Many of you contribute to the hamper, which we send every Christmas to the Carmelite Convent in Wetherby, West Yorkshire where SISTER PATRICIA MACKENZIE lives.

Sister Patricia was a pupil and member of staff at the Convent in Boscombe. In January we look forward to the interesting letter of thanks which we receive; thank you Sister Patricia, we always enjoy it so much.

Those who have contributed to the hamper receive a photocopy of the letter. I shall print some extracts from this year's letter. A few copies of the full letter will be at the reunion, if you wish to read it.

" Dear Everyone,
Our deepest thanks to you all for your generosity to us at Christmas in providing so much seasonal fare. The prelude to the arrival of the goodies was unusual and so we owe particular thanks to JEAN WALSH & her daughter-in-law JENNY (NEE JOHNSON).

The explanation was that the supermarket in Wetherby which usually supplies us was temporarily closed as they are rebuilding on a grander scale."

(The order had to be supplied by Tesco- On - Line Shopping, fortunately Jenny had the facilities to do the ordering. Inevitably there were some complications, with some of the items requiring a chilled compartment in the van not arriving; 'phone calls involving waiting in queues and then the wrong order being delivered! , Next Christmas Morrisons will be functioning again. (Editor)

"In fact very few items had not come, as we soon saw to our delight. ...

We must thank you for an abundance of lovely and, to us, unusual fare. By January we had hoped that our small infirmary extension would be completed by the dilatory builders but, alas, there was still much to be done. It was only in late March that two Sisters moved in. Now the whole wing is in full use and we are delighted with it.....

On May 1st we celebrated, with great joy, Sr. Marie's Golden Jubilee. We had 2 days of community celebration in which Sister's brother, her Carmelite sister (Prioress of Thicket, York) and local friends were able to share. We had to learn a Latin Jubilee Mass which she had chosen.

The Community then prepared a slide, music and poetry presentation on the theme of Creation: " And Cod saw that it was good"- reflecting Marie's own deep love of nature and indeed of all creation.

A long cherished wish came to fulfilment in York, Carmel's generous gift of a wood turning lathe, so Marie is busy now learning how to produce artistic wooden bowls and candlesticks from the endless supply of timber in our wood. I am badgering the County Library for books on wood-turning....

The vestment work begun last year has flourished and has led to a steady stream of orders. More wool from when the sheep are shorn is being spun. So far some woolly hats for outdoor workers have resulted!...

Our 2 older cats, which were 15 years old, both died peacefully. We needed to replace them because of the pest control work they did in the garden. Unexpectedly we had the offer of a pair of kittens, brothers, which had just been orphaned that day. They were less than 6 weeks old but able to take solid food. We christened them Ebony and Amber.....

There was little trouble from the badgers this year except for craters on the lawns....

During the year various groups have come to use our facilities, e.g. Salford University Students, the 2 Carmelite Secular Orders, Youth 2000, RCIA groups and the Methodist Lay Preachers, who asked to join us at Vespers and certainly boosted the singing. We are not involved ourselves in these meetings but are happy to offer hospitality, the use of the chapel etc.

One group I remember especially was the association of Blind Catholics who came to Mass with their chaplain. It was touching to watch each, assisted by a helper, going to Communion...Several Carmelite visitors came en route to meetings, etc.

One memorable event was when two Sisters from London went with some of us to York Minster to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the Nuns of the Secular Order becoming part of the Carmelite family. A great experience to have Mass celebrated in the ancient Minster. ....

In October we rejoiced in celebrating the Pope's Silver Jubilee and then his beatification of Mother Theresa of Calcutta. In 1970, just a year after our foundation here, Mother Theresa came to Wood Hall to speak to a gathering in our Chapel.

In those days we could only listen from behind a grille and wooden shutters! One result of her visit was the founding of the Yorkshire Co-Workers of Mother Theresa. On October 29th these Yorkshire Co-Workers came back to the scene so we celebrated Mass together in thanksgiving for her beatification. Two Sisters and a Brother from her Missionaries of Charity were present and after the Mass we heard about their work.

I was well aware of Jubilees among the Sisters of Christ, especially in September. I would have loved to be at Springhill again when Srs. MAY and MARGUERITE celebrated their Golden Jubilees. I was delighted when MARY BROOKS sent me an account of how she and CHRISTINE THACKRAY, MARGARET SIMPSON AND JANE O'BRIEN had travelled over to Springhill to bring good wishes and floral tributes. Mary sent me photos that Margaret had taken and e-mailed . They were much enlarged and captured all the beautiful colours: ..

Srs. May and Marguerite came out strikingly well, looking so happy and equipped with huge sun-hats on the terrace. More formerly they were seen inside, seated by one of the striking fireplaces with the gold and white flower decorations in front of them. I do feel sad that Sr. Marguerite had to leave Springhill in November after about 46 years there. Sittingbourne will have gained from her coming there.

I think many of you would have enjoyed our annual retreat, as we found it an outstanding one, preached by Fr. Paul Murray OP from the Angelicum in Rome. He is very widely read and just as widely travelled with a fund of stories about famous people - Mother Theresa was a great friend. Fr. Paul is a published poet too....

Some of you may know that I did not have a good year health wise. The spinal trouble is untreatable and I had to have my other hip replaced. In hospital I acquired one of the superbugs they seem to specialise in. Briefly my immune system has gone low since the June op. & many infections have resulted. However, I trust 2004 will be a better year and for all of you too. With renewed gratitude, love and prayers,

Sister Patricia."

We hope and pray that your health will improve when the warmer weather returns Sister Patricia. There is so much more of interest in the letter, unfortunately space prevents me from including it all.