Discipleship Program, OLPH, Fujeirah

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Fujairah

I preached a Lenten mission in Fujairah from February 25-27, making it possibly the first mission being preached in a church in the UAE by a lay person. Hopefully this will create a precedent because there are a lot of lay preachers who can conduct missions just as well as priests can, and with the shortage of mission preachers among the clergy this might help to fill in a vast gap.

Fr. Michael, the parish priest of the Church in Fujairah, was present on all the days, and like others who have attended in the past, had only good things to say about the Program. So did the others who came for it, though as usual, it was word of mouth about the preacher that brought them in.

I got a fascinating insight into how people choose to attend retreats during one of the counseling sessions I had in the morning. A gentleman who came on the second day told me that he hadn't come on the first day because he thought I belonged to another nationality!!!

Discipleship Program, St. Mary's, Croydon

St. Mary's Church, Croydon

Lalini Nazareth, who was also my host for most of the time I was in London, arranged to have the Discipleship Program in St. Mary's Church in Croydon over three evenings from February 19 to February 21. Though it had a slow start (as usual!) the church was pretty full by the final day and it was a delight to see normally stiff people loosen up to hold hands and sing together! If I had a few more days with them, I'd have them dancing!!

Discipleship Program, St. Stephen's, Enfield

The wonderful Fr. Rodney, parish priest of St. Stephen's

Back at St. Stephen's

Fr. Rodney, the Anglican pastor of St. Stephen's Church in Enfield, and his dear wife Vicky gave me yet another warm welcome as I returned to preach at their parish, this time to give the Discipleship Program. The last time I was here I had given a short talk on love, which had resulted in an open invitation to return. As I had only four hours to conduct the program, I condensed it as best I could. Earlier in the day he had invited me to give the homily during the Mass.

A truly Spirit filled man, Fr. Rodney could give a few lessons to his Catholic counterparts in largeness of heart and graciousness of hospitality, though I am pretty sure that his desire for Christian unity and his willingness to take risks must not endear him to members of his own order. It is a real pity that such men are such a rarity.

Discipleship Program, St. Joseph's, Hendon

A few of the people who attended the Program in Hendon

My first program during my second visit to London was a day long Discipleship Program in St. Joseph's Church, Hendon. There were just 32 people present, but given that it is considered a minor miracle if ten show up for a Christian program in London, I figured I should consider myself fortunate. The people were a smogasbord of nationalities but the language didn't seem to be a problem for any of them, so I quite enjoyed it. I also enjoyed my stay with Millie Fernandes, a lady of Kenyan origin, who had arranged this program and the one to follow in Enfield.