...and a day of busy activity...The 2013 TOWARDS ADVENT Festival was splendid and had a flavour of its own. The choir of St Philomena's was a spectacular success, and a great crowd of mums and dads had come along to listen, and this gave the hall a warm, well-filled, family feeling right from the start. The Refreshments team were, as always, kept very active all day. Delicious cakes, bikkies, sandwiches, tea...also home-made jam and much cheery talk on offer. Knights of St Columba in splendid blue ribboned collars, lots of people stocking up on Christmas cards, good speakers tackling the challenge of evangelisation in modern Britain, some authors signing books, a student pro-life group offering a message of hope, Ordinariate ladies selling some stunning hand-made scarves, exquisite gifts etc...oh, and more, and more...
The Cathedral Hall has fine acoustics - the choir gallery is large and the St Philomena's choir is some 60-strong and all looked very demure in long dark skirts and white blouses, arms held steady at their sides, faces all looking at the choirmistress...as the lovely sound of Panis Angelicus filled the hall, there was a sense of pure delight.
In welcoming us, the Archbishop spoke inspiringly, lifting our thoughts to God and doing so with a warm and light touch, just perfect for the day. It is something to stand in a hall glowing with a sense of prayer and music and goodwill, on a November day in modern London...and the goodwill was still there as people, though tired, carefully cleared things and helped with tidying as the day ended...
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