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Common Life
For the College, being together, praying together, eating together, studying together and relaxing together are all important parts of the journey. No one part can stand alone. Yet worship is undeniably the heart of everything we are and do. We are normally in church together for between one and two hours every day. The daily round of Mattins and Evensong, the Eucharist and the 20 minutes of silent prayer are of first importance. Students are also able to join the brothers of the Community for the Midday Office and Compline. Of special significance for the College of the Resurrection is the annual observance of Holy Week, which is shared with guests. There is also an annual weekend retreat.
Prayer, liturgical and private, bears fruit in lives that are open to God and open to other people. The real test of such a shared life is our ability to get on with others. There will always be some people we enjoy being with, and others we do not find easy. A common life is a constant invitation to be more generous to others, to attend to one another in order that we may love "as Christ loves us". Rotas for gardening and church cleaning, singing and serving often seem burdensome, but they are important ways of expressing our commitment to one another. Led on by the hope of the Resurrection, we aspire to grow together in wisdom, holiness and pastoral effectiveness.
Practicalities
All resident students are expected to be present at Mattins and Evensong every day. On most days the College says Mattins and celebrates the Eucharist in the Lower Church and joins the Community of the Resurrection to sing Evensong. Saturday is the normal day off each week when there are no obligations. On Sundays, students are expected to join the Community for the Solemn Eucharist. Later in the morning, final-year students normally go to the parish to which they are attached as part of their pastoral formation.
Single students live in College, married students in nearby houses owned by the College. Most single-student study bedrooms have their own bathroom and two are suitable for disabled persons. The majority of these rooms also have telephones and connections to the college computer network. The married-student houses range in size from two to four bedrooms and none are more than a ten minute walk from the College.