Auntie began...

...2012 at a rousing Evangelical service at a country Anglican church. The Cotswolds in great beauty, a large congregation with a great many families and children, "Hark the Herald Angels", good friends, an inspiring and challenging sermon, a sense of commitment for the year ahead.

In the afternoon, a good country walk, and then evening Mass at the Oxford Oratory, all warm and glowing with candles and light, and again packed - standing-room only as people poured in - and that sense of timelessness that comes with the Mass and the bell ringing out to tell the presence of God.

And so to the adventure of 2012. I have jotted down some ideas about what I think will happen during the year ahead. They include things that depress me. It's not a "wish list", in fact in a way it's a dread-list, although it includes some good things too. No, I'm, not going to publish it, but it will be interesting to note how accurate or otherwise I have been...

And meanwhile for an excellent analysis of the significant Catholic events of 2011 and some pointers for the future from a thoughtful Catholic writer, read here...