If you go down in the woods today be sure of a big surprise. St Beuno's part two.

The crucifix in the Jesuit cemetery.

The cemetery.
Our Lady of Lourdes in the wood.
Close up of Our Lady from the secret path.
View of the cottage I sayed in and some of the lawns and hills beyond.

The valley from the bottom of the main gardens, through the woods.

The springtime daffodils in the woods.

Stations of the Cross in the woods.

Fir trees in the wood.Path in the woods towards the cemetery.

St Beuno's is surrounded by the most beautiful Welsh countryside. From the grounds on a clear day the coastline from Rhyl to the Great Orme at Llandudno can be seen and Snowdon peeks out above the hills of the Clwyd valley. Denbigh on a hill dominated by its Castle is also sometimes visible. While, more locally, the square tower of St Asaph Cathedral can be seen. The local farmers specialise in sheep and cattle, which i saw from my bedroom window most days. The grounds surrounding the main house are beautiful, some very pleasantly manicured whilst other parts more rustic and natural. Each morning, after spiritual direction, I walked the Stations at the back of the main house then back up to the community cemetery to listen to the birds and sheep in the pasture. I would, as always bump into Our Lady of Lourdes as you see above. It was wonderful to imagine all those pious Jesuit seminarians praying to Our Lady in the woods up and down the two paths that lead to her. I would then venture deeper into the local woods, weather permitting (most days the sun seemed to shine) and back to the house for a wash and a hearty lunch. I hope you enjoy some of my snaps.

Ecclesiastes 3 v.1-8.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Signed: Chris McGuinness