Recently...

...I've been to Bath for a reception given by the University chaplaincy in the glorious surroundings of Prior Park College, where we were made most welcome by the Headmaster. Fr Bill McLoughlin, the Chaplain to Bath and Bath Spa Universities, is a Servite priest, and it was rather fine to see him with his Servite colleagues in their traditional black caped cassocks, against the backdrop of the superb gardens and valley at Prior Park in the evening light, a scene worth painting...the Reception was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress, wearing their golden chains of office - it was all perfectly splendid, and well-attended by the students - a good crowd, who come from all parts of the world and I enjoyed chatting to some from France and from Poland...

And at the weekend I was in Brentwood Essex, speaking at the Essex Recusant Society (ie Catholic history). A warm welcome, and a chance to visit Brentwood Cathedral, which is the only modern cathedral I've visited which could honestly be described with words like "grand" and "splendid"... and it does feel as if it is meant to be used for the worship of God, and also as if it will last.