A Day With Mary At The Seaside...

Today we were blessed with what looks to be an annual event here in the parish of Margate.

The Day With Mary team held one of their devotional days last year at St. Austin & St. Gregory's Church, Margate. This year it was held at the other church in our parish - St. Anne's in Cliftonville.

St. Anne's church is bigger than St. Austin & St. Gregory's; it has a much bigger hall, there is an outside area, parking near the church is much easier, and there is no Saturday evening Mass, making the organisation of the Day With Mary much more straightforward. Given today's success, I expect that the Day will be held at St. Anne's from now on...

We started, as ever, with the Crowning of the Statue of Our Lady and a procession with recitation of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. I think the route went along the sea front, but walking on uneven surfaces isn't my strong point (especially if I have to watch my feet), so I remained in the church, as did a few others...

Mass was next - a beautiful Missa Cantata. Fr. Mark Higgins preached the sermon - he's just arrived as curate in the neighboring parish of Ramsgate.

Lunch gave me the opportunity to have a look at the devotional items on sale - I didn't get to check out the books this year - but I was desperate to have a cup of tea, and so neglected to take my usual shots of the books and other items on offer. I will endeavour to do better next year! However, I did manage to have a very enjoyable chat with friends.

Once back in the church, we had Exposition. The Blessed Sacrament Procession with recitation of the Luminous Mysteries (following the same route as the earlier Marian Procession,), a talk on Our Lady by Fr. Bernard McNally, the recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, and meditations on the Stations of the Cross formed the second session of the day. Tea provided another opportunity to photograph the stalls selling books, statues, rosaries, medals and what-have-you, but this was completely missed by your shame-faced blogger here. I was just having too much fun basking in the glorious sunshine...

The final session kicked off with a talk on Our Lady given by Fr. Tim Finigan, followed by the recitation of the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, enrolment in the Brown Scapular and confering of the Miraculous Medal. We ended with the traditional farewell to Our Lady's statue - it makes me cry every time! Watching everyone in the church waving little white hankies (in imitation of what happens at Fatima) is unbelievably emotional.

I am sure I have said it before, but, I want to say it again: if you ever get the chance to attend a Day With Mary in a parish near you, even if only for part of the day, make the effort.

More photos are in my Flickr album.