The Benedictines of Gower, Missouri and Saint Thomas More

I just received the latest CD from the Benedictine nuns in Gower, Missouri, Martyrs at Ephesus, and then heard some amazing news about their growth and expansion--with a Saint Thomas More connection! 

Because two of the nuns are having problems renewing their visas, they have to leave the USA and have found a home in England, in the Birmingham Archdiocese, a former, now vacant convent in Colwich, England named St. Mary's. From the Spring Newsletter from Mother Cecilia, OSB:

Colwich Abbey was founded by Saint Thomas More’s great-great-granddaughter, with nuns once exiled from England during the Elizabethan persecution, and exiled back there during the French Revolution. As I write this, I will be traveling to England tomorrow to visit our Sisters, and to see about the possible purchase of Colwich Abbey as a place of expansion, especially for future foreign vocations to our community. The buildings will need some work, but are certainly liveable as they stand. What a grace it would be to save these beautiful buildings for their intended purpose and historical value. I will be bringing our Sister Katarina from Lithuania with me as a fourth member for our little English band. So we are indeed financially strapped at this time, and we humbly ask you to do whatsoever you can to help us with the final months of construction bills at Ava, as well as for our needs at our new locations. Please don’t forget to stream our music, which can carry on in the background throughout the day and night! Physical copies of our two latest recordings are now available, one in honor of the martyrs and the other in honor of Sister Wilhelmina.

That great-great-granddaughter of Saint Thomas More, I think, was Dame Bridget More, who was Dame Gertrude More's sister. They both lived and died in France, but founded the houses there from which the nuns who were exiled during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror came to England. The nuns who settled at Stanbrook Abbey wore the lay clothing the Blessed (to be canonized) Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne had been wearing before they had to wash them, so that the martyrs were sent to the guillotine wearing their habits! When St. Mary's in Colwich closed in 2020, the two remaining nuns went to Stanbrook.

Through the intercession of Saint Thomas More, may the Benedictines thrive and grow in Colwich, England! 

More about all the CDs from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, here.