SOM '09 - The Beginning and the End

In the beginning....there were these plain empty houses....

At their journeys' end, these have been transformed and filled.....

with the beauty of God's truths and graces received in the 20 weeks of the School! Praise God!!

On 5 July the School of Missions came to an end. The Closing Eucharist was celebrated by Archbishop John Dew in an atmosphere of great joy and thanksgiving. \o/

Jolene and Lacy shared their testimonies of how their lives have been changed inside out by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Jo likened her transformation to an old torn jersey mended with new wool to the extent that though it is the same jersey, yet nothing of the old remained. Cool!

Lacy and Jo were blessed to have their families present on the Closing day of the School, experiencing in part what they and the rest of the participants have been immersed in for the last 5 months.

Participants receiving the blessing prayed over them by the Archbishop at the close of the Eucharist.

"Go! You are sent! The School has ended but your journey to proclaim Christ has not!"

A happy flock with their shepherd

A happy school with their school leader!

The School, the Shepherd and the Community

How I would like to engrave this great idea on each one's heart:

Christianity is not a collection of truths to be believed,

of laws to be obeyed, of prohibitions.

That makes it very distasteful.

Christianity is a person,

one who loved us so much,

one who calls for our love.

Christianity is Christ.

- Archbishop Oscar Romero