On Good Friday morning a very different kind of service was held at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Born for This, a script lending itself to varied interpretation, new to many of us but with excellent report of its use elsewhere, was prepared by a group of approximately 20 of us over the 6 weeks before Easter. Based on the 14 Stations of the Cross which describe Christ’s passion, it was refreshing how much joy was evident over that time.  We giggled about the mistakes we made and usually left laughing at the end of the practices.

The different strands were developed apart; ‘movement’ – illustrating the words of the Stations by tableaux vivants, ‘speaking’ – reading/reciting the Stations, musicians, choir and the three soloists (voicing Jesus, Mary and Veronica) came together in the last week to rehearse the whole.

Those doing ‘movement', in particular, were encouraged to express the meaning in their own way.  Those providing the ‘backroom’ skills were commendably patient, being required on several occasions to arrive earlier, and stay later, than everybody else, to erect and pack away the staging that brought the action half-way down the length of the middle aisle, right into the midst of the congregation.

Though, obviously, a piece that was performed, Born for This was very much not a play but an act of worship that was to be shared with that congregation.  As such it is to the great joy of those involved that it succeeded – if success may be measured by the reaction and responses of those present.  Following the service the appreciation expressed to the ‘players’ was almost overwhelming and many people said they were moved to tears by it; even now two weeks later members of the group are being thanked for their  efforts.

Such innovative and cooperative modes of worship certainly have a unifying and long-term effect.  Those involved have found new friends, eager to keep in touch; attendees at different Masses, we now run into each other frequently, neighbours who would not even have been known as fellow-worshippers before.

The photos show us ‘in rehearsal’ - it was felt images taken during the service would be distracting.

(Note: we are putting together a gallery of photos taken during rehearsals at the moment, and will post them on the website as soon as possible.)