Once again our talented team of artistic ladies produced a splendidly decorated altar, this time for the feast of Pentecost. Along with the dove which represented the Spirit, ribbons stretched out to show the seven traditional gifts of the Spirit, whilst along the front edge of the altar cloth were the twelve fruits.
Last Saturday morning Holy Mass was offered on this altar by Fr Paschal Lushuli, a Franciscan priest from the Democratic Republic of Congo. For several months he has been studying in Rome, and expects to continue his studies there for a further three years. He lives in the Franciscan House in Rome with other members of his order of some thirty-five different nationalities. We wish this delightful man all success in his studies and in his future career.
When pressed, Fr Paschal admits that there are problems in the eastern part of the Congo where he has worked in a parish for several years, but makes light of the difficulties. On one occasion he successfully mediated in a dispute between two of the fearsome tribes which were fighting for supremacy in that area, and was responsible for achieving a peaceful settlement. So it is not surprising that he did not find it too much of a problem in the Parish Centre after Mass, facing up to some gentle questioning from parishioners while he was attempting to drink his coffee. We are grateful to Sarah for hosting him over the weekend and for bringing him over from Milford so that we could have the privilege of meeting him.
P.S. Just received from Brockenhurst, a photo of the Pentecost altar at St. Anne's.
Many thanks, Mary.
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