WelCom November 2020
St Francis of Assisi Ōhariu Parish hosted its annual St Francis of Assisi feast-day celebrations at two Masses on Saturday October 3 and Sunday October 4.
The first celebration was a Saturday night Creation-themed Mass at St Benedict’s Church, Khandallah that began with rousing singing of All Creatures of our God and King. It was followed the next day with a combined parish Mass at St Andrew’s Church, Newlands.
The combined Mass was a dynamic event. Children brought their stuffed animals to be blessed and parishioners watched as a group of ‘travelling monks’ walked real animals down the aisle for a blessing – including Jack the Donkey, as well as lambs and dogs.
People in the congregation reflected on Pope Francis’ quotation: ‘the Earth as our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life’.
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