Spring is in the Air again

With the coming of Spring, there comes the season of Lent. 

      

The signs of spring is clearly evident everywhere in the nature- buds, early chirping of birds, brighter days, gentle weather, making heart joyful and hopeful. It was a great joy to see first signs of leaves becoming greener, snow drops, crocus of myriad colours, coming up of daffodils on month of March.

Who would have thought a simple thing like going for a walk, could provide such a wonderful distraction from all daily challenges, revived and back in spirit.

I feel like Psalmist saying in Bible- " My spirit Rejoice in the Lord my saviour.." Many find  mindfulness is a good place to start confronting different thoughts ..but for me Mindfulness of Lord in my life, in and  around is the best way and it is definitely life giving for any who trust in Christ.

Some of our recent days in Park, museum where we had a little stroll..

Also coming of Spring we look forward for Pancake day/ Shrove Tuesday/ Carnival. Time of feasting before the lent begins with Ash Wednesday. It is the tradition  and means we will get Lent off a better start and we continue cheerful and grateful to God. Also it used to be days of confession back in pre reformation days in England. There is Pancake Bell which reminds of the special day .

Some of old memories from archives.

Some of our pancake day snaps.

Hope all have blessed lent ahead.

St Patrick'sday

Today is the feast of St Patrick, used to be a week with Irish dance and celebration in our St John's community. Due to the current situation going around, we are confined at home by learning Irish steps, read story of St Patrick, some activities and food( jelly made with the help of Geo).

St Patrick was a Roman citizen and captured by celts and made a slave for six years. In his captivity he turned to God. He tells us; "The love of God and His fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith and my soul was roused..." Pstrick had a message from God in a dream and he was told to flee and in the end united with his family. He became a priest later and back in Ireland.

One of the keys to his holiness is his deep humility. In his book called confession, he speaks about his sinfulness...I was like a stone lying in mud and mighty lifted me up...

Children are learning some Irish dance steps and Geo along with Theresu putting their best effort to learn.

'Christ beside me....

Practised the song of Patrick...' Christ at my right hand...

Since it is the day of wearing of the green, I tried to incorporate some green in the meal and children worn green as part of the feast.

          

  Happy Feast of St Patrick

Feast of St John Bosco

Jan 31st is the feast day of St John Bosco and a lovely day to enjoy doing  trampoling, jokes, riddles as John Bosco was the patron saint of orphaned and wayward youths.He encouraged them and accompanied them in a different way and so many interesting things about him.

Children read the biography of him and prepared a few card tricks, clown, circus skills, balancing and I prepared some riddles.It was a fabulous day. Some of the coloring pages was done in the end.

St John Bosco pray for all the youth.

Solemnity Of Feast Of Assumption of Mary

Since August 15, we celebrated the Assumption of Our Lady and also The Independence day of our home country. It is also called as Dormition or Sleeping of Our Lady in Eastern churches.

We had a beautiful sharing with children about Mary's assumption and about India's Independence day. Pointed out how pure Mary was and how damage sin can cause to soul. Since Mary was pure and white, fragrant like a flower, with fragrance around.Her body was so pure so Her son took her body to heaven.

We also talked about Mary's falling sleep, The apostles thought she was dead and placed in her tomb.St. Thomas was late, and so when the other Apostles took him to see the body, they found no body, just a tomb filled with fragrant flowers. Jesus had taken Mary up to heaven, body and soul.

There is a tradition of blessing herbs and fruits on this day.Sirach(24; 20-21) describes Mary as sweet smelling fragrance and see here. Lot of dishes in catholic cuisine for this very special feast day.Lots of crafty ideas can be found in Holy heroes and shower of roses. Some of the crafts created by kidoos

                           
                                               Annu's (Mother  Mary and cherubs)

                         Munnu's