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Latest news from across the Diocese of East Anglia includes Secular Franciscan professions and a quartet welcomed into the church.
Three members of the Pax et Bonum Secular Franciscan Order in Norwich made their profession on Saturday May 11, at the Church of Our Lady and St Etheldreda, Newmarket, reports Anne Murrin.
The ceremony was held during the Mass that was the central event of a Regional Day of Recollection for Franciscans in the East Anglia area.
Francis Taylor, Laurence Smith, and Simon Hambrook, made their promises before Brigid Rawlinson, the Fraternity Minister, who accepted them on behalf of the fraternity and the Order.
This was witnessed by Fr Donald Walsh OFM, our Spiritual Assistant, and other members of the East Anglia fraternities who had gathered for the day.
One of the newly professed, Simon Hambrook, had recently moved to Assisi where he is living temporarily, his mission being to trust in the Lord for work and daily sustenance. He came back specifically for the occasion. Each member was given a copy of the Gospels as reminder of St Francis’s exhortation that we should live from ‘Life to Gospel and Gospel to life’. A St Damiano crucifix and a lighted candle were also received by each of the newly professed.
Mass was followed by a celebratory shared lunch and a further talk by Fr Donal in the afternoon.
Nicholas Wigglesworth, Penny Swallow, Sioned Williams and Russell Butcher (pictured right), were welcomed into the Church at the Easter Vigil, at St Mary’s Ipswich.
Also pictured is Deacon Chris Brighten, who took the RCIA programme for 2018/19. Nicholas and Sioned were baptised, and all received the sacraments of confirmation and First Holy Communion from Fr Kevin Jordan, a Westminster Diocesan priest, who celebrated the Easter Triduum at St Mary’s.
Thank you
Chris
