Our Lady of Grace
&
The Holy
Spirit
Fellowship
Groups
What is it like being a Christian "all on your own"?
What is it like if you are part of a community? What if the community was one of deep bonds, understanding and sharing? Is that not what the church had in its earliest days?
Is that not what around 60 of us had a small taste of at the Parish retreat to the Briars earlier this year? A taste that there is a much deeper fellowship and satisfaction to be had if we come together and share our time, experiences, insights, fears and hopes.
This is what we are hoping to offer through Parish Fellowship Groups. So far, we have found that a simple, regular meeting, based around chat, food, prayer and Gospel reading has begun to provide just that. I will perhaps never see the Gospel, the life, works and teachings of Jesus through the eyes of a first century Jew - but I can see through eyes that are not my own when I have the courage to talk and listen to others. I don't think I am unusual in finding few opportunities to do so either at work, at home or indeed anywhere else. These fellowship meetings give me a safe place, a secure place to do so, to both listen and share my own thoughts, which gives me the chance to develop and grow my understanding and faith. We are "No Longer Children" but we need to continue to learn.They could do the same for you.
SECOND TESTIMONY
Our aim in
the Parish Fellowship Group has been to develop friendships based on our
common Catholic faith and the sharing of prayer and food. We have met
several times since May and every time we have had very fruitful talks
and shared prayers for each other and the parish and the world. I always
come away stimulated and enthused and hopeful that we may begin to spread
this idea to include more people and strengthen the parish so that we
aren't just a set of friendly faces after mass each week but people who
know and care for each other. It is an ambitious aim in a big parish and
maybe people, especially those who have deeper roots here, may not see
the need in the same way, but for those of us who are incomers (albeit
of fifteen years standing) being able to talk
to people freely in a Catholic context is a refreshing experience. It's
about being open to new experiences and opportunities and letting God
do new things with our lives.
THIRD TESTIMONY
I find the
PFG meetings very motivating. Through the discussions and prayerful reflections
the Bible becomes more alive to me and makes me want to learn more about
it. Hearing what the other members find in a reading is very enlightening.
The discussions are lively and interesting, but for me, the prayers we
share, after the discussion and reading, are the most enriching part of
the meeting.
It is a great feeling to meet with others to share the journey. We pray
for each other regularly between meetings and, through the meetings, we
are encouraging each other to bring God more into our lives and into our
roles in our homes and community. The meetings are prayerful and social
and at times it can be fun and occasionally sad. It is always refreshing
and motivating.