Ascension : Church News
Submitted by The Islander (Islander Editors) 22.12.2011 (Article Archived on 05.01.2012)

On Sunday last , children in St. Mary ‘s church ,lit the fourth Advent candle which stands for Mary the Mother of our Lord.

St. Mary’s Church

 Ascension Island (Diocese of St.Helena)

From: FATHER CHRISTOPHER BROWN

On Sunday last , children in St. Mary ‘s church ,lit the fourth Advent candle which stands for Mary the Mother of our Lord. 

Apart from the fact that the church is dedicated to Mary, there is also fine  modern window in which she is commemorated. Close by is a window depicting St. Michael the Archangel with his weighing scales containing the souls of the departed. St. Michael is the patron saint of Paratroopers, which is  fitting since he has wings.

The two windows are a pair and there is an interesting link between them: according to ancient traditions it was the Archangel Michael who fore-warned the Virgin Mary that her time on earth was drawing to a close.