'They've taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they've put him'

Having got the keys - and endured a 3-hour run-through of the inventory - on Wednesday, I've been away for a few days, and came back yesterday evening. Two of the students, Shaun and Emily, are moving in today. My wife, Jo, is arriving in a few days' time. Other members of the community will, hopefully, be joining us over the next few weeks.

Praying lauds alone this morning was somewhat strange. As you can just about make out from the photo in the last post, our chapel is by no means the most inspiring room in the House - aesthetically-speaking, that is (more on this later). The Presentation Sisters who recently moved out were fortunate enough to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved here. This has rightly been removed - though when and by whom I'm not sure - and so we're left now with an empty tabernacle. Before long, of course, we hope to have the Blessed Sacrament residing in it once again. We'll be starting the canonical procedure fairly soon (i.e., once we've worked out exactly what we need to do!), and praying for its success. For the time being, though, we're left to pray before 'the empty tomb'. It's a little unsettling, but thinking theologically, by no means inappropriate.

More later!

Stephen