to have a farewell mass and wish them well for the future.
We celebrated mass in their chapel, with Mgr Peter Rosser (who was a Commission member for many years and also chaplain to the sisters for a period) presiding. Afterwards, we joined them in their refectory for lunch. After lunch we even had a film show from the early 70’s – filmed by the parents of one of the nuns – showing them at their work using the printing press. It was a hoot!
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