The Lord provides - at the last minute!

Hazel d'Souza

At the last minute, the organisers for the upcoming Day of Renewal at St Georges Cathedral, Southwark, on Saturday 22nd October 2022 received news that Fr Michael Payyapilly VC, their main speaker from Australia, was unable to come due to visa problems.

Amazingly, however, another anointed speaker, who works with the Divine Retreat Centre network, Mrs Hazel d'Souza, happened to be in the Uk while she was waiting to go to speak at a big convention in Rwanda, and she was free to come and speak at the day, She will now replace Fr Michael and give the morning talk.

She comments: "I felt the Spirit telling me to come to England but I didn't know why as I didn't have any invitations here. But now it seems that this was probably the reason. It is so strange that a priest couldn't get a visa from Australia, but I managed to get one quite easily from Canada where I live."

Mrs d'Souza, who comes originally from Mumbai has been a full time lay preacher for over 30 years. Her Catholic faith was radically brought alive when she was suddenly widowed at a young age with two small children. She did some scripture studies and was commissioned as a preacher after this by the now deceased Cardinal Ivan Diaz of Mumbai. She says she has seen God's provision in her life in quite miraculous ways. The key to the Christian life, however, she says, is intimacy with the Lord and learning to hear his voice. Many people today she says are blocked in their relationship with God by deep inner wounds. This has led her to see the importance of inner healing, to set people free in their relationship with God and with others.

In the light of her special insights and gifts in this area, inner healing will now be one of the new strands of the October day, which has as its theme 'Fan into a flame the gift you have received'. As well as the talk and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, led by Mrs de Souza, there will be an opportunity for Confession and prayer ministry. In the afternoon there will be more prayer, testimonies and a final Mass concelebrated by the new dean of the cathedral, Fr Michael Branch. Another key element of the day will be the beautiful praise and worship ministry led by Chris Stribbling and a team made of music ministries from different groups and communities.

The Day of Renewal takes place at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, from 10am - 5pm.

The event is free but there will be a collection for expenses. please register at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southwark-archdiocese-day-of-renewal-2022-tickets-414066101857