...and every year the Festival of Catholic Culture exceeds expectations. This year, the choir of St Philomena's School, Carshalton, sang most beautifully, first Panis Angelicus and then "A Gaelic Blessing". It was greatly enjoyable, as a Philomenian, to be there welcoming them at Westminster Cathedral, and then giving each girl a little thank-you gift (CTS Prayer Books). I asked them "Don't you think that your choir director should receive something special" and they chorused "Yes!" and applauded, and I handed over a gift-wrapped parcel (a gold-edged new Missal plus a book by JB)...
It is always a day mapped out in high-speed moves: arrival at the Cathedral Hall with every group - over 30 take part in the Festival - rushing to claim its table and set it up with books and gifts and posters and decorations...the organising of the refreshments that will be on sale all day (Deo Gratias for Josephine Robinson and the wonderful Association of Catholic Women, who have run this with superb efficiency since the Festival's foundation)...greeting the choir and showing them where to change and rehearse etc...unpacking all the things I have brought for various stalls,...finally also unpacking the books for my own stall, shared with a young relative who is an award-winning author signing copies of her books...and then suddenly, it's time for the doors to open, and people are pouring in...and then at 10.30 the Archbishop arrives, the Chairman (Brian Towler, of the Catenians) makes the opening greetings - and the FESTIVAL BEGINS!
Archbishop Vincent Nichols spoke exceptionally well at the Opening ceremony, lifting our thoughts up to God and setting the tone for the day in exactly the right way. The mood was friendly, bustling, open and cheerful. The speakers, Edmund Adamus of the diocese of Westminster and Sister Hyacinthe of the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, were of a high standard. New features included a stall (including some lovely Christmas cards) run by the splendid team at the Sons of Divine Providence at Hampton Wick),and the popular craft stall run by the Ladies Ordinariate Group (I found it fun when a couple of people asked me "Have you met those Ordinariate ladies? They're really nice!")...and it was a joy, as always, to chat to the young team running Magnificat and Second Spring...during the day my only regret is that, as I am hurrying about on errands and making announcements, I am only able to have proper conversations with a small number of the friends and colleagues that I greet with a wave or smile too briefly...
...and then it's over, and I'm hurrying back from chairing Sister Hyacinthe's talk (Hinsley Room) to the main hall (Cathedral Hall) and finding people packing up and cleaning things...
...and then Jamie ( who always loyally arrives with gusto, greeting friends and relatives, hugging nieces, enjoying a good natter with various clergy) joined me for supper with Dan Cooper of the Faith Movement in a restaurant across Victoria Street. I was too tired to eat much and simply began with cup after cup of delicious freshly-brewed TEA, a baffled waitress anxiously bringing a second pot and extra hot water...
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