The May Bank Holiday weekend saw the 7th anniversary celebration of the opening of the British House of Cenacolo. It was a golden weekend for, although the weather forecasters had predicted doom and gloom, we bathed in gentle sunshine most of the time. Not that the weather really mattered; what really mattered was the presence of the family and friends of the lads.
At the House at Dodding Green there two opportunities each year for family and friends to visit: one is at the Nativity celebrations usually in late November, and the other is the May weekend closest to the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
Father Andrea had arrived from Italy ‘mob handed’ on the Wednesday prior to the festival; he and four others landed at the House. Three of the party were destined to stay at Dodding Green after the festival: Max, Andrea and Enrico.
Saturday was set aside as a time mainly for parents and families to be at the House so as to spend a little quality time together. The programmes for these days are always the same and consist of: Rosary, Testimonies, Adoration and Holy Mass; these events punctuated by refreshments of one kind or another. Sunday saw greater numbers at the House for not only were families present but also many friends of the Community. A lovely time was had of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Thanksgiving for the blessings received over the seven years that the Community has been established in this country. After lunch, which had been prepared by the lads, some more testimonies were given; this time by close friends of the Community who told the story of how the Community came to live at Dodding Green.
The Bishop of Lancaster, the Rt. Rev Michael Campbell OSA came later in the afternoon and celebrated Mass for the anniversary; and then it was time for the farewells as friends and family left the House. But it was not only friends and family who were leaving: two lads were to be transferred to different Houses in the Community. So we took our leave both of Fabio and of Jonathan who go to continue their ‘walk’ with our love and prayers.
