Pentecost Special

Pentecost Sunday 2008!

A glorious and wonderful day for all in 3 Rivers!

WHY? Because it was a truly momentous weekend and glorious Pentecost for 3 Rivers

• 25th anniversary mass for Malcolm & Lesley Foster in St Andrew's, celebrated by Father George

• a joyous international masses at Holy Cross

• a lovely 10th anniversary celebration at Bishops Waltham lead by Father John 

• the beginning of Father Michael's and Steve Carter's epic fundraising cycle ride to Lourdes

• a charming email from Slovakia

25th anniversary mass for Malcolm and Lesley Foster

Not quite sure what to say about my parents and the church, but I do know my mam and dad have been very involved within that parish for over ten years, they both participated in the offertory on Sunday, I'm sure dad takes it in turn with others to do readings, although this time Mrs. Wright, and another man read.

My older brother Luke and myself took the bread and wine up to the alter and in the pictures you can see my younger brother Adam on the altar.

My dads mother and my mams mother and father all came down from Cardiff, Wales to celebrate this occasion which was a very pleasant day.

someone from the parish gave my parents a gorgeous bunch of flowers and a beautiful cake which was enjoyed by all the parish after the mass.
 

Father George made it a very special day for all the family. xx

aimee xx

Pentecost - with an International Flavour!

Around 30 nationalities were represented at the 11am Mass in Holy Cross Church, Eastleigh on Pentecost Sunday as parishioners celebrated the spreading of the Good News to the ends of the earth - just as that first Pentecost had promised would happen. And not just that it had gone to the ends of the earth but that Sunday by Sunday, people from many different countries, races and languages come together in our churches to celebrate Mass. Pentecost Sunday seemed a very good day to mark this!

The church looked stunning as James McElhinney, Kathie McGinn and the flower arranging team took exotic flowers and created vivid displays which spoke of of the vibrancy of Pentecost. James had collected over 30 flags representing parishioners' countries of origin and draped them over the balconies... the one or two that did not arrive in time are promised to be here for when we do it again!

The invitation had gone out to dress in national dress or colours - and sumptuous fabrics and clothes from Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, Kerala (India), Poland, Ireland and Spain sparkled among the reds, whites and blues in the congregation.

Balloons in many languages were presented - wait and see what happens to them later!

The music reflected several of the countries and opened with "Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes": Praise the Lord, all you nations! The now-familiar Gloria used in Easter-time took a new turn when the chorus was sung in Spanish - and the Caribbean "Halle, halle, halle.. lujah!" made a rousing greeting for the Gospel which was proclaimed in English - followed by verses repeated in Gaelic (Fr Michael), French (Amber, aged 7?), German, Malayalam, Japanese and Filipino.

The Intercessions called on the Holy Spirit to help the community to bear the fruits of the Spirit and each was repeated in a different language: French, Spanish, Lugandan, Kiswahili, Igbo, Maltese, Italian. Polish and Malay with a sung response in Lugandan led by Annette which most people had a pretty good go at!

The Presentation of Gifts was led by four girls in a traditional African dance to a Zimbabwean tune "If you believe and I believe..." Fruit was brought forward to represent the fruits of the Spirit - bread and wine - and, representing the traditional gifts to support the priest brought forward in an African procession, a spare tyre and puncture repair kits for Fr Michael to take with him on his sponsored cycle trip to Lourdes - as well as the prayer petitions that he and Steve will include in the Mass when they get there.

At Communion, the Filipino Southampton Chorale sang the Filipino version of "I am the Bread of Life" by Suzanne Toolan - which was followed by a Song to the Spirit to the tune of the Skye Boat Song.

After the blessing by Fr Michael, the Chorale sang the Aaronic blessing and then everyone joined in "Sent by the Lord am I" as they literally were sent out, across the road to the park where there was a balloon launch with messages of goodwill from the International Community this Pentecost.

After Mass, in the park, children released balloons into the air, taking our message of faith, hope and love to anyone who finds them. We then shared the fruits of many national dishes with songs and dancing in the Resource Centre. Fr Michael cut the Pentecost cake to great applause and then this memorable celebration culminated as we sent him off with Steve Carter, one of our more mature altar servers, on an epic 5-day sponsored cycle ride to Lourdes, carrying with them petitions and prayers from many people in our Pastoral area. In addition, through sponsorship, they are trying to raise funds to support some of our young people hoping to attend the Youth Rally in Australia next year.

The fun was not over! Most people then went to the Resource Centre where dishes from around the world had been laid out for people to sample. There was a lot of chat about ingredients - recipes - and recommendations! And maybe a little competition to see whose recipes went down best! Two young Filipino girls treated us to a dance and then Grace sang a song of blessing for a journey in Xhosa to wish Fr Michael and Steve well on their cycle trip - which they embarked on with the good wishes of everyone there.

It was a Pentecost to remember - and a celebration of parish life that many people want to repeat! So... if your language wasn't used this time - or you weren't sure about wearing national dress or colours... it could only be matter of time before you get the chance again!

Thanks to Kathryn Turner and Stuart Cunningham for writing the report.

There were many more pictures so > click here for our Pentecost Scrap Book

A lovely 10th Anniversary of the building of Our Lady, Queen of Apostles church, Bishop Waltham

• Reporter's Notes:-
•  Packed church with strong contingent  from the Pelicans (Friends of the White Fathers)
• Also reprehensive from the local Christian community
• The secretary to the Provincial of the White Fathers gave a fascinating talk on the history of this the 3rd church at Bishop's Waltham the first was hundred's of years ago
• parishioner and music student, Jocelyn Somerville sang beautifully during Communion
• Salve Regina (in Latin ) was sung by following communion - a very special moment
• Drinks and small eats from the marquee in the grounds on a lovely sunny day

Awaiting full report and pictures

Hello my dear friends from Holy Cross ♥

How are you all? I`ve been thinking of you a lot during this time of waiting for Holy Spirit. Well, I often think of you, of course, but that time I have thought of you even more. :-))
Teresa wrote to me earlier about your celebrating Pentacost mass. Ooh, I could imagine how amazing it must be. All that different languages, flags, traditional clothes and foods.... wooow, I`d like it, I am sure about it.

  I`ve attached some pictures of our "church", but as I wrote you before Easter, we do not have church - the building, it is still in the process of constructing.

But our Pentecost Vigile today in the evening was nice, too. We celebrated the mass both the Parish and Carmelite nuns together in Carmelite convent. The mass started with the song Veni Creator - Holy Spirit, and afterwards, after several prayers, we had reading in different languages - Hebrew (one of my friend that studies teology read it), than English (well, guess who did read it - if you guessed me, you were right. Exactly, I did read the 2nd Reading from the Book of Exodus - about Moses talking to God at the Mount Sinai), than French, Polish (some of the nuns is from the Poland, so she read it) and Hungarian and finally the Gospel was in Latin. It really was an interesting and lively experience. By the way all the people (audience) had the translation of all the readings; so everybody could understand.

- the building, it is still in the process of constructing. Thus the mass is served in the Parish Pastoral Center.

I have not written to you for a long time and probably I will not write to you very often again. Why? Again, because of the school - the summer term has already finished and the time of exams starts. So I suppose I would need a prayer ;-) Please, think of me when You`ll have some free time. I`ll have 6 exams, so it`s not so bad, it used to be even worse few years ago; some of the exams are more difficult then the others, but I hope I`ll pass it (with God`s help;-)

And I`ve got one more information for you. Well it`s not been delightful for me. I don`t know whether it`ll make you sad.... (maybe not)
Probably I won`t be able to come and visit you during summer holiday, as I planned and was looking forwards. :-((
I`ll have many responsibilities - with our music festival, and then I am about to finish the university study in a year, as you know, so I have to prepare fot the exams and the final state exam and Diploma work. (Although, one part of the state exams is exam from English, so I should speak in English to practise and improve even more.... ooh, but how). I don`t know what to do with it. I`d love to go to UK, though just for a week or two, if not for a month, but I do not have time to look for something, I mean some work, so I don`t know. I`ll be praying and waiting for advice for the right decision.
I have met two nuns (well, they do not wear the habit, but they are from Congregation of the Presentation of Virgin Mary) from Ireland. I would not meet them, if not the Parish editorial group of the parish newsletter asked me to make an interview with those nuns (Who are they, where are they coming from, what is their work here in Slovakia, etc.?). And as I spent a year in England I shoud be able to talk to them. So this is why the Editorial group asked me. And I went to meet the nuns and we talked a lot, in English of course. It recalled me the old good times with you ;-))
So I suppose that when I really won`t be able to maange to go to the UK somewhere, I will be visiting these three ladies - nuns and I`ll talk to them. But I will miss you.

Have a very blessed time, may the Holy Spirit brighten your days and may He lead you on any of your steps

xxx
♥♥♥

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