Sunday, February 12, 2017

New Evangelisation...

...means new people arriving in church, for whom it is deeply unfamiliar territory. At a recent baptism in a packed church, the extended family and guests of the candidate were all dressed up - posh hats, bow ties, spangly stuff, heels -  and well-equipped with mobile phones/cameras etc. But the essential nature of what was going on was evidently a matter of confusion. Lots of getting up and greeting friends, and much anxious checking-to-see-what-to-do-next when it came to the actual business of prayer...evident mild astonishment at the length  of the whole thing...

But it was extraordinarily touching to see the priest with the newly-baptised baby (beaming with gummy smile), followed by parents godparents with glowing candle, and parade of relatives, walking up the aisle from the font...

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