|
Post by Noelfitz on Feb 13, 2009 14:16:39 GMT
We have lots of discouraging news recently. However I am on holidays in Jersey now and visited the Catholic Church in St Helier. It has recently been renovated and is the most beautiful Church I have ever seen. In it one's heart is raised up.
It acknowledges the contributions of many races to Catholicism in Jersey.
There is a chapel to Our Lady of Lourdes. In it there is a flag with "Couer Sacre de Jesus, Espoir et Salut de la France". There is also a commemoration of a French man shot by Germans whose last words were "Vive Dieu, Vive la France", as well as a list of those "Morts pour la Patrie".
The Irish are commemorated by a statue of St Patrick, The Poles by a picture of Our Lady of Czechachowa(??). The Portuguese by a chapel to Our Lady of Fatima, decorated with Portuguese tiles. The English have a portrait of St Thoma More "The King's good servant and God's first". There is also a commemoration of the Liverpool supporters who died when the stadium collapsed with the words "You will never walk alone".
Ther is also a piture "Divine Mercy" and the Prodigal Son.
In a welcome centre coffee is served for most of the day and there is a TV with Portuguese programmes.
The Church istelf is absolutely beautiful.
I was very moved and encouraged by it and the contributions of Catholics here to the Universal Church.
|
|
|
Post by hibernicus on Feb 14, 2009 0:51:17 GMT
Indeed - I was in New York City a couple of years ago and visited Fr. George Rutler's church (near the Pierpont Morgan library). He has it nicely done up like in Byzantine style with icon-like pictures of saints of various nationalities and races (including Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, Bl. Pierre Toussaint and - I think - a Korean martyr.)
|
|
|
Post by Noelfitz on Feb 14, 2009 21:21:27 GMT
Today at Mass in Jersey the priest gave a wonderful homily.
He showed how in the gareden of Eden our first parents blamed the serpent/Satan. Now we blame God, instead of taking responsibility.
In Jersey he met those who feel devastated by a miscarriage, the inability to find work, lack of housing, fear of abuse etc..
However he complimented the great work fo the Jersey Refuge (inter-denominational) and the Vincent de Paul society.
|
|
|
Post by hibernicus on Dec 13, 2011 22:31:02 GMT
|
|
|
Post by hibernicus on Dec 13, 2011 22:36:10 GMT
|
|
|
Post by hibernicus on Dec 20, 2011 23:20:59 GMT
A discussion of the ongoing worldwide spread of Christianity, from Water Russell Mead's blog:http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2011/12/20/the-missionaries-win-christianity-becomes-global-religious-superpower/#comments We may not find all the forms taken by global Christianity congenial, but the spreading proclamation of the Name can only be welcomed
|
|