Last Sunday, it was Divine Mercy Sunday. What a better way to enter in the beauty of God’s infinite Love than to welcome new friends to our Community gathering?
Each month we ask all our brothers and sisters to invite people who could be interested by the Emmanuel Community to our gatherings in Dracut, MA. From time to time, one or two show up – mainly from Father Sean’s parish in Dracut – but until now the number of guests joining always remained modest.
Last weekend, we had invited a group of Catholics from Africa living in Portland, Maine. A charismatic group very close to the Emmanuel Community and willing to get closer, that my husband and I met in Portland a few weeks ago. But Portland is about two hours from Boston, and we did not know how many will – or could – come.
With a “little” help from the Lord, eight of them were able to attend! One of them was pregnant and due next week, two other left their five children at home to come. And they all seemed so happy to be with us during that day.
We met for Sunday mass and Father Sean made a beautiful homily on Mercy for the children. Then, full of Easter Joy, we had a wonderful praise together in the chapel. All coming from different countries, from different continents, from different backgrounds, praise brought us together.
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus,
it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
Isaiah 35:1-2
During praise, one brother received the text of Isaiah 35:1-2 whereas another had the image of us climbing a sand dune in the desert and discovering a huge ocean behind it, confirming the Joy of the Redeemed. Our potluck was the perfect moment for all our sisters and brothers to get to know our new friends. Then we made a short presentation of the Community for them and discussed about how they could participate. We finished our afternoon by joining the Mercy Hour at the church. Alleluia! That visit was such a blessing for our local community!
“The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes”. Just keep inviting people who could be interested by the Emmanuel Community to your gatherings… God will take care of the rest.
Ingrid (Boston, MA)
This is so wonderful to read! Thank you for sharing and we hope that our brothers and sisters from Portland will return often.
Thank You Rosemary! It would be great indeed.