Germany Welcomes Us Back
Pastor Michael Blanke was soon to invite us a second time to
Germany; but this time we would end up as guests to the Catholic Dean
of Wiesbaden. Indeed, the venue was the beautiful Catholic Church of
The Holy Family. The Church was packed to capacity by animal loving
worshippers of all the major denominations. And before the actual
worship began I had been invited by the Dean to participate in Holy
Communion. "Just give me a blessing Father, I understand your dilemma
and a blessing will abundantly suffice at this morning's Mass!" I
said. His reply was "You will offend me greatly if you do not partake
of the Blessed Sacrament". Yes, it would be the first and only time
that Doreen and I communicated in a Catholic Church. And then, as if
this were not enough of a concession, the dear Priest later asked a
lady Lutheran minister to preach and offer a prayer before I did
similar on behalf of the Anglican branch of Christendom.
Indeed, as is usual, the animals were again on their best behaviour.
It was incredible how well behaved they all were. And during their
time of blessing near the end of worship a delightfully warm hearted
and sensitive lady came forward. "May I speak to you?" she asked. "Of
course!" I replied. Her words were something like this: "You
understand, I'm brought up a Catholic and you a Protestant, and our
churches have been kept apart from each other down the many years.
Today the animals have brought us together as one and I am so very
happy"
The tears filled up her eyes and she apologised. "We're
taught that Jesus is on the Altar but I've never felt Him as close as
today and He is right here, amongst us and all around us, as the
animals have been blest. And it is so wonderful; I have never felt
Jesus as close in a church before." Yes, I couldn't have agreed with
her more; and after the worship we gathered in the open to partake of
a whole selection of Vegan food and drink while happy German music
played in the background. The Parish Priest Father Bruno was, indeed,
an inspiration to us all. He was also – believe it or not - a strict
Vegan!
A photo from the past of Cynthia O'Neil, of Fr. George, and my
unworthy self
Near the beginning of this decade Cynthia told me how she’d
attended this National Animals War Memorial to place some Flowers, as
well as to observe the Sunday 2 minutes silence for the animal victims
of man’s war, who had no say in it!
To her disgust only one man was present, along with his dog, and a
bunch of flowers in his hand! When she narrated this to me, I made a
promise I’d join her the following year; that I’d formulate a little
order of service; and that I’d publicise it for others to also come
along. Indeed, it began to grew each year and, regardless of weather
conditions, all present were blest.
It was a few years later,
when dear Fr George from Watford came along, and I asked him to assist
me. He’d been introduced by a Sarah Dunning of Watford. Indeed, one of
the following years he took the lead due to my own absence.
Each year the numbers of those attending have increased, as seen on
photo below:
I’ve asked him to step in this year and pray
he will, for one cannot disappoint so many who attend annually.
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