St Patrick’s Day – a real family affair
It was one of the coldest St Patrick’s Days we’ve known but that didn’t stop several hundred pilgrims of all ages joining our annual celebrations at Saul and Down Cathedral.
There was a special emphasis on families this year and we had many new faces milling around the cathedral narthex before the service. Our kids programme included a St Patrick’s Trail with clues and prizes, a St Patrick selfie stand, goody bags and balloon modelling.
Nor did the weather deter visitors of a host of nationalities who wanted to mark St Patrick’s Day with worship at two of the oldest Christian sites in Ireland.
Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Malawi, Chile, England and USA, (including our link diocese of Albany) were just some of the countries represented at the Festival Service and on the pilgrimage from Saul.
The speaker at Down Cathedral, Nick Harding, engaged everyone with a simple message based on Patrick, whom he described as “Caught, Called and Committed”. Nick encouraged us to be caught, but by the right things, responsive to God’s call and totally committed to him and the sharing of the gospel.
Methodist President, Revd Dr Laurence Graham, had a similar emphasis when he preached at the service of Holy Communion in Saul. “We need to live in a rhythm of grace,” he said, “meeting Jesus and sharing Jesus.”
We were delighted that many of the families who came beforehand stayed for the Festival Service and lunch in the marquee. Here’s our family photo!
As is the case in most families, everybody gets a job, and so we’d like to thank Revd Jim Cheshire who led the prayers on the pilgrimage: Revd Mark Gallagher who did the balloon modelling; Laurence Bellew and his helpers from Willowfield who led us in our contemporary worship; organist Michael McCracken and the choir; Bishop Alf Cooper (Chile) who prayerfully laid the wreath on the grave and the Dean and staff of Down Cathedral.