The Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Yesterday, we celebrated The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We got up very early, for us, and drove to the Monastery of the Holy Redeemer for 8.30am Mass. It is a 35 min drive for us through some pretty aussie farm land. There is a group of cloistered Nuns who live in the Monastery, and we knew they would be attending Mass with us.
Mass began and I had to adjust my ears to hearing these voices coming from behind a opaque glass wall. The Mass was said beautifully By Fr John. It was a very special Mass and it was lovely to celebrate Our Ladys feast day at this Monastery.
Afterwards we shared morning Coffee and yummy foods at a homeschool families home. It was great to just be able to sit and enjoy the presence of these Mums, while the children made up imaginary plays.
We were entertained at the end of our morning by Jack and the Beanstalk narrated play. It was very busy and animated. The kids had been practicing during the morning.

All Souls day

Last evening Brid prepared and read the Litany of Saints, and she added some of our special names as well. That was a special time.
This morning, we joined our parish community at Mass. In preparation for this month, we have been writing down all our deceased family & friends on a sheet of paper, to take to Mass with us..  I sometimes have memory failure of those I would like to pray for, but today we were organised. It was nice to view this list before and at appropriate times to prompt our prayers.
Apart from these people dear to us, on our list, we will be especially praying for people in need this month. aussiecoffeeshop and I must have been on the same wave length when we were preparing our posts.
Our parish priest again put together a homily, that spoke to me. At one point, he spoke of the 'Book of the Dead', he has in the parish office and how he needs to write final details of a persons live. He spoke of how he used to dread it, now he calls it his book of hope, as he scans the pages of the people in the book, and remembers there life and the families.
God Bless you all today.

Precious gift

Today Brid & I finally attended Latin Mass for the first time in months. It is celebrated every 1st Tuesday of the month, at our local Cathedral. Various reasons has prevented us from attending.
Today was a special day.
As I had said previously, we are slowly making connections in our new parish.
Two dear ladies from our parish spoke to us after Mass. They are both very sweet women. One of the ladies, remembers us from when we had our older ones at the local Catholic school. In fact, my eldest dd was in her eldest grand childs class. So the connection is there.
She is always concerned for us. How are you settling in??
The other dear lady, had a book in her hand, and began explaining it to me. I was very interested as it was reflecting on the wounds of Jesus. Then she placed it into my hand, and said 'I want you to have it. I know you need it'. I was so touched by her generous heart and how she was spirit lead in her gesture.
And here I am thinking, we are not fitting in. Will we ever fit in here?
Why do I worry, God has little angels around to do his work, like these women. God Bless them.

Oh by the way, the little book is called " By his wounds you are healed."

Praise God In this day.