In the days and weeks before Christmas, many people worry about what they are going to give their relations and friends as a gift. They search through catalogues and magazines, they trek wearily through the shops and stores until they find the right present. Most of the time we are looking for things that cost money, some expensive, some cheaper. What would it be like if we could also give each other a gift for Christmas, that you cannot buy with money? Something special, something truly original – something that brings us hope, joy and peace! I hope and pray that this Christmas story can be a little like such an “unbuyable” gift. It is called “The King with the Empty Hands”. “It happened in large city. A few young people had got together and planned to put on a Nativity Play. Very soon lots of people became involved: Someone wrote the script, others practiced eagerly, scenes and backdrops were made and painted, and a few mothers made the costumes. However, the evening before the first performance, something quite unusual and unfortunate happened – they had all forgotten about the parts of the Three Kings. They couldn’t just leave them out altogether. The Kings simply belong to the Nativity Story. The Director of the play had an idea. He would telephone three people from the neighbourhood and ask them if they wouldn’t mind standing in as one of the Three Kings. They should just bring a personal gift with them for the Child in the Manger – a gift, that means something special to them. Continue reading “A Christmas Message”
You are invited to our Covenant Mass on Monday 18th February at 7.30pm at the Shrine. Throughout this year we want to consider deeply our mission as the Schoenstatt Family of England and Wales. In 2017 we crowned our Lady remembering the crowning in Walsingham where we asked that we could become a New Nazareth and create welcoming islands with holy family atmosphere. Covenant Mass will be prepared by the Cenacle Group and accompanied by the St Edmund’s music group. Please bring donations for our food and warm clothes bank. Bring your family and friends along.
