Current Needs

As with any group attempting to do the work of God there are a number of ongoing needs - practical and financial, and participatory. All these need to be backed by the offering of prayer by members of the Association, so that the work begun at Sancti Angeli can come to fruition. Below are a list of this years needs and objectives.

Donations of Money

Three students need their expenses paying to attend the Highland Summer School this year. Finance is also being sought to allow a third world nun to follow the Online icon course.

Currently, at least two women are hoping to arrange long term stays to study their vocation at the skete: this involves finding the money for three months support in the general necessities of adequate food, heat and other expenses which arise.

At the moment, it is virtually impossible to continue printing cards because we need to do short runs of a number of designs, whereas to make it cost effective to send out printing is about £1,000 each design. Also, there is an increasing demand for teaching packs to back up the icon courses and other east-west studies which needs quality equipment, but - again - only short runs. The most efficient way is a good printer at the skete. A local person with business skills is willing help get this side of things running to a professional level, if its start up costs can be met.

Studying chant at the skete

Donations of Time & Expertise

There is an increasing amount of work involved in administration - sending out leaflets and association news, making sure new enquiries for membership get answered promptly. This is something that a retired person with business or secretarial skills could possibly help with and which could be done, via the computer from any part of the U.K or even from Europe.

Researching web content, especially where news of relevance to Associates is concerned, is important. It would be helpful if some Associates (& Craftsmen!) keep an eye out for items of news and people doing relevant studies and craftwork which should be included. Perhaps you would feel able to keep an eye on pages which interest you e.g. recent news/ encyclicals from the Vatican or Constantinople, craftspeople and profiles in Church Crafts pages, courses or pilgrimages.

Donations of Work, as a Highland working holiday Much ongoing work is needed in re-painting various areas and putting up shelves in the library. Also the garden is large and can be overwhelming in late spring/early summer. If you feel you would like a visit to the Highlands, spent partly doing these kind of jobs, partly walking (or fishing) in the Highlands, and sharing Divine Office and meals at the skete, with use of the religious library during your stay, you would be very welcome. You would need to stay in local accommodation (or the parish flat if available), but the skete can provide meals.

With the aim of setting up a charity looming and quite complex accounting to balance with a big workload and small income, although we know ‘the just shall live by faith’ some volunteer help by professionals who also have experience in legal and fund-raising issues, especially those with experience of working with or in charities would be greatly appreciated.

Summer help in the garden