St Pius InPrint
  • NEWS
  • 5-Minute Reflection
    • Stations of the Cross
    • Bishop Richard on the Refugee Crisis
    • Prayer for Refugees
    • Materials from NJPN Conference 2017
    • Pope Francis' Five-Finger Prayer
  • CALENDAR
  • LINKS
    • Catholic Parish of Guildford
    • Our Catholic Schools
    • Catholic Resources
    • Christian Activities and Resources
    • Some of our Charities

St. Pius InPrint
​Magazine

Inaugural Parish Mass and Picnic

12/6/2016

0 Comments

 
We had all been anxiously watching the weather forecast in the days leading up to the big event.  A late decision had been taken to relocate the event from the grounds at St. Edward's to St. Peters' School, when it became clear that the parking capacity in the vicinity of St. Edward's would not be sufficient.  So there we were - in the early morning rain at St. Peter's - when Fr. Colin took the decision to move the Mass indoors, into the familiar surroundings of the dining hall. 
If Fr. Colin needed confirmation that he had done the right thing, it came in the form of a gust of wind which caused the roof of the marquee - where the altar was to have been - to discharge a substantial cache of water over our Moderator, soaking him from head to foot.  Fr. Colin duly left the site for a while, returning later in a new set of clothes.  The experience did not dampen his enthusiasm, judging by the broad smile on his face later in the day.
Picture
Undeterred by the damp conditions, parishioners began to arrive - and continued to do so until the car parking was at its capacity; drivers were then directed off-site to park at St. Pius or in nearby roads.

​Meanwhile, dedicated teams were setting up children's activities and food and drink outlets in anticipation of the picnic - and in the hope of a dry afternoon.

​The dining hall was packed and the area outside accommodated those unable to get in - some sitting and some happy just to stand around the open windows and doors.

Picture
Picture
The entrance procession began, Deacon Michael Walker holding the Book of the Gospels aloft; he was accompanied by our other clergy and servers and then followed by Bishop Richard Moth.

​Bishop Richard's homily focused on the second reading, which he commended to individuals and groups for their reflections: 
"We acknowledge that what makes a man righteous is not obedience to the Law, but faith in Jesus Christ.  We had to become believers in Christ Jesus no less than you had, and now we hold that faith in Christ rather than fidelity to the Law is what justifies us, and that no one can be justified by keeping the Law.  In other words, through the Law I am dead to the Law, so that now I can live for God.  I have been crucified with Christ, and I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me.  The life I now live in this body I live in faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and who sacrificed himself for my sake.  I cannot bring myself to give up God's gift: if the Law can justify us, there is no point in the death of Christ."

Galatians 2: 16, 19-21
Holy Communion was distributed both inside and outside the hall, in view of the overspill congregation.

​The Bishop had to leave after Mass for another engagement; many of the rest of us made our way to the sports field for the picnic and other activities.  We were pleased to see that the weather had improved considerably; picnic rugs and chairs quickly appeared and congregated in neat clusters around the field.

​Our thanks are due to the Youth Team for their tremendous energy and enthusiasm in organising and setting up the children's activities, to Ingrid Phillips and her organising group, to the staff of St. Peter's School for their kind and efficient cooperation (particularly when the plans changed!) and to all who worked to provide food and drink, to ensure everyone's safety and ensure neat car parking.

​The photographs below describe more precisely than words the happy mood and atmosphere which prevailed - along with the dry weather - for the rest of the afternoon.  Special thanks also to Rosaline Brothers of St. Edward's for her clever photography and comprehensive record of the day.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    September 2015

    Categories

    All
    10% Collection
    A&B Crisis Fund (Catholic Children's Society)
    A & B ENewsletter
    Aberfan Disaster 1966
    A&B Lourdes Pilgrimage
    ACAT Action By Christians Against Torture
    ACAT - Action By Christians Against Torture
    Activities
    Advent Reconcilliation
    Advent Reflection
    Alpha Course
    Altar Servers
    Ann
    Announcements
    Announcement Slides
    Antwerp
    Arms Trade
    Baptism
    Bereavement
    Big 'O' Party
    Bishop Moth
    Bishop's Diocesan Migrant Fund
    CAFOD
    Calais
    Canon Brian O'Sullivan
    Canon Colin Wolczak
    CAP Money Course
    Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor
    Car Free - Care Share Weekend
    Carols On The Green
    Catholic Association For Racial Justice
    Cherry Trees Respite Home
    Christians In The Middle East
    Christmas Greetings Campaign
    Christmas Party
    Churches Together In England
    Clergy Moves
    Climate Change
    Concert
    Confession
    Craft Group
    David Allen
    Day For Life
    Day Of Reflection
    Depaul International Charity
    Diocesan Plan
    Easter Basket
    Easter Triduum
    Ecumenism
    Edu-Care Cameroon Charity
    Ellie Carter
    Emergency Appeal
    Fairtrade
    Family Day
    Film Night
    First Holy Communion
    Floral Ministry
    Footsteps Charity
    Formation
    Fr Alan Sharpe
    Fr. Roy
    Gift Aid
    Gill Woodrow
    Groups
    Guildford
    Guildford Youth Ministry
    Harvest Fast Day
    HCPT Group 2
    HMP Send Catholic Chaplaincy
    HMP Send - Catholic Chaplaincy
    Holy Saturday
    Homily
    Housing Justice Charity
    Human Rights Day
    Human Trafficking
    Humour
    Iraqi Christians In Need Charity
    Justice & Peace
    Knights Of St. Columba
    Lace Making
    Ladies' Lunch
    Lent
    Lenten Lunch
    Lent Fast Day
    Lent Groups
    Life Group
    Lourdes Pilgrimage Trust
    Macmillan Big Coffee Morning
    Magnificat Magazine
    Mary's Meals
    Men's Walking Group
    Merrow Lunch Club
    Migrants
    Missio
    Musicians
    National Youth Sunday
    Nativity Play
    Number Five Shelter
    Oakleaf Mental Illness Charity
    OFS
    Oxfam
    Palestine
    Parish Day
    Pax Christi
    Peace Sunday
    Pentecost
    Peru
    Philip Kenny
    Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice
    Pope Francis
    Prayer
    "Prayer For The Day"
    Prayer Vigil
    Project Francis
    Project Peru
    Q & A
    Quiz Night
    Racial Justice Sunday
    Rambling/Walking
    RCIA
    Recipes
    Reconciliation
    Reformation
    Refugees
    Requiem/Funeral
    Review Of 2017
    RIP
    Rohingya People
    Roles
    Sainsbury's
    Saint Oscar Romero
    Secular Fanciscan Order
    Shared Lunch
    Shelter Box Charity
    Social Events
    St. Peter's School
    St. Pius InPrint
    St. Pius Pastoral Council
    Sunday Coffee
    Syria
    Terrorism
    The Universe
    Together In Christ
    Ukriane
    Vatican
    Vision For Mission
    Vocations
    Week Of Prayer For Christian Unity
    Wintershall
    Women At The Well Charity
    Womens-world-day-of-prayer
    World-day-of-migrants-and-refugees
    World-day-of-peace
    World Day Of Prayer
    World Day Of Prayer For Creation
    World Day Of The Poor
    World Fair Frade Day
    World War I
    World War II
    Write For Rights Campaign
    Yara Eid

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • NEWS
  • 5-Minute Reflection
    • Stations of the Cross
    • Bishop Richard on the Refugee Crisis
    • Prayer for Refugees
    • Materials from NJPN Conference 2017
    • Pope Francis' Five-Finger Prayer
  • CALENDAR
  • LINKS
    • Catholic Parish of Guildford
    • Our Catholic Schools
    • Catholic Resources
    • Christian Activities and Resources
    • Some of our Charities