First Saturday of the month and the first day of April, but not ‘April Fool’s day’ at all, because it was also our Mission Saturday.
Whereas usually these meetings are held on the second Saturday the festive time changed the habit somewhat. We began the meeting with our friends by an encounter with the Word of God. We pondered and shared the Sunday Gospel.
Then we took time to get to know each other, our names, countries of origin (it was multinational!). We sang a Lenten song in English and some even got the opportunity to try playing an African instrument. I don’t think it was easy at all! While munching on delicious snacks, we chatted with people we hadn’t seen for a month or more, or with new people.
Holly then introduced herself to us, explaining the meaning of her name and talking about the country she comes from, which is the United States. It wasn’t the typical presentation of a country, either one’s own or one’s mission country, but more of a shared discussion, an attempt to break stereotypes about the USA, discussing religion and racism. Holly herself will tell you more in English, because we have to admit that her strong accent in speech was very difficult to understand for a person who has not used this language for years. However, it is easier to understand people for whom English is not their own language but was learned in school.
Sr. Gosia animated the next item on the programme. Thanks to her, we were able to pause for a moment over our lives and begin to consciously experience life multi-sensorially, slowly, attentively.
Each of us had a different task, to look/touch/listen/absorb the smells of our surroundings with all our attention and reflect on what all this tells us about God. There was also another task, very appetizing by the way, but better to experience it than to talk about it! While we marveled at life, Holly prepared American-style casseroles for lunch!
It’s good to get away from your everyday life once in a while and be even more open to others, to their lives, to life in general. I am delighted that, thanks to the Mission Saturdays, this is what is happening. See you in May!
Wiola, participant, Lublin, Poland
