Prayerful reflections on Our Lady in words and music

Musicians, singers, writers and artists came together on Sunday, 11 May, to present Through the eyes of Mary, a prayerful reflection on Our Lady, at Saint Patrick's Church in Wapping, East London. Entrance was free. There was a retiring collection for Jesuit Refugee Services.

The seeds for the event were planted in a long silent retreat last summer taken by one of the musicians. During this time she became fascinated by questions about the hidden life of Mary, which has been relatively unexplored. Together with other Christian musicians and writers she drew together the programme of sacred and secular music - motets, arias and chamber music by Bach, Bruckner, Schumann, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Purcell and Poulenc with poetry and reflections by Hopkins, Kathleen Wakefield, Yeats, Auden, Paul Claudel, Nas Pindra and others.

The programme followed the life of Mary through the incidents recorded in the Gospels, from the Annunciation, through to Pentecost, with some reflections on the hidden life at Nazareth. A reflection on the Visit to Elizabeth began with a reading from the Gospel of Luke, followed by Bach's Sarabande in G Major on solo cello. There was a beautiful 'domestic shalom' especially composed for the event by Poet Sarah de Nordwall, sung and spoken in Hebrew and English.

The choir, led by Fr Damian Howard SJ, consisted of sopranos: Sarah Teather, Jenny Hill, Karen Parkes; altos: Nicola Perry, Jamie Patterson; tenors: Simon Pusey, Gavin Jarvis; basses: James Reynolds, Jeremy Hargreaves. Soloists were: Jeremy Hargreaves, Gavin Jarvis, Jamie Patterson and Sarah Teather. The musicians were: violinist Brigid Coleridge; cellist and composer Annabel Rooney and pianist Catherine Herriott.

The event concluded with a new piece of music for piano and choir by Annabel Rooney. Many stayed on for the candlelit Mass afterwards.

Through the Eyes of Mary was such a gentle faith-filled event. The choice of music and words was very fresh and original and the performances were superb. I hope it can be performed again. There were few free seats at St Patrick's. I am sure with such a beautiful repertoire and fine performers - next time they could fill a cathedral.

St Patrick's Artists - a community of artists with studios in the parish complex worked closely with Fr Damian Howard SJ, to produce an exhibition on Mary at the church. Their exhibition runs until the 3rd of June.

Some of the singers and musicians who took part also offer music for the Second Sunday Mass - a Jesuit-led candlelit Mass held at St Patrick's each month.

For more information on St Patrick's, see: http://st-patricks-wapping.org.uk/

Jesuit Refugee Services UK, see: www.jrsuk.net/

Be part of the wider JRS community: www.facebook.com/jesuitrefugeeserviceuk

Read reflections from asylum seekers, volunteers and friends: www.jrs.blogspot.co.uk

See also: ICN 20 May 2014 The Secret Marian Diary of Damian Arnold, aged 41 3/4 www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=24777