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 The Open Gate was an idea born in the mountains of western North
Carolina in 2000 during our community's regional
retreat. We had no idea where the Holy Spirit would lead us but knew we had to listen, pray and trust. The
Idea was further strengthened by our work in the Pastoral Ministries program in Orlando, our life in community as Brothers
and Sisters of Charity plus the sage wisdom of many of our brothers and sisters.
The fall of 2003
was a watershed in our search for what could be! Our journey led us to The Holy Island of Lindesfarne, England to
the Isle of Iona in Scotland and to Glendalough Ireland as we continued the discernment process of what a retreat
house and place of hospitality might look like. In humble awe of our holy and peaceful surroundings,
we prayed that such a place could be found here in Florida.
The land was literally revealed to
us in March of 2004. From the beginning, our plans were designed to maximize a care for the earth, using environmentally
responsible construction and energy efficicent operation. Phase one of our construction plan which consists of the main
centr and chapel was completed in late January 2007. We are hoping for phase two to be funded and completed by
the fall of 2011. The farm itself is also designed to sustain a small commercial wine vineyard operation.
The
center is named in honor of the The Open Gate retreat house on Holy Island, Lindesfarne which is part of the Community of
Saint Aidan and Hilda. The founder, moderator and our host is the well-known author on Celtic Spirituality,
Rev. Ray Simpson. Our sojourn to Iona, the home of Saint Columba, and to Glendalough, the home of Saint Kevin, reaffirmed
what we had already come to realize at Holy Island. They are all truly thin places where "Heaven and
Earth meet."
We can only humbly thank Ray Simpson, Sister Jean at the Catholic retreat House on Iona
and Sisters Kathleen and Mary in Glendalough at Saint Kevin's Hermitage for their kindness, warmth, sharing
of history, and last but certainly not least their graced and blessed gift of unbounded hospitality. The Open Gate Retreat
Center hopes in some way to live up to the gifts passed on from all of them.
We seek to weave the Celtic Spirituality we encountered into the charism of
hospitality here at The Open Gate through an integrated relationship with the Franciscan and
Benedictine traditions that form a large part of our identity as Brothers and Sisters of Charity. With the help of The
Holy Trinity, God the Father, God The Son, God the Holy Spirit may we humbly attempt this mission to serve.
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THE RULE "The Rule of the Brothers and Sisters is
the cross of our Lord Jesus Chirst. We should be troubled about nothing except this all encompassing rule.
All that matters is that one be created anew."
We are a unique community within the Roman
Catholic church, in that we are one community with various, integrated expressions. The Monastic Expression lives at
our Motherhouse, the Little Portion Hermitage in Berryville, Arkansas. It is composed of celibate brothers and
sisters, singles, couples and married families. The Domestic Expression lives out the vision of the community with a
monastic heart in their own homes and through their particular vocation in life. Both expressions live by one Rule
and Constitution, and all professed members embrace the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience according
to their state of life.
The Open Gate is a personal
calling and Apostolic mission that has been blessed by our community. Carole and I discerned in
prayer, discussion and listening to advice that was full of wisdom from within and outside the community over
a period of four years. Our state of life as permanently professed members in the Brothers and Sisters of Charity has
had a profound influence on this desire to serve and be a place of hospitality, quiet, and gathering for Catholic parishes, communities and
Ecumenical groups. Our Chapel All Saints Oratory is also blessed by our Bishop, Victor Galeone of the Diocese of Saint
Augustine Florida who has entrusted to us the gift of the Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament.
For
further information on the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, please visit www.littleportion.org
May God bless you and keep you all of your days,
Hugh (Br Aidan Columba) and Carole (Sr Mary Frances), BSCD
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