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FROM FR KEVIN BURNS - OUR LADY OF VICTORIES, SOCKBURN, CHRISTCHURCH

For me to be invited to celebrate mass in Passionist Family Groups is a pastoral work with many benefits to the group and to me, the priest. Our Passionist Families know I am available and so they can plan to have mass in one of their homes annually or when a need arises. It is a good for the group to have this experience and members can exercise their ministry as Readers and ministers of Holy Communion. In such a setting even a dialogue sermon is very much appreciated where all can have an input. Such sermons have been known to have lasted for 30 minutes. The group can write their own prayers of the faithful. Children can easily be involved in preparing the altar etc. Praying together and praying for one another in the mass does strengthen the bond and deepen the life of the group. I do appreciate being invited to celebrate mass in these groups and usually make myself free to be with them for the whole evening listening to their stories and observing their formal meeting or their preparations for the next gathering. In these gathering too they talk easily about the life of the parish and this I find very supportive.