It's been two busy, amazing, wonderful weeks. First, Spring Harvest; which led straight into Holy Week. A huge contrast as we went from the loud concert atmosphere with strobe lights at Spring Harvest to the silence, reverence, bells and smells of the Cathedral... here are some photos.
Holy Week kicks off with the Chrism Mass on Wednesday. This is where the oils for the coming year for use within the entire Diocese are consecrated - oils for healing / anointing the sick and for anointing at Confirmation. Every priest, deacon, and seminarian of the entire Diocese is there too to officially renew their vows, and it had such an impact on me seeing these men, who have given up so much and are literally living their lives in sacrifice and service... true, everyday heroes. D(8) got to serve too, he was in charge of the Bishop's Mitre.
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| D(8) passing the Mitre to a Deacon |
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| *All* the priests |
On Thursday, D served at the altar again and Mr. got his feet washed by the Bishop at the Maundy Thursday Mass; no photos there.
We began Good Friday by walking a cross up Park Street in the centre of Bristol, up to the Cathedral. Funny thing was, as we arrived, there was already a small group of people at the assembly point with their own cross (which had a convenient little wheel at the back for easier transport - why didn't they think of that 2,000 years ago?) and there was a bit of confusion, but they were just a group from another parish so they walked with us. This way, we had one cross at the front and one at the back, and that worked quite well. As we walked, we prayed a Rosary and it was something like 200 people all counted!
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| Practicing carrying the cross... |
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| More practice... |
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| ...they actually found it quite fun! |
That afternoon, we celebrated the Good Friday Mass and again, D served. That same evening however he began coughing quite a bit and as that continued in the morning, we decided to keep him home from the Vigil Mass on Saturday. Mr. and N(10) did go though, it was huge and long - due to the multitude of people being baptised - and what's interesting, something that was mentioned at Spring Harvest too, is how many Gen Z'ers are entering. This 'Quiet Revival' as it's been called in the research from Bible Society is definitely something we see here. A beautiful Mass too, begun at dusk and entering into candlelit darkness (you can spot N(10) in one of the photos!) until the triumphant arrival of the Light!
Sunday, we celebrated Christ having risen by colouring some eggs, hiding chocolate in the garden, and eating lots of festive food! We were planning to have our friend Daniel, who lives nearby and also celebrated Christmas with us, but sadly he wasn't well enough to come. So we took the food to him instead! And he gifted us this amazing owl. Easter owl, why not!
That's our update - it's been wonderful. Overwhelming. Exhausting. Awesome. Easter is what it's all about... thank God!
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