Saturday 11 October

As the universal Church joyfully embraces the Jubilee Year 2025, under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” our friary parish has opened its doors and hearts to celebrate this sacred time with a vibrant Flower Festival, uniting faith, beauty, and community in a truly inspiring way.

The festival was joyfully inaugurated on Friday 10th evening with a Holy Mass at 6.00 pm celebrated by Bishop David Evans, who offered a heartfelt blessing over the event and all those who made it possible. The parish choir lifted spirits with their beautiful hymns, and the children from Our Lady of Compassion School touched many hearts with their angelic voices in a moving performance at the close of Mass.

Drawing inspiration from the Gospel of Luke (4:16–21), where Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, the Flower Festival reminds us of the mission of Christ—to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty, healing, and hope. In the spirit of this mission, the church has been transformed into a garden of praise, filled with floral arrangements that are more than just decorations—they are expressions of prayer and signs of God’s presence.
Each display tells a story of faith, of creation, and of the hope we are called to carry into the world. As pilgrims passing through the Jubilee Door, visitors are invited not only to witness beauty but also to experience a spiritual renewal that stirs the heart.

Our heartfelt thanks go to:
•    Our dedicated parish groups
•    Local schools and communities
•    Neighbouring parishes
•    And especially, our talented and tireless flower team, whose creativity and devotion brought this vision to life

We are also honoured to welcome the Mayor of Solihull, who is expected to visit the festival on Sunday at 11:00 AM, showing the strong ties between our parish and the wider community.

Following the opening Mass, the church has been open to the public, allowing visitors to explore the breathtaking floral displays throughout the building. The festival will remain open until next weekend, and all are warmly invited to attend.

This is more than an exhibition—it is a celebration of our shared faith and a witness to the beauty that springs forth when a community walks together in hope. May this festival continue to inspire all who visit to become true Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year.

Fr Biju Antony SCJ  Parish Priest

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