The celebrations marking the 5th centenary of the birth of the Carmelite nun Saint Teresa of Avila closed in Britain with a day of festivities held at Aylesford Priory in Kent on 17th October 2015. The historic Aylesford Priory was first home to a Carmelite community over 250 years before Saint Teresa was born.

The day began with a Gathering Liturgy in the Relic Chapel. Pilgrims were welcomed by Fr. Antony Lester, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the British Province of Carmelites. He spoke about the Teresa 500 celebrations being a wonderful collaborative effort of the various branches of the Carmelite Family.

The Gathering Liturgy was led by the Prior of Aylesford, Fr. Damian Cassidy, O.Carm., and combined Scripture readings with extracts from the writings of Saint Teresa, interspersed with music. A Discalced Carmelite nun, Sr. Jo Robson from Ware Carmel, gave a reflection on Saint Teresa’s legacy.
The Gathering Liturgy was followed by a presentation given by Professor Peter Tyler of St. Mary’s University Twickenham on the subject “Teresa of Avila: Daughter of Fire”.

After lunch a question and answer session on Saint Teresa was held with a panel consisting of: Fr. John Sullivan, O.C.D. (Washington Province of Discalced Carmelites); Professor Peter Tyler (St. Mary’s University Twickenham); Sr. Jo Robson, O.C.D. (Ware Carmel); Bishop Terence Drainey (Diocese of Middlesbrough); and Sheila Grimwood (Aylesford Pastoral Team).

The day concluded with a celebration of Mass at which the presider and preacher was Rt. Rev. Terence Drainey, Bishop of Middlesbrough, who has had a strong devotion to Saint Teresa since his time as a seminarian, and particularly since serving in Spain as Spiritual Director at the English College in Valladolid. He spoke of Saint Teresa with great personal affection.

Bishop Terry also said that coming to Aylesford was fulfilling a life’s ambition; as an eleven-year old boy he had written to the shrine’s restorer, Fr. Malachy Lynch, enquiring about the Carmelite Third Order.