Parish Mission Days Two, Three and Four

Day two continued on the theme of God's Mercy with the evening service of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions. It was a most moving night. Once again the Church was packed. Ten priests were on hand and all were kept busy. People had as much time as they needed to make their confessions. Many graces were given that night.

Day three: God's Healing.

In the morning, John Pridmore had to make an important visit. So after the morning Masses I took the rest of the team to Aylesford for a lunch-time visit. We had a bit of time to pray to the various Saints who are venerated there: Our Lady of the Assumption, St Anne whose intercession for families was requested, St Simon the patron of this parish, the English Martyrs, etc. We prayed the Rosary in the Rosary Way.

In the evening there was a most moving ceremony in which the Blessed Sacrament was carried (by me) to people kneeling around the sanctuary and almost everyone held the humeral veil while receiving a blessing from Christ truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, just as the woman who suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years was cured after touching the hem of Jesus' garment.

Day four: God's gift of Mary

The two morning Masses took place as usual. An icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour was placed in front of the altar with a petition box for people to put their petitions in. Mass tomorrow will be offered for all these intentions.

In the afternoon we took John to visit Christchurch School and John gave his testimony to about two hundred pupils. We pray that it may have touched the hearts of some of them.

John with the Head Teacher and Head of RE at Christchurch School

In the evening, a beautifully simple service of exposition with two talks on Our Lady from the mission team. People just seem to be more and more grateful for the blessings they are receiving in this Mission. Many people placed intentions in the petitions box.

After the service, the primary school present were able to sing the song they had practised in school earlier in the week.

Margretta and her daughters Emily and Jessica chat with Mission Team member Catharine after the service.