Popular Mission - September 28th / 30th 2007
People from as far away as Italy and Poland took part in a march of faith through Carlisle city centre at the weekend. A total of 170 visitors joined Father Jim Allen and other parishioners from St Bede's in a walk from the Wigton Road church to the bandstand near the Old Town Hall, where they preached to shoppers and other onlookers. As well as carrying banners, those who took part sang and danced - catching the attention of everyone they met on Saturday. The march was part of the church's Popular Mission, which continued on Sunday, and aimed to spread the message of the church's work. As well as the march, the mission involved Mass services in St Bede's, as well as a social evening and celebration in the church's parish centre.
Fr Jim said: "This was about walking into town and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is alive and loves us." All who took part wanted to be evangelical - something not usually associated with members of the Catholic faith. "These young people offered to come and pay their own way to do this experience - not timidly, but to shout out, not obtrusively, for those who wanted to listen," Fr Jim added.
Leaflets were also handed out to advertise a series of special talks at St Bede's, which started last night. All of the visitors to the city - including the 51 Italians and 41 Poles - stayed with people in the city.
Here there is the photos gallery (click to enlarge).
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