An intense Friday of work completed the final preparation for the feast of our Fraternity. We gathered in front of the house to welcome Don Massimo and Paul who came from Saluzzo: a great gift from the Community which makes us feel its affection despite the distance between us. Also this year lovely sunshine welcomed our parents for a Family Day: many smiles and a lot of emotions, especially from the brothers who were seeing them for the first time, welcomed their loved ones here in Kendal. A song of welcome and we gathered all together in the barn, transformed into a church, for the Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Mass. At the end another beautiful gift prepared by the Missionary Sisters of the Resurrection: a video of Mother Elvira with some talks directed at the parents and with other moments of her life today. We ate a joyful and typical English lunch together, prepared by some of the friends of our Fraternity followed by magic tricks from our magician, Don Massimo, which lifted everybody’s spirit. At the end finally we had some free time during which we could speak, share and open our hearts with our families. After the Divine Mercy Chaplet we listened to different testimonies, particularly touching the one from Fr Chris, who shared with us how his knowledge of our Community has been a grace and how the healing of many young people that he has known throughout these years has been an even stronger motivation for his conversion. The first day of our weekend closed with a tea break.

Sunday morning we were all involved with moving all the necessary items down to the courtyard in order to create an outdoor chapel and very soon we started to welcome all the friends of our Community. Also today we had the Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Mass celebrated by our new Bishop, Paul Swarbrick: simple sermon, but profoundly based on his motto “holiness before peace” and on the necessity, sometimes, to renounce something which is beautiful because this sacrifice may bear fruit. We were reminded by this about many Community teachings in giving ourselves for love. It was then time for lunch, lasagne, shepherd’s pie and beautiful tiramisú, and we gathered again for a moment of prayer and testimonies of some of the brothers. The day ended with dancing and songs and farewells to our guests and parents with the hope of seeing everybody again for the Nativity Play in December.

We want to thank the Community for all the beautiful moments we have lived and especially for the presence of Don Massimo and Bishop Paul.

Thank you Mary because also this year with your intercession we had a moment of joy, hope, forgiveness and healing.

Thank you Father for the gift of life, for the gift of Community that guides us each day to a new life in freedom.