Come and Sing! Jubilee of Choirs – 22 November
September 17, 2025
On Saturday 6 September, around 80 people from across the Diocese and beyond gathered at the Catholic Church of St Henry Morse in Diss for a Day of Renewal, organised by the Charismatic Diocesan Service of Communion (CDSC). Pam Smith Reports.
The day began with Mass at 10am, as parishioners and visitors came together to celebrate Communion and to proclaim the Hope of the Gospel.
Fr Alvan Ibeh encouraged those gathered: “do not let this day pass you by without experiencing something special.” He spoke of the worry and anxiety that can keep us awake at night, that we may pray but wait and wait on the Lord, and an answer may not seem forthcoming, yet we know that “Hope does not disappoint.” He prayed that we all be “transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom 12:2).
Fr Alvan’s talk took us through the scriptures, focusing on people who hoped in the Lord to see if they were disappointed, showing that against all odds, God has the power to uphold his promises. They held firm in their belief and hoped in the Lord. Jesus never fails. The evil one has no access to our minds if they are renewed in Christ. He urged us to remember that “when you are down to nothing, God is up to something”. God has a plan for each of us and like Peter when he walked on the water, we have to focus on Jesus, then we can walk on our problems, but when we focus on our problems, we sink.
During the day Fr Alvan shared testimonies from his life and from his two books entitled A Fountain of Hope. The theme of his talks, the prayers he offered up for us all, and the Praise and Worship encouraged those gathered to trust in the Lord and His plans for each of us.
Thanks to Fr Alex, Deacon David and the parishioners of St Henry Morse parish. Their participation, welcome and hospitality throughout the day were much appreciated both by the team and by those attending the Day of Renewal. St Henry Morse church, on Shelfanger Road, Diss, opened in 2012, is full of light and has a wonderful atmosphere of worship. Many described it as “the pearl of great price, the treasure hidden in the field.”
We extend our thanks also to Fr Alvan Ibeh for leading the day and encouraging all those present to embrace the promises of God, our Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who is with us always: “hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:5).
For more information about Charismatic events, please email renewaleastanglia@gmail.com or visit www.renewaleastanglia.org
Photograph by Andrea Cope.
