Pastoral Visit

Few words today as the pictures say it all. It was a wonderful opportunity to have bishop John with us and his visits and meetings were much appreciated.

The day started with Morning Prayer at 9am offered for God's blessing on the Patoral Visit. The bishop arrived at 9.30am. His first call was the school to celebrate the Mass on the new school altar.

This was followed by a meeting with the Pastoral Team and Lunch at the Vicarage.

The bishop visited one of the two Nursing Homes that we look after spiritually: Gloucester House. There the bishop administered the fortnightly communion and visited those who are bedridden.

From there it was straight to the Sevenoaks Hospital where the Sevenoaks Chronicle met us again, the first time being at the school. At hospital the bishop was greeted by Matron Maggie Powell. The bishop stopped by every patient and had words of encouragement and a blessing for all.

This was followed by Vespers in church where the bishop dedicated and used our new monstrance in memory of Tina Newholm.

Thanks be to God for this day, to Our Lady, under whose care Fr Mark and I entrusted it and to St John our heavenly patron. Thanks to all those who made the bishop so welcome. Thanks to the Sevenoaks Chronicle, to Roy for moving holy stuff from one place to the other, bishop included, and to Carol who followed the bishop all day to take the above photos. Thanks to the bishop who was being energised as the day progressed, for being for all of us truly a Father in God.

At 8pm we had stations and Mass, these were offered as a thanksgiving for the Pastoral Visit.