Thursday 6 October 2011

TIMID START TO FIRST HARVEST THANKSGIVING


It had not previously been the habit at Our Lady and St Joseph to make a specific physical recognition in the church of our gratitude to God for the annual harvest.   This year, however, it was decided to remedy this omission, albeit rather gently, and several parishioners decorated the altar with flowers, fruit, vegetables and a much-admired but rather lonely loaf of soda bread.  Some of the congregation brought in items for the Basics Bank box for needy people here, to coincide with the announcement of the following week's CAFOD collection for the needy in poorer parts of the world.   (To express your view, please click "comments" below.)

2 comments:

Gigi said...

When I was at junior school, we used to celebrate Harvest Festival by bringing in fruit, flowers and baked goods. My Mum and cake recipes were sworn enemies, so our offering was courtesy of Mr Kipling until I learned to make exceedingly good biscuits. I think the practice stopped at my parish church when someone complained about Harvest Festival originating from the celtic pagan Lughnasadh, and the symbolism associated with the fertility of the land. I now realise that the folk of the Old Testament were asked to show their gratitude for the fruits of the past year. I hope OLMSJ continues this beautiful, vivid tradition: most of us have a an abundance naturally available without realsing it.

Gigi said...

:-)) I clearly don't check for typos. But I do make good biscuits.