Renovated Quarters

Taken on the drive home from Mass in Plymouth today. To give you a glimpse of the green countryside.

Dear Friends and Family,

Yesterday I moved into the renovated chaplain's quarters here at Lanherne. After a year of renovation work, and the past few months of living out of boxes in a bedsit--especially working out of boxes for my office: not the most efficient practice!--it is truly wonderful to be back in the chaplain's quarters.

The workers have done a tremendous job of preserving the historic building. For example, the floorboards in my room are apparently several hundred years old! Other parts of the building are much older. Most of their work is hardly visible as it involved repairing the roof supports, fixing windows, redoing the wiring and plumbing, removing more recent walls to go back to the original layout of some rooms (OK, that part is visible), redoing drainage and sewage, replacing the boilers, and heating system, etc. etc.

Below is the photo of the renovated chaplain's office and bedroom:

A truly beautiful space with the old window giving plenty of light.

They renovated a corridor to become a little library:

I've already begun filling the shelves with books...

It feels wonderful to be able to begin properly laying out office files, books, envelopes and stationary, different piles of "to do's" etc. etc. For those of you who have been waiting for a letter from me, I hope to finally be able to sort the letters properly and begin replying.

The space should work very well for prayer, study, work, and rest.

I also had the blessing of seeing our good bishop today, Bishop Mark O'Toole, at St. Edward's in Plymouth. He is conducting a parish visitation this weekend and spoke about future renovations and various other matters. It was a very encouraging visit. Among other things, I was struck by his sincerity, willingness to speak frankly, willingness to listen, and love for the Catholic Faith. May God protect him and guide him.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari