Remembering Rome - New Year 2005/2006
Brentwood Catholic Youth and Catholic Handicapped Fellowship Together as One
Prayer of our Shared Time
Six days is all that we have been together,
Yet the memories we've created will endure forever;
The experiences shared having brought us forth in faith,
All products of the Lord's great and most mysterious lathe.
The kindness shown has been so well received,
The grace of humanity once again retrieved,
Each kind word and gentle touch,
Containing within it oh so much!
Love has bound our motions wisely,
Forever holding us all wrapped so tightly,
From where does this great power burst?
It is of course, that inner human thirst.
We turn to God through our search for hope,
Something inspired by Benedict our new Pope,
Knowing how blessed we are amongst the many,
To sit at the high altar of the Catholic family.
Rejoice therefore with the greatest pleasures,
Knowing that in Jesus we'll always find the greatest treasures,
The Father watching over each of our actions,
Not discounting any retractions.
We have joined together in the message of peace,
Something propounded by the Son at his last feast,
This glorious truth enlightening in a beautiful way,
Often so profound that we cannot say.
Let us return therefore to our earthly families,
Knowing that through our God we continue so faithfully,
Our deepest joys remaining in our hearts,
Which are lifted up through Michelangelo's great arts.
The deepest thanks must go to our leaders,
Having brought us to Rome, to share in Peter's place upon the Church's first throne,
Onwards we march with such joy brought to fruition,
Knowing that our pilgrim's journey is our fullest Holy mission.
The New Year of 2006 doth now abound,
So let us remain true to all we have found,
Our lives are our greatest gifts to treasure,
So let us thank God for all in which we find his divine pleasure.
Stephen J. Bailey
1st January 2006
Photos courtesy of Maria Booth and Nathalie Ahkye. More photos from this and other BCYS events can be found in our Galleries.