Our Lady & St Neot, Liskeard Go on Retreat

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’!” {Isaiah 52:7}

Our Lady & St Neot’s Bethany group, for their end of year celebration, visited Father David Mead’s retreat near Bugle, Cornwall. The theme for the afternoon was ‘PEACE’. We brought with us our ‘peace dove’ which had been brought back from The Holy Land by some of our parishioners in May 2019. Ten people shared a wonderfully peaceful and tranquil afternoon in the fabulously secluded grounds. The sun shone for us, and the weather was perfect. A candle was lit in our peace dove during the opening prayers said by Father David.

Some sobering statistics from the Global Peace index were discussed. Of 197 countries in the world, 92 are in conflict beyond their borders and 97 have deteriorated in peacefulness. Gaza and Ukraine are the main drivers with battle deaths in 2023 as 162,000. 110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict. 16 countries host more than ½ million refugees. In Lebanon 1 in 4 people are refugees, Germany have taken 2. 5 million refugees, while United Kingdom have taken 0.25 million. Among the most peaceful countries are Iceland, Ireland, Austria, New Zealand and Singapore. The least being Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine, the Middle East, and North Africa. Sobering facts, then thirty peace verses from the bible were contemplated.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. {John 16:33}

Participants wandered around the grounds in solitude to meditate or to pray in the beautiful tiny chapel, some chose to stay in the summer house by the tranquil pond to enjoy the gentle sound of water and observe the fish and fleeting dragonflies. Tea, sandwiches, cream and jam scones and fruit were shared, and people enjoyed a time to chat and reflect. Father David was thanked for hosting the afternoon. The closing prayer, St Francis of Assisi’s peace prayer ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace’ was read by a participant followed by a blessing from Father David.

On the first Saturday of every month, at Our Lady & St Neot Liskeard, from 10:30am until 14:00 we have Open Church. Come to light a candle, say a prayer, find out about the history of our church and look around, meet new people and come and have a chat. Everyone is welcome! Tea/Coffee, biscuits and cake are available.

“What even you have learned or received or heard from me or see in me – put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. {Philippians 4:9}

Every Thursday at Liskeard at 18:00 we live stream on our Parish website via YouTube our Holy Hour – Exposition and Divine Mercy Litany. Please join us for a quiet hour of contemplation and reflection; “Could you not watch one hour with Me” {Matthew 26:40} This is very much at the heart of our Evangelisation in Liskeard. Just as Elijah encountered God in the still small voice, we can develop the habit of listening to God in quiet prayer and reflection. This is not easy in our noisy world, where we are often bombarded with messages from TV and social media. But by following Elijah’s example, we can be brought to a place of tranquillity and peace, where we may be ready for an encounter with God.