"Spirit Alive" at Plumpton Parish from Sr Patty Andrew osu 

 

Pentecost Sunday in the Plumpton Parish was certainly reminiscent of the first Pentecost described in the Acts of the Apostles. It began with the Eucharistic liturgy where crowds of parishioners gathered from many different ethnic backgrounds; Tongans, Fijians, Maoris, Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Iraqis, Italians, Lebanese and many more. We heard their first languages spoken and sung throughout different parts of the liturgy.

When Mass ended everyone proceeded to the large open courtyard which flows on from the Church building. Here each Parish group had set up a display area. The diversity of the gifts which animated and served the Parish and wider community were visible in engaging and creative ways.

Sr Colleen Foley had set up a display featuring the story of the Ursulines and the particular nature of our work. Sisters Marjorie Carroll, Venera Nicolosi and Patty Andrew joined Sr Colleen to support her in bringing a wider Ursuline presence to our unique story. We had good conversations with the many who visited the Ursuline display. They were glad to receive an attractive brochure prepared by Colleen with a short account of our Ursuline story.

It was an uplifting day as we shared in the richness of each other’s story and experienced the free flowing dance of the spirit in different cultures all woven into “one great song of love and grace ever ancient, ever new”

Plumpton Parish

Image above from left: Ursuline Sisters; Marjorie Carroll, Venera Nicolosi, Patty Andrew and Colleen Foley