Friday 1st May, the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, saw the fruits of long labour, as a team led by Sheila Peters gloriously transformed the church. The arrangements reflected significant moments in our life of Faith: the Font, where we are received into the Church, was surrounded by colourful paper flowers made by children from St Joseph’s school; at the Reconciliation Room, where we are granted God’s mercy, the arrangements were in soft pink; the Ambo where we hear the Word of God was graced with a heavenwards-reaching arrangement of brilliant birds-of-paradise blooms, (created by Father Philip) and the Altar, were we receive the Blessed Sacrament, was covered in flame coloured flowers for the fire of the Holy Spirit. Orange blooms also adorned the organ gallery, above the blue and orange Centenary banners, and below the Centenary window.
The Lady Chapel, adorned in white, became a Chapel of Remembrance, with the many memorial cards submitted by parishioners on display. During the week, the Parish Bereavement Team were recommissioned, a service of Reflection was held, and there was a Requiem Mass for all those who had been bereaved. In St Anne’s Cloister, beside the statue of St Anne and the young Virgin, an arrangement of blue flowers was used, as blue is traditionally associated with the Virgin.
The church was open every day in the Centenary Week, and Saturday – Tuesday refreshments were offered. On May 7, as the Parish Hall was a polling station for the parliamentary elections, a record number of visitors were welcomed into Holy Ghost. The admiration was universal.