Hello, Everyone! Here are a few pictures from our first annual Spring Stations of the Cross outing at the Children of Mary. Thank you, Chris, for taking the pictures! Hope you enjoy the photos!
"What do you mean, I can't eat now? Where is everyone?"
Margo, Barb, and Suz chat, as Ryan looks for "crumbs" around the blueberry cake!
Mother Margaret Mary guards the chocolate covered peanut butter bars, as Mickey, Kathy, Ryan and Suz enjoy lunch. Our pot-luck picnic was wonderful!
Barb, Margo, and Peggy share lunch with Sister Philomena Maria and two visitors, Mary and Maureen.
Sister Lynn and Dolores - another visitor - share an animated conversation.
This was a classy lunch - we even had a "finger bowl" (or is that a "finger bucket"??) after lunch!!!! Thanks, Ryan!
After lunch, we celebrated May and Our Blessed Mother by having a Crowning of the Blessed Virgin. We all gathered around the statue of Mary and sang hymns in her honor, while Ryan looked on!
Mickey was chosen to crown Mary!
Then each of us came forward to stand before the Blessed Virgin, gazing into her eyes and telling her our own special intentions . . . .
Here's the WSE gang after the Crowning!
And here's the entire group with whom we shared lunch and the Crowning ceremony!
Then it was off to follow Jesus up the hill as we prayed the Stations of the cross. Mother Margaret Mary provided a wonderful version of prayers for the Stations - all from Mary's perspective. The reflections and prayers were beautiful.
Kathy reads the prayers for this station.
As we continued our journey up the hill, Barb reads the prayers for us.
The 12th Station - Jesus Dies on the Cross.
When we had completed the stations, we arrived at the top of the hill where the Children of Mary have an outdoor altar and shelter. The Blessed Sacrament had been brought to the altar for our adoration, and we joined the Children of Mary in Daytime prayer, and spent some quiet time with the Lord. Then Mother Margaret Mary prayed with (and for) each of us, before we journeyed back down the mountain. What a wonderful day this was! Thank you to all who came, and our prayers were especially for those women in our parish who are suffering, in any way. Hopefully, more will join us next year, as we want to make this an annual outing. And special thanks to Mother Margaret Mary and the Children of Mary, who are always so willing to open their doors and their hearts to us, radiating their deep faith and love for our Lord! God bless you all!