(gospel music playing)
(narrator) The Convent of the Sacred Heart.
Home to a devout sisterhood of Catholic nuns.
We pray for four to five hours a day.
(narrator) They're dedicated to the salvation of others.
I want to be a saint, that's my goal.
(narrator) With one eye on the modern world...
Personally I've never taken a selfie.
(narrator) They're now opening their doors for the first time ever.
‐Oh, my goodness. ‐(Sister Michaela) Wow.
(narrator) ...to five very modern young women.
To transform the world legless is really not a good idea.
(narrator) Hard partying, selfie obsessed,
they represent a generation in danger of losing their way.
But are they happy?
Tyla what are you doing? Like, what are you actually doing?
(Gabbi) I feel like my self worth comes from Instagram.
(Rebecca) I was like daddy's little girl.
Yeah, I'd love it to be how it used to be.
But they're looking for happiness aren't they?
(narrator) Over the next month they'll confront their lifestyles.
(Paige) Oh, my God.
(narrator) In the one place they never thought they'd find themselves.
A convent.
Are you actually going to turn me into a nun?
I'm in a convent.
This is hell.
(indistinct chatter)
(narrator) It's the beginning of the third week at the Sacred Heart Convent in Norfolk.
I'm a good mood this morning. I think it's because the sun's come out.
Oh, yeah.
(narrator) For the last 14 days the sisters have devoted their time
to saving five rebellious girls.
(Sister Francis) They're eating us out of house and home Sister Thomas More.
I know. I know. (laughs)
(narrator) And they look virtually unrecognizable.
When they arrived they were flashing more than was appropriate.
(Sister Thomas More) I wouldn't want to have them
wandering round the convent looking like that.
(narrator) Now they're a vision of modesty.
I know. Like look what they've done to us.
(laughing)
(narrator) They've submitted to the nuns' daily schedule.
‐(alarm beeping) ‐The alarm went off this morning and it was horrendous.
I've barely ever been in a church in my life.
Monday morning, who gets up and cleans. It's ridiculous.
(narrator) But at times keeping the girls on track has been a battle.
‐Do not get rude. ‐You're being insensitive.
Who is she talking to.
Come with me, come with me.
Brilliant, absolute class.
(narrator) And the girls have had a spectacular fall from grace.
Can I have a bottle of rosé.
(laughing)
(narrator) But as they shed their bad habits...
tomorrow then, no make‐up.
(narrator) ...they're starting to turn a corner.
(both laugh)
No we're good, no bad feelings, done.
I was daddy's little girl. Like I hope he knows
that everything I write down, like I mean.
(narrator) But just as the girls embrace their new order,
the nuns are ramping up their lessons of enlightenment.
They've learnt a lot. They've learnt about forgiveness.
They've learnt about tolerance with one another.
They've learnt a lot about their true identity
and they are now ready to offer something of themselves to other people.
(narrator) So for the third week of missions
they're leaving the convent and have no idea where they're heading.
(upbeat music playing)
(groans)
I've packed all my nun appropriate clothes.
No fur coats, no dresses, no heels
but I don't honestly think I'm going to be worried about my appearance.
I don't think sisters are meant to spread their legs this wide, to be honest.
I don't know what's going to happen next week.
(laughs) I want to know.
(Paige) See the unicorn was obviously essential.
I think a spa would be amazing. I'm hoping that's where we're going.
Being put on a farm...
Going to the city, going out clubbing and having to try and stay like this.
(calm music playing)
(narrator) Instead, the sisters have reached out to three very different orders
who've agreed to open their doors to our wayward youngsters.
Our Sacred Heart Sisters can only hope that the girls don't stray
and will learn some valuable life lessons.
Okay, this is the moment that you have been waiting for
when we tell you what your next mission is going to be.
And it is a mission.
Remember you're on this spiritual journey.
You've learnt lots of things and now you're going to put those into practice
and have the opportunity to help other people.
So you're going to go to some other sisters
who do different kinds of work in the local community
and you're going to work with them.
There will be things that you might find hard
or you might find difficult or you might find repulsive.
So psyche yourself up, you know, for this mission.
You know we want to really hear what you have done to make a difference, really.
(soft music playing)
Whoo!
By sisters thanks you for having us.
(indistinct chatter)
(Rebecca) By sisters! Bye!
(cheering and laughing)
‐(Rebecca) You better have some wicked tunes on taxi driver. ‐(Paige) Yes, please.
(upbeat music playing)
(narrator) With the girls on the road a forgotten quality descends on the convent .
Tranquility.
(Sister Francis) I don't know, sister.
It seems to me like they've been here for years.
(Sister Thomas More) I'm actually going to miss them.
(laughs) I never thought I would say that.
(all laugh)
(Sister Thomas More) They're not the same as when they came.
Oh, definitely not.
(soft music playing)
(Rebecca) Before I came here I wasn't happy in myself
and I like, coming here has made me like see things in myself I never did before like.
I actually do have a heart somewhere in there.
It's kind of told us to take us that wall down slightly, you know,
let people in and, you know, it's okay to cry about stuff and talk about things
because I never would. I would just bottle it all up.
(Paige) I think we've kind of learnt a lot from this experience,
kind of within ourselves.
So I kind of want to give something back to the community.
(Sister Francis) They're definitely walking out as more confident people.
They just need to be themselves.
It's just trying to keep positive and keep on the track
that the sisters have tried to teach us.
I just hope that... I really hope that I don't crumble in front of anyone.
Like in front of any of the people that are trying to help.
I just hope that don't happen.
(narrator) For the first mission of the week the girls are heading to Canterbury.
The spiritual capital of England.
And home to the Montebre Franciscan convent.
Four sisters and a visiting priest hailing from a vibrant mix of cultures.
But unlike the Secret Heart nuns they dedicate their days
to working outside the convent helping those in need.
(Terry) One and a half kilograms of peeled onions, please.
(Sister Clare) Our gift is to be among the poor and to work with the poor.
So we would work with the people who were marginalized and disadvantaged in society and...
(narrator) Today it means the nuns are volunteering in a local homeless shelter
and Sister Clare wants to put the girls straight to work.
I think to give of yourself is fulfilling as a human being.
To give whatever you can.
I hope the girls will find that they have something inside them
to give that they can share with people who are in need.
(narrator) With no clue what to expect in the shelter,
the girls are apprehensive about what lies ahead.
I am feeling like a little bit on edge.
I feel a bit uncomfortable.
‐I've got like, uh‐‐ ‐Oh, yeah, I feel like...
When you think of homeless people, I know it's really judgmental,
but it's kind of the people who are on the streets and things like that
and, you know, like they've...
You know, maybe you see drug addicts and things like that so...
You know you do feel a bit apprehensive.
(calm music playing)
(man) Morning, hello.
(Sister Clare) Hello, hello. Welcome, hi.
(narrator) The Sisters of Swaffham have sent the girls on a mission of self‐sacrifice.
They'll be looking after the homeless.
They've got to be well prepared and be strong.
I think they need to know about service to others and looking toward the wider community.
‐Would you like to come over here? ‐Yeah, sure.
(narrator) Privileged youth is about to come face to face with crippling poverty.
The girls are joining Franciscan nuns working at Catching Lives.
A day center that supports around 50 homeless people.
For people to be able to get off the streets
first of all their basic needs have to be met.
They need food inside them, they need shelter.
They need somewhere to wash, they need clothing and this center provides that first step.
(upbeat music playing)
(narrator) Sister Clare wastes no time getting her five new volunteers
to muck in with laundry duty.
My mum normally does my washing for me.
So what usually happens at home is I throw my dirty washing downstairs
and then a day later it magically appears clean on my bed.
We're going to do some washing.
(narrator) In the absence of a magic staircase
the shelter's manager, Terry, gives them the dirty truth.
These are our two washing machines.
The issue that we have here.
Occasionally you might get a client who having a shower
decides they need to go to the loo.
‐You're having a laugh. ‐(laughs)
(Terry) Sorry but we have had on occasion shaken one out
and feces has dropped out of the towel.
So all it is is you just pull one towel out at a time and you just shake it out.
Now does anybody want to shake some towels out?
No.
I need some gloves, I'll give it a go.
I don't personally feel like I want to get involved
but I will definitely watch Gabbi do it with pleasure.
(Gabbi) I'm really nervous now.
(Terry) There's nothing to be nervous of, it's just a towel.
‐That's all it is. ‐Just a towel.
‐Just pull it out and then... ‐(laughs)
Just put it out and give it a shake.
‐I'm scared. ‐See, nothing there. That's it. Done.
‐That was easy. ‐Yeah.
(Tyla) Wait until you get a shit towel.
You're very, very unlikely to find anything. That's it.
There's nothing in there, that's fine.
Oh, I just saw something. (laughs)
(sister) What?
I just saw like a little speck of something.
‐(Tyla) Stop touching your face. ‐(Paige) Stop touching your face, Gabbi.
It's just dirt, that's all it is.
‐(Sarah) I've got your hair. ‐(Terry) Thank you.
‐(girls laughing) ‐(sister) That's it.
There you go, brilliant, thank you very much.
‐(Gabbi) You're welcome. ‐No, really you done so well.
I'm really proud of you, Gab.
(narrator) Between five girls they've moved three towels.
It's a far cry from the missionary work ethic.
It's fine. It was quite entertaining.
(Sister Francis) They'll find lots of things difficult.
It's just not another holiday. (laughs) Volunteering is hard work.
(narrator) But there's plenty of chores to redeem themselves with.
Gabbi and Rebecca have opted for socializing.
Go to where you're going to shoot but don't obviously touch it yet.
Yeah.
Yes.
(narrator) Chest bumps aside it's all part of voluntary work.
We're not just in a convent praying and praying.
We come out to meet some of the people.
Try to give them hope, try to be there for them.
(narrator) In the kitchen the other girls are working on food prep.
(Sarah) When I woke up this morning this is not what I pictured.
I had acrylic nails on. I've had them taken off
which I think is really beneficial for me now
because I wouldn't have been able to have done anything in the kitchen.
(Sister Patricia) Have you made a curry before?
I always have it planned and then by the time I get I home
‐I get too lazy so I just use a tin. ‐Okay.
So is it free to come here?
If you've got a place to live you have to pay for lunch, ££1.50.
But you can come and have breakfast, cup of tea.
Oh, that's nice.
(man 3) Yeah, and you come in here, you meet people.
‐You play pool. ‐(Tyla) Socialize.
‐(man 3) We meet people like you and the sisters. ‐Yeah. (laughs)
‐(man 3) You've got a lovely accent. ‐(Tyla) Thank you.
‐Would you like a piece of toast? ‐Yeah, cheers mate.
Nice that they're all here together like a little community
and one of them said, "I come here because with my friends and stuff like that,"
so I think that's really nice so they can all kind of support each other but...
I just know that there's like, there's so many people as well
that probably can't like don't come to these sorts of places.
No one should be homeless, no one should not have a home.
‐What's your name? ‐Don't have a name.
‐You don't have a name? ‐No, because you're all government,
it's government name, isn't it? I'm a person, you're a person.
No offence in it but your name is government.
Um, I don't really know how to respond to it type of thing but he looks so young.
Where are his parents, where are his family like?
It's awful to think what situations people have got in to get themselves here.
(narrator) Back home designer queen Tyla loves to splash the cash.
Now the penny's dropped.
Going into that homeless shelter and seeing that there's people, bless them,
that can't even afford to buy food let alone go out and spend ££500 on a handbag.
It just made me feel like a shallow bitch, to be fair.
Is that enough? There you go, yeah, let us know what you think.
(man 6) Alright, thanks.
(narrator) At the pool table, Rebecca is also getting a dose of reality.
‐Basically... depression. ‐Oh, right, okay.
Depression hit me for six...
Uh, and I was really down in the dumps with it and I didn't pay my bills, basically.
‐I was able to look after myself but not with the bills itself. ‐Yeah.
And so that basically got me kicked out.
My hair cost ££300 and with that money they could have...
You know, they could get a B&B for a few nights,
you know, maybe a week if it's a cheap B&B.
They could get food, you know, clothes.
Anything. It's ridiculous.
(narrator) One guy who knows the difference ££300 could make is Terry.
Well, I slept rough for five years during the 1990s.
Like, how did you cope with being on the streets like how...
(Terry) I was quite solitary. I didn't trust other people.
Where did you kind of find yourself sleeping as well.
What was kind of like your usual...
For nine months I lived in a squat in Wimbledon,
um, which was an interesting one.
Because I was living with four intravenous heroin users.
So for the nine months I lived there I never took my shoes off.
Because if I wanted to go to the loo in the middle of the night
I didn't want to step on a syringe.
I can't get my head round this.
‐I don't really know what to say. ‐(Terry) It is what it is.
You're surrounded by volunteers.
People who spend a little bit of time trying to make a difference and that's all you can do.
It's really... it's made me feel a bit emotional.
Oh, God.
I just feel sorry for them. This is real life.
This is... actually happening to people.
I feel like kind of in the convent as much as I loved it
we were kind of in a bit of a bubble of religion and...
kind of loving god and sharing the love between us all in the convent
but this is... this is the real world and this happens.
So, yeah, it's just kind of... Yeah, hit me a bit today.
(narrator) Facing real world problems was part of Sister Francis's plan for the girls.
You know to be good and... to influence other people for good.
Got it. (laughs) Yeah. Where am I going with it?
(narrator) As the girls finish up,
Sister Patricia is happy with her new helpers.
I will say it's a success.
(Gabbi) Yes.
Yeah. (laughs)
(narrator) Tyla wants to carry on the good work.
Like all bullshit aside when I go back home I would love to do something like this.
Like, you know... Oh, have you got it?
This is details of St George's Crypt.
Yeah, St George's Crypt, yeah. I know where that is.
Okay, that's their phone number and their email address.
And do they do things like this like we can cook and things for them?
Yeah, they do and they will be able to find you something suitable.
Oh, thank you so much. Thank you so much.
Okay, you're very welcome.
(Tyla) So I asked the guy for a volunteer place in Leeds
when I go back home, yeah, I'm happy with that definitely.
(upbeat music playing)
(narrator) Back at Swaffham, Sister Michaela and Renata
are taking full advantage of the girls absence.
And indulging in a little R&R.
(Sister Michaela) Oh, wow.
I find it is just something that happens all day long really.
Oh, my guilty pleasure is dancing.
More) I like doing crossword puzzles, actually.
Sometimes I scream to get everything out of me.
To be a nun doesn't mean to be like that.
It means to be joyful and to bring that joy to other people as well.
(narrator) The group will be staying with the nuns for the full Franciscan experience.
The girls will have found it quite difficult to go and visit the homeless.
That is a hard thing, uh, to get your head round
but they will also see that the Franciscans have a really joyful life.
Something smells nice.
(narrator) They're in for a treat.
The multi‐cultured sisters are cooking up a feast.
‐(Tyla) Is that plantain? ‐(sister) Plantain.
‐Do you like it? ‐Yeah.
(all singing)
It was like a holiday camp. It was amazing
and there was just positive vibes there.
(applause)
Yeah.
(Tyla) Thank you, sisters.
This is good hearty food.
(Sarah) We met on the day that we started at the other convent.
So we were sort of all thrown in at the deep end. We were like hi.
(narrator) It's a lively meal but not a patch on what's to come after dinner.
The Franciscans can really enjoy themselves and they can celebrate.
They don't need to have drink. They can be themselves.
(singing in foreign language)
(Sister Patricia) Most African countries we dance a lot.
We derive so much joy in dancing.
It's not just one way, this way, no.
You shake your body, shake it very well.
You bend down very well. You kind of even jump up.
You can do anything.
(narrator) Club hostess Sarah is used to hitting the dance floor.
But only when she's hit the bottle.
We didn't really know how to dance.
We didn't want to be too inappropriate.
Next you know one of them just got on the floor and just starts twerking, proper going for it.
(all cheering and clapping)
(narrator) The nuns show the girls how it's possible to twerk without being tanked up.
(Sarah) Yeah, honestly they've got the moves.
Yeah it was like being on a night out I suppose, just a sober one.
(all laughing)
(narrator) Mission one is drawing to an end.
(Tyla) If I'd have been told "Oh, Tyla, you're going into convent for two weeks
and then you're going to go to another convent' I'd have been like, pfft..
But I'm so glad that I have. I'm so, so glad that I have.
I've definitely learnt a few things already and I've just got that little bit further to go.
It's just exhausting. It's tiring, very tiring, definitely.
‐(Tyla) Night girlies, good night. ‐(girls) Night night.
‐(Tyla) See you in the morning. ‐(Sarah) Sleep tight.
(girls) Night.
(tranquil music playing)
(narrator) In Swaffham, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart are attending Mass.
In their world, silent prayer and contemplation is a spiritual thing.
(Sister Francis) Why do we have silence?
That is so that we can meet god...
we can have that inner peace.
We can have that tranquility of life which is so important to everyone.
(narrator) Sister Francis wants our girls to dial down the volume
and tune into an inner voice.
They haven't yet managed to control the loudness of the world.
Bye. (laughs)
(Sister Francis) They haven't been taught how to be still and how to be quiet.
‐Box of chocolates for the journey. ‐Paige.
(narrator) So she's immersing them in another world.
One they may never have imagined.
A great deal of our day is passed in silence and reflection.
(narrator) She's asked the Poor Clares to take them in.
A strict order, unaccustomed to strangers or noise.
(Poor Clare 1) It's a bit like going into a library where you're expected to keep silence
because people are concentrating on what they're doing.
(narrator) These 15 nuns rarely leave the monastery walls.
Their mission: to save the world through prayer.
They live a frugal lifestyle.
I would describe the monastery as basic.
We try to keep it as basic as possible.
The less distractions the better.
(alarm beeping)
(Tyla) Oh, my God, what is doing?
‐(Poor Clare 3) Hello. ‐(girls) Hi.
Yes, so just follow me.
This is our parlor.
So would you like to take a seat?
(Gabbi) Yeah.
(Tyla) It was like a courtroom or something.
There was like all these... this wooden thing in between us and the sisters.
Which was very confusing and then they all kind of came in one by one.
(girls) Hello.
‐(Poor Clare 1) You're all very welcome. ‐(girls) Thank you.
And it were like The Brady Bunch were walking in.
I just didn't even know what was going on.
There was like... all of them were at least 70.
‐Only women in this‐‐ ‐(Sarah) You're Poor Clares?
We're Poor Clares, yes.
We try to live a very simple, uncomplicated life.
That's the poor bit.
But basically during the day we cut out like chitter chatter
and we try to live a silent life.
Prayer is very important and we go to the church seven times every day
‐and once during the night. ‐(Sarah) Really?
What time in the night do you get up to prayer?
‐We get up around... just before 12. ‐No.
(all laughing)
I hope you'll find peace in your own lives
and go away with the happiness in your heart.
‐Thank you, sisters. ‐Thank you.
(Poor Clare 1) Our pleasure.
Like I'm not being funny.
Like this is a different... this is on another level.
Like it's serious, it's like a super sister, like a super nun.
I'm sort of... I've gone a bit like numb.
Like I'm just in shock.
I think I'm in shock.
I'm freaked out. I'm freaked the fuck out.
This is prison right now. This is hell. This is hell.
(gospel music playing)
(groans)
This is not even okay at all.
(narrator) The girls are lodging at the Poor Clare's monastery in North London
in the hope that this silent environment will bring them inner peace.
It is fairly basic
and it's rather small for the amount of luggage they've got. (chuckles)
So I don't know how they're going to fit everything in.
(Sarah) Oh, God.
(sighs)
Oh, no, this is the most uncomfortable bed, ever.
I don't have a great deal.
I've got winter and summer undergarments
and winter and summer habit and winter and summer coat.
There's no lamp.
No we don't have side lamps.
We get out of bed and put the light off.
All of it, I don't like any of it at all.
It's important to us because of simplicity of life.
To keep things to a minimum.
It's like a prison cell.
The less you have, the less...
the less time you use devoted to your possessions.
I wanted to be a Poor Clare Sister
and everybody said I would never have made it but I think I would.
(calm music playing)
(narrator) The Poor Clares pray day and night.
5 o'clock is the girls first time in the chapel.
(Poor Clare 3) We have lots to prayer for.
The world needs it so much.
And we feel that we are doing our share
by praying for them.
(narrator) If the world was relying on these girls for redemption
it might be a long time coming.
(Tyla) They have to talk to God 24/7 in their head, like
like if that's not going to send someone crazy then what is?
Walking round and just literally talking 24/7 with no human interaction?
(narrator) An hour later it's dinner in silence.
Bless us, O' Lord,
and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty.
Amen.
(narrator) But the nuns offering proves a bit frugal
and the no frills veggie spread is testing the girls silent resolve.
(whispering) Are you fucking joking? I'm starving.
It's bread and salad.
(cutlery clinking)
(whispering) There's having a simple life style and then there is starving.
(cutlery clinking)
(girls laughing)
(narrator) Suddenly it feels like Christmas with pancakes
and permission to talk for half an hour.
You're silent for like most of the day
and you don't really meet any new people or anything like that
is it not quite hard when like people like me come that's wa‐wa‐wa.
No, it's really good but...
Honestly do you not miss the sound of your own voice?
Like half an hour day? I'd be like "Hi, Tyla, hi, are you alright?"
(laughing)
Did you ever have like boy... like relationships before you lived here?
Oh, I had everything. Well, I didn't have everything but I had boyfriends, yes.
But they wanted to marry me and that spoilt it all because I only wanted to go dancing.
You didn't want to get married. You're a bit like me.
Oh, no, I wanted to be a nun. No, I wanted to be a nun.
If I could find a boyfriend that loved me...
um, as much as you love God
that would be amazing.
So how do you feel here right now? Any inspiration?
Um...
Not right now. I'm just very hungry, sister, to be honest.
(laughs)
There's a big gap between, um, the other sisters and... and these nuns.
They're just... they're too strict for my liking, their lifestyle.
I was all down for learning about peoples' religions and their beliefs
but this is taking it to a new level.
I thought, uh, this journey was going to get easier, heh, but it's not.
The worst is not over yet, at all.
(narrator) 8 PM, it's lights out.
(calm music playing)
(knocks)
(narrator) But four hours later it's time for midnight office.
(Sarah) I'm coming back.
(Tyla) The light's very bright.
‐(Sarah) I'll pray for you, babes. ‐(Tyla) Pray for Jesus.
‐(Sarah) I will. ‐(Tyla) Turn the light off.
Jesus doesn't like the light.
(narrator) Three of the girls have made it but Rebecca and Tyla are no shows.
(clatters)
(Paige) Fucking hell.
(gospel music playing)
(sisters) Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
(whispering) I just don't get it.
I don't get why they need to get up at 12 o'clock at night to pray.
(whispering) The only possible thing I can actually take from this is reflection, silence,
having silence and reflecting but I haven't even done that because I'm so tired.
(narrator) Just four hours later it's back to chapel and almost everyone makes it.
I'm literally like... if I've ever prayed it's pray for this to end.
(laughs)
(narrator) Two hours later and the nuns are at morning prayer
but Tyla and Sarah still don't quite understand the meaning of silence.
(bell dings)
(Tyla) Oh, shit.
(indistinct chatter)
(narrator) 10 AM and finally there's a hiatus from praying but it's time for chores.
Gardening and making marmalade.
(Poor Clare 6) Hello, you're very welcome, good morning.
(Gabbi) Hello.
(Poor Clare 6) I'm afraid you've missed the start of the performance.
I do the hoeing if you do the sweeping and then we'll change.
Right, so you're going to do the hoeing and we'll do sweeping?
‐Okay. ‐Yeah?
‐Right alright, right. ‐Okay, have fun hoeing.
(laughing)
I only hoe on the weekends.
(Tyla) Thrust it Paige, thrust it. Get your thrust on.
Oh, yeah, thrust it, thrust it.
(laughing)
(narrator) But the vow of silence is still an issue.
‐You can, you know, speak but just the odd words... ‐Okay.
‐...is that okay? ‐Okay. Yeah, that's fine.
‐Silence ain't going well. ‐Oh, yeah, silent gardening.
(playful music playing)
I actually can't believe my eyes right now.
(girls laughing)
Sister Colette came out on her lawnmower, that just made my whole day.
(Sarah) This is comedy gold.
I never thought I'd be able to see a nun on a tractor.
It's quite a speed on it as well.
I know, I just seen her change the gear. I just seen her go like, err.
Oh, she just... (blows raspberry)
She's blessing herself because she's going downhill.
She's just revving about the grass on this large lawnmower
just waving at everyone like that, "Hi, guys, hi."
This is mint, this has totally made my day.
(Sarah) I'm so happy we picked outside now.
I think the silence is rather difficult for them
but in such a short space of time
perhaps that might be expecting a bit too much of them.
(narrator) 24 hours with the Poor Clares and mission two has been a tough one.
To be fair it made us appreciate my life in the convent at Swaffham,
I was like 'please just take me back to Swaffham'.
(laughs) Never thought I'd say that.
I was like "I miss the sisters, I want to go back to Swaffham, just get me back now."
(Tyla) Don't be eager Paige, stop pushing. (laughs)
(narrator) But as they gleefully talk their way out of the door
it seems the main lesson has not been lost on all them.
I mean I've learnt how to be silent but I still find it very difficult to be silent
and just stop and be still.
Bye, thank you.
But I've also learnt that maybe I should do that sometimes. And reflect.
I don't know where we're going on our spiritual journey so...
(Paige) I think the only positive to come out of that experience
is to kind of experience silence a little bit more.
Being in silence has made me kind of thing about my future
and what kind of things I want to look into.
Thank you. Thank you for having us. Lovely to meet you.
Yeah, you too.
(narrator) The girls are on the last leg of their journey.
In an hour they'll arrive at their third and final convent.
Sister Francis has one last lesson for them to learn.
(calm music playing)
(Sister Francis) As sisters we go out into the community.
We look after, um, elderly people or anybody in need.
Hello, my darling. How are you?
(Nora) I'm alright.
How are you, miss?
(Nora) I'm alright, thank you, darling.
‐(Sister Linda) How are you my dear? ‐I'm alright.
We should look after other people and care for other people
and then that makes us... beautiful people.
(narrator) For our sisters care giving is part of their remit
but for another group of nuns it's their soul preoccupation, 24/7.
The 10 Little Sisters of the Poor in Vauxhall
devote themselves exclusively to the elderly.
Under their roof they tend to 56 fragile residents.
Mostly infirm and in their 90s.
The sisters want the girls to share the joy of such a lifestyle.
They'll live and work with the needy.
It's a tough ask.
It will be something that they haven't done.
They're looking after their basic needs
and, um, for these girls
who don't like to get their nails dirty or anything like that,
that is going to be... that's going to be a challenge.
(Gabbi) It's a care home for elderly.
Yeah it's definitely a care home but a religious care home.
(Tyla) What if it's a mental home? What if it's a mental home?
What if it's a mental home? Because why is there barbed like that?
(Paige) There's an old lady in a wheelchair right by the front door.
Oh, yeah, that kind of gives it away, doesn't it?
(Rebecca) I'm staying out me, I'll sleep out.
I'm not even joking. I'll sleep out. I'm not staying there, fuck that.
(narrator) Mutiny is in the air but the girls reluctantly get off the bus.
I thought old people, smelly, grumpy, you know, smell of old people.
(narrator) She's not the only one full of dread.
Hi.
I've never really been around old people
and I was a bit worried about if they were like weeing all over place
and I were going to have to clear it up and stuff like that.
We've got the bathroom there.
(narrator) The girls will be staying in the same types of room as the residents.
Thank you, oh, this is so nice.
(narrator) Compared with last night's monastery...
I've got tea, coffee, a kettle.
(narrator) ...it's 5‐star luxury.
Oh, I love it, ah!
Is there plugs and stuff as well? There's... (gasps)
I'm so happy right now.
‐We've got a little walk in shower. ‐(Sarah) Oh, brilliant.
(Paige) Oh, these beds are comfy as well.
(Rebecca) So what's time bed time?
I'm so happy like. I was whinging, I was so aggy in the monastery,
like my mood has just gone down. This is just perfect.
(narrator) But they're not here for the accommodation.
It's time for the girls to help serve dinner.
It's just the old people aspect that I'm really not looking forward to.
I know it's really mean but I'm not good with old people at all.
Like mum she's a carer, she's all about that life. Me...
(narrator) Mum's job might be a mystery to Tyla but she's about to walk in her shoes.
(narrator) In central London our girls are about to start their first shift
in an old peoples' home with the Little Sisters of the Poor.
(narrator) Although Tyla's mum works with old people
it's a challenge she hasn't been relishing.
I know it sounds really, really mean but I'm not good with old people.
Like I'm not good with... Like my mum she's a carer.
She's all about that life. Me...
It's alright, is that still warm?
(narrator) It's all about Sister Francis's master plan.
I'm sure many of them will be able to identify with the elderly people,
like they identify with their grandparents and I think that will be good for them.
‐How long have you been here? ‐Oh, about 8 years now.
What in here? Oh, really.
So it's like your proper home, isn't it?
‐Yes, well, I came here with my husband. ‐Yeah.
‐I always thought that I would go first... ‐Ah.
...but he did.
Yeah, no, finding it really good.
Everyone's really nice and it's really homely here.
It's not what I expected.
What's your favorite thing to do? Like is it Bingo?
We like the quiz, we have a quiz
‐and that's a lot of fun, you know. ‐Yeah.
Oh, they're so, so, so, so lovely. Like so, so, so lovely.
I think obviously I've not really... I've not really been around old people before.
All these people. Like there's 93‐year‐old
that have got more conversation than me.
‐What did you used to do as a job? ‐Civil servant.
Civil servant?
My mum works sometimes from like 10 o'clock in the morning until 8 o'clock at night
and I just feel a bit bad because a lot of when my mum's excited to talk about it
and I'm just sort of head down in my phone like, "Yeah, mm, yeah."
It definitely makes me appreciate what my mum does so much more.
Like she's... she's amazing for what she does.
(calm music playing)
(narrator) It's 8 PM and the girls are relaxing in their rooms.
They appear to be practicing what they've learnt at the Poor Clares.
The art of silence.
Oddly Paige is looking forward to more peaceful contemplation.
I've gotten the alarm set for just before six...
so I can get to the morning prayers because kind of think about things.
Have a bit of time in my head.
(all praying)
(narrator) Crack of dawn and true to her word...
Paige is at chapel.
But on with the day. There's work to do.
Oh, yeah, I like it.
Never been so excited to clean, you know, sister.
Do you have any idea what color?
(narrator) In a bizarre twist of fate,
having ditched the cosmetics themselves,
Tyla and Sarah are now making over some residents.
I love doing nails. Do you like coming and getting them done?
(narrator) And Gabbi is reveling in the virtues of their mission to a nun.
You know, it's been very refresh...
‐it's almost like taking off a mask really. ‐(sister) Yes.
Like letting a character go and it's found the old Gabbi again, I would say.
The Gabbi, um... The Gabbi that I used to be.
‐(sister) That you would want to be. ‐Yeah.
Like when I was a kid growing up and loved getting stuck in...
um, loved...
you know loved a challenge and...
So here we have all the sheets and everything
‐and this is the trolley where we are going to take everything. ‐(Rebecca) Oh, I like this.
Yeah. So...
I used to have one of these when I was little.
So we got to be prepare all the sheets there, yeah, alright.
So you want to try, one of you want to try and do...
‐Oh, yeah. ‐Push the trolley.
‐I love this, you know. ‐Yeah, okay.
‐I'm so happy right now. ‐Okay. There we are, okay.
Meep meep. (laughs).
This is so much fun. (laughs)
This is a lot.
Mum, are you watching?
Rebecca's loving the bed changing.
I think she's got a new talent there.
Yay.
I might just go put my feet up and let Rebecca do it all.
A little bit more because you need a lot...
You should have seen me when I was cleaning. I was in my element.
I was singing, I was dancing.
Oh, whoo! Oh, I like this. Oh...
Like I'll admit that I've been lazy, you know, lazing around,
sleeping all day, going out on the night time.
(laughing)
Yes, that was so fun. Thank you.
And now I think when I get back mum and dad you'll have an easy life now, heh,
because I'll help out and, you know, I'll keep my room tidy
and I'm going to go and get a job, a proper job and help out with rent and stuff.
‐Yes, I'm coming back. ‐(sister) You're come back, yeah?
100% but next time I would like a telly in my room.
(laughs)
(playful music playing)
(narrator) Mid‐day and Sister Linda is paying the girls a surprise visit.
It's strange feeling but I really kind of miss having them around.
They have different gifts and they are lovely.
(narrator) They're nearing the end of this week's mission
and she wants to see for herself that they're making spiritual progress.
I really hope they have found something deeper in themselves
than they thought they have and I do want them to...
find the meaning and purpose.
Oh, my...
(gasps and laughs)
(both laughing)
Oh, my goodness.
So lovely to see you. It's emotional.
I don't know, I've missed you guys.
‐Well, I miss you people. ‐(Rebecca) Oh.
That's why I just came to see for a day.
I've had so much fun. I've been helping the elderly people.
I've been making beds. Sister, I can make my bed now.
Like you know the fold it and all. I can teach... No, I can teach,
I'm better than you this time.
It's nice to give isn't it and I found I'm a really giving and nice person.
Like I want to do things for other people.
I'm really enjoying it, yeah.
I think this is... I found, this is my calling.
I think I found it, what I was looking for.
(both laugh)
Oh, thank God for that.
(Rebecca) Even though it wasn't to be a sister.
Thank God for that. Thank God for that.
(all laughing)
Hi, sister. (laughs)
When did you come?
Kind of going from the monastery to here
has made us kind of appreciate it a lot more,
kind of an I think we've all kind of learnt something from being here.
‐It's kind of made us kind of value what we have. (Tyla) Definitely.
It's definitely taught me like to be compassionate and...
It's sort of good to make people happy and like go out and help them so...
(Paige) Because normally days like this we'd just be sat on our phones all day.
But it seems here you have taken charge yourself. You've taken lead.
Because we know what we're doing now, you've trained us well.
‐Oh, gosh, thank you. ‐(all laugh)
We've kind of done the training with you and then you've gone right,
now with your training go and do good.
(Sarah) We needed that.
Honestly it's so amazing to see how much you... you're like...
you taken lead and you're confident and you know you can do so much with your time.
There you go.
(narrator) The girls will return to their spiritual home in Swaffham later today.
‐Is everyone ready? ‐(all) Yes.
‐I can't hear you. ‐(all) Yes.
(narrator) But they've been sorely missed.
Silence, it seems, isn't always a virtue.
More) The convent has been quieter this week without the girls but we miss them.
We were all wondering what they were doing.
Yeah. Bingo.
(applause)
(narrator) This week of spiritual missions is finally complete
but it's not the end of their journey.
I'm kind of sad to go buy I'm excited for sort of what's coming next
and I'm excited to go back to Swaffham.
(narrator) They're heading back to the Sacred Heart Convent for their last mission
and testing everything they've learnt in the outside world.
And it's been really great and a privilege for us to have you with us.
Take care.
‐Thank you for everything. ‐Bye.
(Paige) Bye.
(narrator) Next time...
I would never do that.
(narrator) The nuns welcome the girls back to their convent and then...
You're out on another mission to home.
Oh, my God!
Sister Rebecca.
(narrator) Will they fall back into their old ways?
‐Oh, you're wearing all your make‐up again. ‐Rebecca) Yeah.
‐Don't be a bad influence on me. ‐(all laugh)
Oh.
(narrator) Or will they abstain from temptation?
Will they be cross you had this done?
(laughs)
(theme music playing)