Making her known - in Liverpool
In 1866 Pope Pius IX entrusted the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour instructing them to make her known. In the run up to the 2016 Novena in Liverpool much thought was given to how the Icon could best be brought to the attention of the local community and in particular the school children.
In the run up to the Novena Fr. Tim visited the primary and secondary schools and he presented copies of the Icon to the Parish primary schools and to St. Julie's and SFX college. The schools all set up shrines with petition boxes. The petition boxes were taken to Bishop Eton on the 27th June and placed in the Lady chapel.
Presentation to Mr Tim Alderman head of St. Julie's
Presentation to Brother James Hayes chaplain at SFX college
Monday to Saturday there was a 10am Mass at St. Mary's, each day a different set of pupils from Much Woolton school joined the congregation. On weekday afternoons there was a Novena service for the children at Bishop Eton, with pupils from Our Lady's Bishop Eton attending the Noon Mass on the Feast Day itself.
Much Woolton pupils at St. Mary's
Our Lady's Bishop Eton at Noon Mass on the 27th June
The chaplains of St, Julie's Mike Anderson and SFX Brother James, arranged for some of their pupils to make a walk of witness with a copy of the Icon.
Here is Mike Anderson's report on the walk that took place on the 22nd June.
Iconic Wednesday Reflection - 8 Maria - Walk of Witness
A smashing day indeed which started off with Wednesday Reflection in front of the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. We sang As I kneel before you which is a very beautiful hymn which uses the Latin Words "Ave Maria" as its chorus. We then took the opportunity to write down Prayer Intentions and place thm in the box at the foot of the icon. Finally, we sang "Serve the good God well with much liberty of spirit" which are the words of our school motto from St. Julie herself.
Today was a special date in the life of St. Julie's because it's the date on which Julie Billiart was canonised (that means made a saint) in 1969 so it was special to be able to sing some of her words today.
Sacred Time was spent in the company of 8 Maria who have a lovely routine of watching the Newsround website news. This is a great way to keep informed about world events. We have a duty to know what's going on and to respond to it. 8 Maria showed keen interest in the forthcoming referendum and asked some probing questions. They then resumed watching the videos which tell the story of the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour!
A little later on, a party of 15 pupils and 3 members of staff met up and started a Walk of Witness.
We carried the icon, our Year of St. Julie flag and our House flags from school through Woolton village to St. Mary's Church. We stopped there for photos then resumed on our pilgrimage to Bishop Eton where the original copy of the icon resides. We did this to commemorate 150 years since it arrived in Bishop Eton - all the way from Rome.
We also met up with SFX along the way and we stopped at five points for a reflection followed by praying ten Hail Mary's.
The pupils involved were magnificent - not one complained about the distance or the threatening sky and our presence at Bishop Eton was much appreciated by the parishioners and Fr. Tim.
It really was great to be part of this special coincidence of St. Julie's canonisation day and the 150 year celebrations for the icon.
On the evening of the 22nd - a couple of the SFX sixth formers attended the 7.30 Mass and read the prayers of intercession.
Then on the 27th some of the pupils of St. Julie's attended the 10am Mass at St. Mary's.
Mike Anderson writes
Another Walk - Intentions
It's official - 7 Arrowsmith so totally rock! This is Mrs Hardiman's Form and they were selected to take part in another Walk of Witness - this time just to St. Mary's - carrying our school flags and our copy of the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
They made a really great impression. When we were outside Brown's a gentleman emerged and commented that it was the last day of the novena and it was good to see the young people involved in celebrating it. Everyone took a turn in carrying the flags or the icon and it was really pleasing to see the dignity with which this was done. The pupils combined dignity with joy and it was just a lovely walk together - God's people on pilgrimage, on a journey of faith!
The local parishioners were so welcoming and some even moved so we could sit together for mass. I got a bit choked when the icon and flags were processed up the centre aisle and through God's people. Anyway, thanks to Mrs Rooney and to 7 Arrowsmith!
During Sacred Time, we were all invited to write down any situations or people we know who were in need of God's help. These Prayer Intentions were collected together and Mr Alderman took them to the final Mass of the Novena at Bishop Eton, where Archbishop Malcom presided.
