Day Out Barrhead Neilston

Sancta Maria, Nunraw Sat 7 June 2008.
A DAY OUT (three coaches) from St.John’s, Barrhead, and St. Thomas’, Neilston, Paisley Diocese

Note to Fr. Stephen,

It was a lovely celebration of the lovely people from Barrhead-Neilson.

I thought a wee descriptive Note would be appropriate but this collection of pictures of the sunny Nunraw scene tells the story better.

The day was an event saved for brilliant sunshine.

From the south face of Nunraw Guesthouse the lawn fills the space over to the ancient Lebanon Cedar tree. And that is where the outdoor Mass was celebrated.

Fr. Stephen Baillie choose this natural ‘sanctuary’ in the grounds rather than go inside the Church at the Abbey. He celebrated a very moving Mass. The young people did the sun bathed gathering proud with the Readings and Offering Procession.

It could be called a day of Retreat and it certainly was a time to celebrate community building.. The older members could relax beside the trees. The activities the younger ones relieved them of their surplus energy. And, keeping the show running smoothly, the helpers were not quite unnoticed in the background, making sure that chairs or tables were moved and in the end that the lawn was left immaculately tidied .

As on previous years we thank God for a day of sunshine and the joy of the Nunraw Day’s Sojourn.

Fr. Donald (Guestmaster) says, “Haste ye back!”

Pictures will be found in the Nunraw Blogspot, www.nunraw.org.uk.

Quote
St. John Climacus (The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 27: On Prayer;
Paulist Press pg. 281):

"You cannot learn to see just because someone tells you to do so. For that, you require your own natural power of sight. In the same way, you
cannot discover from the teaching of others the beauty of prayer.
Prayer has its own special teacher in God, who 'teaches man knowledge' (Ps. 93:10). He grants the prayer of him who prays. And He blesses the years of the just."