International fun day, New Dawn and May crowning

Latest news of interest to the East Anglia Catholic community includes an Intercultural Family Fun Day in Ramsey, the New Dawn Pilgrimage in Walsingham and a May crowning of Mary in Withermarsh Green.

The Church of the Sacred Heart in Ramsey held an Intercultural Family Fun Day on Sunday May 5, including food, live music, art and a procession of dance and costumes, reports Karen Prestage.

The event was organised by the resourceful Alicante family, especially Mark and Mum, but with an enormous contingent of helpers from the congregation and local community, including the Ramsey Rural Museum and Ramsey Neighbourhood Trust.

To be held in the car park and beautiful quiet garden, organisers held their breath because the weather forecast was “dark and stormy”, but this miraculously changed after midnight to a forecast bright sunny afternoon.

Over 150 attended and were entertained by the local Ukelele band (a parishioner is a member) playing English folk songs; Sri Lankan siblings, altar servers and choir members performing a mixture of Sri Lankan and English songs and praise and worship performed by the Fellowship group.

Food of all cultures, Filipino, Nigerian, Sri Lankan, English and Cameroonian tantalised the taste buds and made selection very difficult. Two raffles were held, all adding to the excitement. Winning tickets being drawn by our own Fr Andrews.

Raphael, a Cameroonian artist and Sacred Heart parishioner, ran a children’s art table, proving that art is a powerful medium of communication for children. Some finished items were picked to be showcased as an installation in the Parish room.

Perhaps the “piece de resistance” however was the intercultural parade of costumes and dances proudly displayed by the wearers. What an unforgettable afternoon this turned out to be, raising a goodly sum for the necessary church repairs.

A huge thank you to all involved.

Pictured above is part of the procession of dance and costumes.

A May crowning of Mary and subsequent procession, took place around the grounds of Our Lady Immaculate and St Edmunds at Withermarsh Green – pictured right – reports Sarah Ward.

“It was a lovely sunny day and very well attended, with people singing hymns to Our Lady as we processed around the grounds at Withermarsh Green.”

The New Dawn Pilgrimage this year takes place from Monday August 5 to Friday August 9 at the National Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham. New Dawn is a family event with a programme of liturgy, sacraments, praise and worship, keynote speakers, workshops, children/youth ministries and more.

Highlights will include the attendance of the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendí, and the visit of the Pericardium Relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis from Assisi!

Speakers include the Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev John Wilson, Franciscan Friar Fr Columba Jordan CFR and Deacon Larry Oney, from New Orleans and Chairman of HGI Global.

Further information can be found on our website at www.newdawn.org.uk

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