Catholics and Anglicans to distribute ashes to shoppers in Sunderland city centre

Colin

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Two churches in the north-east of England will take to the streets on Ash Wednesday, encouraging people to repent and return to God.

On Wednesday St Mary’s Catholic church and Sunderland Minster, an Anglican church, will be working together to offer “Ashes to Go” – a new approach to a centuries-old Christian tradition.

The initiative will take place around Sunderland city centre beginning with a 10am service in the Minster Church of St Michael and All Angels and St Benedict Biscop, after which two local bishops and other Church leaders will enter the city’s streets and the Bridges Shopping Centre to mark the foreheads of interested passersby with ashes.

They will invite them to turn away from the past and seek God’s forgiveness and renewal.

“Ashes to Go” will end with Mass at 12.05pm in St Mary’s church.

The bishops taking part are Bishop Seamus Cunningham of Hexham and Newcastle and the Anglican Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Paul Butler.

Fr Marc Lyden-Smith, parish priest of St Mary’s and chaplain to Sunderland AFC, said: “This will be a tremendous witness in our city, with Catholics and Anglicans working together to start the season of Lent, perhaps reminding those who have fallen away from the Church, or have never been before, that the Christian faith is alive and active in Sunderland.”

He added: “I hope it will remind everyone that we have a loving and Merciful God, who welcomes all no matter what.”

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/new...-ashes-to-shoppers-in-sunderland-city-centre/
 

concretecamper

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Yes, I don't think God's grace is restricted.

His gift are not restricted

Mark 9:37 John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, who followeth not us: and we forbade him.9:38 But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that doth a miracle in my name and can soon speak ill of me.9:39 For he that is not against you is for you.

Commentary:
Theophylact: Or again, some unbelievers, seeing that the name of Jesus was full of virtue, themselves used it, and performed signs, though they were unworthy of Divine grace; for the Lord wished to extend His name even by the unworthy.
 
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pdudgeon

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May God bless and protect them!
(ps it's a good thing they are doing this across the pond.
if they tried such a thing over here, the poor priests would be probably arrested on the spot and thrown in jail!.)
 
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Colin

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May God bless and protect them!
(ps it's a good thing they are doing this across the pond.
if they tried such a thing over here, the poor priests would be probably arrested on the spot and thrown in jail!.)
Well I haven't heard of any of the bishops and priests being imprisoned in the Tower . :)

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Shoppers ‘ashed’ to mark the beginning of Lent in Sunderland.....

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/...the-beginning-of-lent-in-sunderland-1-7726382
 
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mark46

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May God bless and protect them!
(ps it's a good thing they are doing this across the pond.
if they tried such a thing over here, the poor priests would be probably arrested on the spot and thrown in jail!.)
If such an ecumenical event were tried here, it would be boycotted (and perhaps picketed) by Catholics with views similar to those here on OBOB who greatly object to ecumenical events. Any bishop who participated would be questioned on this board.
 
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Colin

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If such an ecumenical event were tried here, it would be boycotted (and perhaps picketed) by Catholics with views similar to those here on OBOB who greatly object to ecumenical events. Any bishop who participated would be questioned on this board.

It is fortunate that the Church is Catholic and not American .
 
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Gnarwhal

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If such an ecumenical event were tried here, it would be boycotted (and perhaps picketed) by Catholics with views similar to those here on OBOB who greatly object to ecumenical events. Any bishop who participated would be questioned on this board.

That might depend on which Anglican church though.
 
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pdudgeon

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It is fortunate that the Church is Catholic and not American .

LOL, Colin, the poor priests would probably have to have international diplomatic immunity if they did that on private property (like a mall) over here,
unless they had the permission of the mall owners to be on their property distributing the ashes, and also had a permit from the police for a public gathering.:confused:

(and then they had better not have a bull horn, a loud hailer, or a loud voice to announce what they were doing.)

things are just way too "correct" over here these days.
 
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mark46

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LOL, Colin, the poor priests would probably have to have international diplomatic immunity if they did that on private property (like a mall) over here,
unless they had the permission of the mall owners to be on their property distributing the ashes, and also had a permit from the police for a public gathering.:confused:

(and then they had better not have a bull horn, a loud hailer, or a loud voice to announce what they were doing.)

things are just way too "correct" over here these days.

Of course, anyone doing it here would have the permission of the mall owners. Are you really suggesting that we using someone else's private property for our own religious purposes? And perhaps a permit would be required, but probably not, since the event would be on private property.
 
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Padres1969

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Interesting to hear. My Episcopal church was hosting a similar event at several spots around town yesterday (Ash Wednesday). But I had never heard of such a thing until this year. Good to hear it's not unique as I liked the idea when I heard about it.
 
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mea kulpa

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This is my diocese, Hexham & Newcastle. I didnt attend There are a few things that bothers me. When they said mass at st mary's (catholic) did the anglican bishops preside over mass (i assume not) did they recieve the eucharist (hard to guess as it seems that many are pushing to give the eucharist to anyone of any faith or moral standing)
Did the anglicans perform a service in the catholic cathedral

I dont mean to be negative towards my bishop but some of his actions are worrisom

He opposes public prayer outside of the local abortion clinic, his marriage guidence team promote the kasperite penitential pathway for divorced and remarried... he lobbied the bishops of england and wales to allow priests to be married and is "onboard" with the idea of allowing same sex couples to the eucharist. I have met him and he seems to be a very nice man but his actions seriously worry me
 
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