Parishioners of St Alphonsus Church in North Ormesby are able to find inspiration, comfort and solace in the presence of Our Lady once again after our much-loved statue was restored.
The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was vandalised on December 30 last year in a deeply upsetting incident for the parish and our neighbours, for whom it is a cherished symbol of faith, prayer and devotion.
There followed an outpouring of support from the local community and Relph Funeral Directors contacted the parish to offer their assistance in restoring and reinstalling the statue at no cost to the church.
Thanks to their generosity the work was completed and the statue has now been returned to its place, restored to its original dignity and beauty.
The statue stands once again as a visible reminder of faith, hope and the loving care of our Blessed Mother.
We had the pleasure of welcoming representatives of Relph Funeral Directors to the Church Hall to express our sincere appreciation for their generosity, kindness and community spirit.
Their thoughtful support transformed a distressing situation into a powerful witness of goodwill and solidarity.
Acts of kindness such as theirs remind us that even in the face of unfortunate incidents, compassion and neighbourly support continue to shine brightly.
We are deeply grateful for their contribution and for the role they have played in restoring this treasured symbol of faith to our parish community.
May God bless all who contributed to this restoration and all who continue to support the life and mission of our parish.
Father John Idio, OMV
