In Downham Market members of St Edmund's Parish Church and St Dominic's RC Church have celebrated Midday Prayer together monthly over the last three years, alternating between the two churches, always beginning of course with the appropriate anthem, the Angelus or Regina Caeli.

This initiative has already produced much fruit in the churches coming closer together in charity and discipleship. So this year Fr Edmund Eggleston (the RC Parish Priest) and I decided that the time was right to hold an Ecumenical May Devotion. Circumstances dictated that it had to be held on the afternoon of Pentecost Sunday, but how appropriate as we recalled Our Lady as the praying heart of the Church and her constant responsiveness to the Holy Spirit. And it was also very good to be doing something at the same time as, and in spiritual union with, those gathering in Nettuno for the pilgrimage honouring Our Lady of Grace of Ipswich.

What a great and blessed occasion it was, and glorious weather besides - we were indeed blessed! Some fifty or more people from the two churches participated.

The celebration began at St Edmund's with Vespers of Pentecost; then, bracketed by hymns in honour of Our Lady, an unplifting Homily (of just the right length for a gloriously warm sunny afternoon!) was preached by Fr Charles Miller - just as May is the gateway to the full blossoming of summer, so Mary is the gateway to the full blossoming of salvation in Jesus Christ - "Jesus through Mary!"

Having already sung 'Holy Virgin by God's Decree' from Lourdes, during the procession of the image of Our Lady of Walsingham along the half mile from St Edmund's to St Dominic's, we offered together the Glorious Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary, incorporating the Fatima Prayer after each Mystery; and on arrival at St Dominic's the concluding prayers and devotions included the Litany of Loreto (in Latin).

It really was such a happy and blessed occasion, full of spiritual warmth. Just as Mary is there in the midst of the disciples on so many occasions in the Gospels, so we felt very strongly that she was there with us from the two churches drawing us together in shared discipleship of her Son, saying to us "do whatever he tells you".

Over the inevitable (but, I can assure you, very welcome) cuppa afterwards, we did wonder whether we could invoke, or allude to Our Lady under any more titles on one occasion? Well perhaps next year we'll just have to see! And you're all welcome to join us.