By Ray McNally, parishioner at Our Lady of the Wayside, Shirley

Yesterday's (Sun 21 Dec) peaceful and prayerful demonstration concluded not only with dignity, but with a renewed sense of hope. United in faith and purpose, we gathered to urge Sainsbury's to reconsider the sale of cards that mock Our Lord Jesus Christ - doing so calmly, respectfully, and with love at the heart of our witness.

We were deeply grateful for the visible support of Our Lady of the Wayside Parish, especially our Parish Priest and Dean, Fr Andrew, whose presence, and encouragement strengthened us all. It was also a joy to see the enthusiastic participation of young people from our Carlo Acutis Youth Group. Their involvement was a powerful reminder that faith is alive, vibrant, and being carried forward by the next generation with courage and conviction.

As voices were raised together in Christmas carols, passers-by paused, smiled, and joined in. In that moment, hearts were lifted and the true spirit of Christmas - peace, reverence, and joy - was shared openly with the wider community.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, as we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope, our message is simple and sincere. We hope that Sainsbury's, along with Asda and other major retailers, will hear this call and choose respect over ridicule, recognising that mocking Jesus Christ causes real hurt to many faithful customers. Our hope is not rooted in confrontation, but in dialogue, understanding, and goodwill.

Finally, heartfelt thanks go to everyone who supported this campaign - those who stood with us in person, and the many more who offered encouragement, prayers, and solidarity online. Your support has been deeply appreciated and truly uplifting.

As we now approach the celebration of Our Lord's birth, we wish you and your families a very happy, peaceful, and holy Christmas. May hope continue to guide us, now and always.

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