After Sunday Mass and Novena, outside the Columban House, Lower Hutt
This year I was again blessed by preparing for Christmas by taking part in the Novena of the Latin American community. For 9 nights we met in different houses to sing carols, share a gospel reading and join in prayers to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. As the majority are Colombians, we follow a programme from the country but this year we also spent a night in homes of Chileans, Mexicans, Argentinians and Peruvians. Every one said that this year was the best Novena ever.
Fr Don with Colombian Families celebrating the Novena
Fr Don Celebrating the Novena with Mexican Families
Several newly arrived families took part bringing their enthusiasm. Numbers grew so that on at least one night there were 50 people present. It was very much a family affair with parents and their children participating. The prayer was followed by sharing some light food with people mingling, meeting the new members and deepening friendships. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas mass, we will commit ourselves to finding ways to continue community building in 2026 as we deepen our faith in Jesus and our support for each other. Our symbol will be the wise men in the crib. They had been placed in a line heading towards the manger but someone put them in a circle as if they were in dialogue with each other asking how they were to find the way to the new born Saviour.
May we find Jesus by opening our hearts to him and to each other.
Fr Don Hornsey lives and works in Aotearoa/New Zealand
PS. All the parents willingly gave permission to publish photos of their children.
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