Tribute to Julia Mourant

3 October 2024

The following is a transcript of the Sarum College Principal James Woodward’s tribute to Julia Mourant on 26 September 2024, as she has retired from her role as Programme Leader for Spiritual Direction programmes. Julia will continue to contribute to the spiritual direction course through the year.

. ———————————————-

We gather here this afternoon to express our gratitude for Julia and all that she has given to us in so many ways. Together, colleagues, former staff, students and others (not easily categorised) we wish her well for her retirement, or I should say a new and exciting phase of generativity.

Each of you will have your own reason to be thankful. There are some here who Julia has journeyed with, listened to, enabled and I have no doubt from time to time asked a question which has resulted in a glorious period of space and silence for those who she has encouraged to notice, to ponder and to go deeper.

Many more could have gathered here, such is the influence of the Sarum course in spiritual direction. Some three hundred or so ….. bring in performance-related pay, I hear you ask? Perhaps not yet …. For well over nine years students of all the colours of the rainbow (purple, red, green, magenta were some of the colours that identified cohorts) have been carefully guided through the hands of Julia and her team of enablers and teachers and listeners. Julia has been responsible for building a course which has a national and international reputation. She leaves an imprint and a legacy.

This course has been richly crafted, carefully co-created, delivered skilfully and often playfully. Always attentive to the individual and their gifts but never collusive, Julia has been steadfastly determined to ask individuals and their groups to go deeper into this fragile, unpredictable and sometimes painful journey of ours.

Julia has enabled this and much more. Several individuals and groups have found their way into 19 The Close for spiritual direction, pastoral supervision, group work or just to catch up with an old and trusted friend.

In the Centre for Formation in Ministry here Julia has played a significant part in the shape of our identity and practice. She has the admirable skill of cutting through the verbiage and pointing us often to the heart of the difficulty or opportunity. Her presence has helped us to see what we might have missed. I will not speak for colleagues but I’m rather glad that Julia wasn’t writing my end of term report! Unafraid of conflict, committed to another’s flourishing, asking the right questions of self, colleagues and others is part of her unique charism. All of this done with a disarming lightness of touch but drawing on the hinterland of her own journey.

There are some colleagues here who may be wondering what three adjectives beginning with J I might choose for Julia. It has become a little bit of a Woodward trademark at leaving do’s.

Julia is Judicious. She is blessed with a face and a disposition which does not easily let any cats out of the bag. But we know that she embodies a skilful attentiveness which notices and a wise ability to share that with others. She finds the right words to invite those she journeys with to look at the coordinates of the map differently and when necessary to chart a different route. In this judiciousness the agency for change is shared. From time to time I have seen people come into the college weighed down (of course I’m not a mind reader but you can’t tell sometimes by the way people walk down that long corridor towards her study) but also walk away better, lighter, more confident and equipped to face whatever might lie ahead. This judiciousness shared for empowerment and spiritual maturation is an extraordinary gift that has been shaped by a lifetime of experience as a mother, as a priest, as a teacher, as a beekeeper but also as an adoring and wonderful grandmother.

Julia, thank you for your judiciousness.

Lest I run the risk of idealising Julia. Let me remind you that there is a certain wickedness about her. What I mean is that Julia has a wonderful sense of humour, so Jesting is my second word for her. You will know the old adage, “Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they will never cease to be amused” – Julia’s good humour is grounded in her playfulness, her healthy grasp of the absurd – but above all I think, not taking herself that seriously. It is not an easy balance to get. Of course, if I may jest, it’s balanced out by the wagon wheel, the stained glass window exercise but above all etched into my memory those cohorts of students who have wandered around Salisbury at her direction. I have no idea what they are doing but I’m sure Julia does really…. I jest.

Julia Mourant

I want to end on a very serious note. Julia, we have spent a little bit of time in conversation over these years assisted by a small glass of rehydration tonic. What you have taught me and us is that if our faith means anything it must always include a commitment to justice under the calling out of hypocrisy, small-mindedness and prejudice. Julia the Just. That is my final word. You belong to a generation of women priests that have experienced prejudice and injustice which is still in some ways deeply embedded in some of our organised religion. What you bear witness to through some painful experiences is the necessity for this place, for all places of learning about religion and spirituality, to be committed to equality, to combat prejudice, to work for inclusivity where the whole wonderful mixture of human beings can be celebrated in all their diversity. But above all to us men – the absolute need for a careful attentiveness to our prejudices and limitations but above all towards women and your gifts.

There is more to say but I will end there. Julia, thank you and I ask you to raise your teacups and glasses to wish Julia a happy forward journey.

More about the Spiritual Direction Programme

Sarum Welcomes Dr Pollyanna Magne as Director of the Centre for Spiritual Direction