...on Tuesday, for a very happy day, filming in Lewes for EWTN. You won't be able to view it until late 2011 - this was just the start of a good deal of filming for a new series of programmes tackling history, traditions, feasts and seasons... Lewes is a lovely Sussex town, with the great sweep of the Downs beyond, and cheery shops,and a rich history, and pleasing streets with cobbles and Georgian frontages and sudden old cottages. The day finished with chocolate cake and tea in the presbytery at St Pancras church...Fr Richard Biggerstaff, who had been walking us round the town all day and explaining its history for EWTN viewers, a welcoming host. BTW, he has an Advent series on EWTN any day now, info here...
As dusk fell, a train back up to London to address a meeting in Chelsea: "Women, the pro-life cause and the Catholic Church". A good gathering, extra chairs brought in, more people than I had imagined would turn out on a cold November evening, everything went rather well. I enjoyed giving this talk, and there was a great and friendly atmosphere - a happy evening to conclude a happy day...
Things have been v.v. busy, so writing up this Blog often happens late at night, as now. On Sunday evening I was at St Ann's Church, Banstead, giving a talk - a wonderful welcome from a wonderful parish. This evening - Wednesday - a convivial evening with fellow committee-members of The Keys, the Catholic Writers' Guild. Fr Peter Newby at St Mary Moorfields gave us all dinner: much lively conversation as we planned the programme for 2011. We have some good speakers lined up. BTW, our Catholic Young Writer Award was presented at our recent meeting: read about it all here. This Award has now been running for several years, and was established when Antony Tyler, founder of Fisher Press, was Master of the Guild...our present Master is journalist Mary Kenny, and she presented the Award to Corinna Keefe at the Guild meeting last week, when we had our traditional dinner and a wonderful illustrated talk on the Incarnation and Art, to lead us into the Advent season...
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3 comments:
Auntie, please read again one of those comments in your blog.It is one of the most fair. Please calm down. Your behaviour is hurting Catholic's. You are not helping by shouting and screaming.
"Joanna, I am a practising Catholic and I have to say that, having listened to you on the Jeremy Vine show, I found your tone and manner of speaking very aggressive and unchristian. I am sure that Jesus would never have spoken in such way - He is gentleness and meekness itself and as St Francis De Sales said: "there is nothing as strong as gentleness and nothing as gentle as real strength." The way you came across was like bull in a china shop, battering and bludgeoning your points down the airwaves. I believe speaking what we understand to be the truth should always be done with love and compassion. On this occasion I think you sadly lacked the latter. Chosen, as you were by this radio programme, to represent the Catholic Church, I think you did more damage than good and were actually a bad advert for the Faith."
I look forward to Fr. Richard Biggerstaff's Advent Reflections on EWTN on Sunday and to re-reading YOUR Advent thoughts in A Book of Feasts & Seasons. To center on Christ helps to keep one's bearings during this hectic time when the secular/commercial side of Christmas is so overly emphasized.
Your description of Lewes sounds charming, and the upcoming series will continue to enrich our lives.
Thanksgiving Day dawned cold and cloudy. The Parade in New York City with giant balloons should finish before rain begins later this afternoon. Americans often attend local high school football games before gathering with family & friends to give thsnks to God for His many blessings and dine on the traditional Turkey & trimmings. The Waters have the Bogles at the top of the thankful list! It is disturbing that "Happy Turkey Day" is being said more & more by teachers and the media who want to avoid any thanks to a Supreme Being (the major intent of the First Thanksgiving). Some major department stores are opening for the first time on Thanksgiving Day itself! Still, most Americans resist tampering with unifying traditions that express that we are "one nation under God." Most Catholic parishes on average have donated 300 complete turkey dinners each to needy families. HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM ACROSS THE POND!
I have no idea if you are any good on the telly, but I'd have though the Anonymoyus "you're so unchristian" commenter could have phrased his comment a little more gently and edifyingly! That is, if wouldn't have been better to keep his opinions to himself (is putting them here doing more harm or good?) and praying for you, if he's sufficently bothered by the harm he thinks you're doing to write unkind comments, but not bothered sufficently enough to get himself on the telly instead.
I've met you in the flesh, and I know you are doing what you do for love of God and neighbour, in a kind and real way, not in a self-righteous way that involves knocking other people down, and because you really are bothered. God bless!
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