Issue Nr 53, February 2009

Newsletter

Priests and People

by Cath Worthington

This year Priest and People forum, was once more, a very fruitful and joyful time.
Eight of the parishes having missions this coming year, joined the Parish Team at
SENT for 2 days of sharing and praying together.

The priests and parishioners started arriving Wednesday lunch time. Having been shown around the house and to their rooms, they enjoyed one of Serge’s sumptuous lunches, before going into our first session.

The two days consisted of 5 sessions. "Who are you?!”. Each parish gave a  presentation on the history, the present situation, the strengths and vision of their parish church.

"Who are we?! The team leaders introduced themselves and explained how each area of parish ministry came together during the mission time in their parish. A talk on Aspects of Evangelisation was given by Andy and inspired exciting conversations between our guests. Fr Ged gave a challenging presentation on the "Changing Church!, moving from "An Inherited Church! to "An Emerging Church. This prompted an unscheduled Q and A session as people personally or as parish, wanted to learn about responding to the Changing Church more fully. Our final session on Vision for the Future was led by Allegra, who encouraged everyone to believe that mission was ongoing and that together we would be able to attain and sustain the vision that would be prayed about, discerned and agreed. Our time together was of course interspersed with wonderful prayer times. We had a social time on the first evening, where everyone relaxed and let their hair down. Conversations were had, friends were made and quite a bit of pre mission work was covered off!!!!!. We concluded our time together with Mass, with Fr Ged presiding, and 7 priests concelebrating with him. The liturgy and music was of the usual fantastic standard and Cross Purposes helped us with our post Communion reflection, by presenting a sign language. As the Priests and People left us, with fond farewells, it was clear and voiced that they had enjoyed their short time with us and that many blessings had been received. We were all quite tired afterwards and ready for a rest but, I have to say it was the Best Priest and People ever!!! Roll on 2010.

Here are a few emails sent to us after the Priest and People forum:

“Thank you all for a very peaceful, loving and holy place where I found a family of Christ working together. I will continue praying for our mission and the people I came into contact with, bless you all. God Bless, DANNY”

“Thanks for a brilliant couple of days I feel we were really blessed. I felt God was really working”