Our church at St Columba’s is more than a building. We are the church … and just as the building needs maintenance we, individually and collectively need to strengthen ourselves.
As a New Year's resolution, I started occasionally walking to daily mass at St Gertrude’s in South Croydon. I noticed that they had a series of Monday evening events which were open to all interested Catholics. Their purpose was to build the community of St Gertrude’s. How? by getting to know each other and our shared faith better.
Clare and I have now been out 14 Mondays and shared a meal, a cup of tea with some lovely people. We have learnt about our faith and the faith of our fellow Catholics in South Croydon.
We have talked about the sacraments and what they mean to us in today’s world. We have prayed together and learnt about how we turn our beliefs into action. This was gentle yet inspiring stuff. Somehow, meeting people properly for the first time, having time to share our experiences and getting to know ourselves better is liberating and confidence building. We are helping ourselves whilst helping each other.
As with all good things it has not just emerged from the Church by accident. It has a name but, for now, I am going to keep it a secret.
For now, just imagine sitting down to eat a meal with friends and talking about things. I often say that ‘You don’t make friends without meeting strangers’: well: here at St Columba’s we are not strangers but we could all do with getting to know each other better by sharing our joint faith.
I will be putting a list at the back of Church for you to indicate your interest and will organise a meeting when we have sufficient numbers. Or, you can ring me if you want to help me organise things.
Denis O’Brien
020 8657 4148
Thanks from Maureen Sullivan
Please thank everyone who gave me gifts, sent me flowers and many cards on my leaving Selsdon.
Further to my article about the Mayday chapel, I received a phone call from Rev Hilary Fife thanking me for organising the volunteers from St Columba’s. She said they were a valuable contribution to enable people to get to the chapel. I also received a card signed by all the chapel staff.
I think it was the First Communion Day yesterday. I thought of everyone hope all went well.
My best wishes to the parishioners I knew, and God Bless
Maureen Sullivan