Thanksgiving and Farewell Mass for Fr TJ, Fr Jimmy and Fr Alan - 20th October 2019
Concelebrated Mass was said at 6pm on Sunday, 20th October, in thanksgiving for the ministries of Fr TJ Plower, Fr Jimmy Stubbs and Fr Alan Neville in the parish. The celebration was led by Fr Michael, and attended by Fr Julian, Deacon Steve, a number of former parish priests and other MSC priests, members of Churches Together in St Albans and some 500 parishioners. Gifts were presented to Fr TJ, Fr Jimmy and Fr Alan on behalf of the parish, by members of some of the parish families. Refreshments in the hall followed the service and provided a lovely opportunity to catch up with the priests and socialise again as a community. A happy time was had by all. Enjoy the photos!
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Finding Silence Weekend at Walsingham - 11th-13th October 2019
FINDING SILENCE IN WALSINGHAM
11TH – 13TH OCTOBER 2019
Thirteen of us shared cars to travel to Dowry House Retreat situated opposite the ancient Priory Grounds, where Our Lady asked for a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth to be built in 1061.
We joined the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham in their regular times of prayer, which included the Fiat Rosary, revealed to an English lay missionary in 1984 and which differs from the standard.
Silence began on the Friday evening after Night prayer and continued until Sunday morning. Sr Gabriela with Sr Theresa led us in five sessions over the weekend looking at the spiritual history of Walsingham, the treasure of silence, living in the present moment, Lectio Divina and how we can incorporate what we learned into our daily lives. Those who wanted to could also avail themselves of individual spiritual direction. Mass and the sacrament of Reconciliation were celebrated for us by Fr John Delaney of the Franciscans on Saturday, whilst on Sunday we walked the Holy Mile for Mass at the RC Shrine.
Apart from Dowry House itself, reflection times could be spent in the Abbey Grounds, to which we were given free tickets, the Orthodox Church with its Quiet Garden or the Anglican shrine, all nearby.
Every attention was paid to our needs and the Community exemplified what it is to live fully in the present moment and to trust in God.
‘Uplifting’, ‘instructive’ and ‘enriching’ are words used by some of the participants following the retreat.
