Donkeys'n'Drama covid-friendly school project
Webmaster • November 21, 2020
Dear Friends and Supporters,
THE BAD NEWS...
...Last year was our tenth year at Tabernacle on the Hayes... Fantastic - and such a tribute to all of you who have given, in so many different ways. (Especially Tab!)
However, I probably don't need to tell you that we can't be there as usual this year. ... And nor can our puppet Nativity project go ahead.
THE GOOD NEWS...
Instead, we are taking our project out to the schools....
DONKEYS'N'DRAMA is a Covid-friendly project which can happen in school halls or in the playgrounds -- much needed and very welcome.
We're taking Toby and Thomas, and their pen to primary schools for three weeks in December.
We'll also be taking a giant and very beautiful crib scene... using the puppets we have had made for the venture at Eglwys Dewi Sant.
There'll be a soundtrack with music and a simple retelling of the story.
We'll also be taking along some costumes to add to the school's own nativity hoard, so that each child can have a Christmas photo to take home.
We've been working like crazy to make sure it can happen. For a start we've made replicas of eight puppets so that we don't have to worry about them getting damaged as they get moved from school to school over three weeks. We've had music composed for the soundtrack, and a fresh re-telling of the story scripted and narrated - in both languages, of course. And we're videoing it (the puppets will perform limited movements of their heads and hands, to bring the scene to life.)
Skills have been given freely to enable all this to happen - and that's not all that's been given.
We'd love the entire project to be free to schools - as it has always been - but without a presence in the city centre to enable us to attract donations, that isn't possible. We will have to charge the schools for this (£175 for half a day) because our donkeys need proper transportation, insurance and supervision. This meant that schools serving the very poorest areas of our city would struggle - until a friend, who for many years had been a single parent, surviving on her wages as a shop assistant, heard about it and handed me £500 to help subsidise schools in deprived areas. Since then another £250 has been added to that pot by a variety of generous souls. Every pound given is a pound off the amount that these schools will have to pay. What a blessing...
Oh, and in addition, a church school has offered us the use of a large people-carrier to move our kit around!
Our video of the crib scene will be available for all churches to use this Christmas. Any church that would like to put display a crib - using existing figures or making their own - outside their own church building, can use our soundtrack to go with it.
We'll send you more details, and lots of pictures, as all this unfolds over the next couple of weeks.
And with the vaccine in sight, we can look forward to next year... This new project has re-energised us - demonstrated that there are all sorts of ways we can get this wonderful story out into our city at Christmas - even when ther are trillions of viruses rtying to stop us!
If you've got a sewing machine and you'd like to help sew costumes for the younger children in schools... get in touch. We're only doing Mary and Joseph costumes - and they'll be easy peasy - I promise.!!
God bless you all. This is a Christmas like no other... I cannot tell you how much your loyalty and support has meant over the past decade...
May God be with you all,
Love Sally
We welcome Fr Emilian Kibiriti IC visiting our Parish, who is the Rosminian Provincial of East Africa Province. Fr Emilian is going to speak about the Rosminian Mission in Africa during this weekend Masses, please be generous to support their work
A national walking pilgrimage for England & Wales with 4 main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St Barnabas, Nottingham, on 13th September 2025, the eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Ways start at the Catholic Cathedrals in Cardiff, Leeds, Norwich and London and will bless our nations with a Sign of the Cross. The routes use established hiking routes. A small group of 'perpetual pilgrims' will walk the full distance of each Way, with up to 20 day pilgrims joining for day stages. To register for day stages and for more info: www.pilgrimways.org.uk/become-a-pilgrim-for-a-day
A Conversation with a Religious (3) How is it like living in a monastery? It is a community life, and we have set daily schedule for prayers, work, rest etc. Our life could be a surprise to some and there will be hardships because it is a very different and constant life routine, but as long as we are on this earth, don't we all have different sufferings too? However, if it really is the Will of God you have this Vocation, and with your love to God, you will persevere and overcome all obstacles. As well as you will find your true happiness and your own meaning of life. Is there anything you would like to tell others who think they may have a Religious Vocation? What I want to say is for all who are discerning, not just women. If you do feel God is calling you to religious life or Priesthood, do not ignore it, do not think too long by yourself. Instead, start praying about this and start talking to a Priest or a Sister in your local Church about it, or if you have an Order or Congregation in mind, get in touch with them. Think of the Apostles, when Jesus suddenly called: "Follow Me", they literally left everything behind and followed Him. At the end of the day, even if you have been granted admittance, it is not like you will become a Sister or a Priest the next day, there will still be a long process of discernment. Do not worry, but pray, pray and pray. Let the Holy Spirit guide you every step of your way. I always remember what St John Paul II said: "Open, open wide the doors to Christ. Be not afraid."
Pope Leo XIV has sent a special message to Catholics and people of goodwill celebrating Day for Life. “In this Jubilee Year focussed on the theological virtue of hope, it is fitting that your theme, ‘Hope does not disappoint – finding meaning in suffering’, seeks to draw people’s attention to how the mystery of suffering, so prevalent in the human condition, can be transformed by grace into an experience of the Lord’s presence, for God is always close to those who are suffering and guides us to appreciate the deeper meaning of life, in love and closeness (cf. Message of His Holiness Pope Francis’ XXXIII World Day of the Sick). His Holiness prays that, through your common witness to the God-given dignity of every person, without exception, and to the tender Christ-like accompaniment of the seriously ill, all in society will be encouraged to defend rather than undermine a civilisation founded on authentic love and genuine compassion. The Holy Father entrusts your efforts to the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel, and to all supporting this ‘Day for Life’, he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of fortitude, joy and peace in the Risen Lord.” There will be a Second Collection THIS weekend for ‘Day for Life’ It provides financial assistance each year to organisations working to support the Church’s mission to protect human life from conception to natural death. These range from educational workshops to advocacy campaigns, practical support services to commissioning research.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth… He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine…” (John 16:13-15) God our Father, who by sending into the world the Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification made known to the human race your wondrous mystery, grant us, we pray, that in professing the true faith, we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory and adore your Unity, powerful in majesty. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday 17th June 11am St Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea Celebrated by Canon Benedict Koledoye All welcome
Volunteers are urgently needed to help keep our beautiful Church clean. If you are able to spare a short time on a Monday morning to help with this please contact the Church office on 02920 483 394. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
There is NO Mass this Wednesday and Thursday (11 & 12 June) because the Priests is having a meeting with the Bishop
A Conversation with a Religious (2) Did your parents opposed your decision? I think they have a mixture of feelings. It is more like they worried about me and wouldn't want to part with me than an opposition. But I said to them that I am going to be with someone who is the King of all kings, who is All Mighty, who has everything, and I will be happy to be with Him. I also reassured them that they offered their daughter for Him who is All Powerful, He will also give them abundant Blessings. Knowing that they will be the 'in-laws' of God, how could He not look after them and attend to all their needs in my place. Does one need to have a certain characteristics in order to be a religious sister? We all have different characteristics, coming from all walks of life, and everyone has a story to tell, just like the different flowers from garden, woodland, hillside and vale. But the most important thing is '…the king greatly desire thy beauty...' (Psalm 45:11) This beauty, is not just what we already know about ourselves, but is deeper than what we can't even see within ourselves yet He can see within us. You see, we did not choose Him, instead, He chose us, and out of the thousands He chose us to be His bride. This is such a beautiful and romantic invitation. Because this is not just somebody, He is our God who ask for our love, ask for our hands. This is our answer to His Call. This is our love to His Love.
“Holy Spirit, Lord of Light, From the clear celestial height Thy pure beaming radiance give…. . ..Thou, on us who evermore Thee confess and thee adore, With thy sevenfold gifts descend: Give us comfort when we die Give us life with thee on high Give us joys that never end.” (Veni, sancte Spiritus) O God, who by the mystery of today's great feast sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen