... LONDON CATHOLIC HISTORY WALK!!
FRIDAY, July 1st, CHELSEA.
Meet 2pm on the steps of the Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer and St Thomas More, Cheyne Row, Chelsea, London SW3. Nearest tube: Sloane Square, then walk or bus along the Kings Road, past Chelsea Old Town Hall, and follow the sign to "Catholic Church".
This walk is repeated on Wednesday July 13th at 6.30pm
More information on all the London Catholic History Walks here...
-
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Read about...
...Britain's former Ambassador to the Holy See and a new chapter in the life of a Catholic institution in England...see here...
A grand turn-out...
...and a memorable Martyrs' Walk, with a splendid spirit and some fine singing. We started at the churchyard of St Sepulchre-without-Newgate near the Old Bailey, with a short historical overview of the events of the 16th century...Henry VII, Prince Arthur, Henry VIII and Queen Catherine...Anne Boleyn...and so on...and then, praying the Rosary, headed along the route to Tyburn. First stopping-place was St Etheldreda's in Ely Place - particularly dear to me as it was for many years the Guild Church of The Keys, the Catholic Writers' Guild, and I have spent many happy evenings there with Mass and supper and lively discussions with a range of guest speakers, in good comapny and with that genuine sense of cheerful fellowship which is so difficult to describe without sounding sentimental, and so splendid to enjoy....
Then we progressed along Holborn, where our singing of Ave, Ave, Maria rose above the London traffic, and we were led in the Rosary by the deacon of a splendid American contingent of the group...and in due course were warmly welcomed by Fr David Barnes at the church of SS Anselm and Cecilia. This is a popular church, often packed out on feast-days and special days such as Ash Wednesday with people working in nearby offices hurrying to lunchtime Masses. And so on to St Giles-in-the-Fields and thence to St Patrick's Soho. Here we venerated relics of the martyrs, with Fr Doug Grandon of the American contingent presiding. And then we headed in groups to Tyburn. Here, a magnificent Benediction - the strong chorus of voices praying the Divine Praises - and a final splendid rendition of Faith of Our Fathers....and then an excellent Tea provided by the dear sisters, who beamed as they plied us with tea and sandwiches and pastries...
We had begun the Walk with three hearty cheers for the good people of St Sepulchre's for letting us use their churchyard, and we finished with three hearty cheers for the good Tyburn Sisters for their wonderful welcome and Tea.
Every year, I think the Martyrs' walk won't get the numbers or will meet with some disaster...and every year it is splendid and crowded and the people are wonderful.
Then we progressed along Holborn, where our singing of Ave, Ave, Maria rose above the London traffic, and we were led in the Rosary by the deacon of a splendid American contingent of the group...and in due course were warmly welcomed by Fr David Barnes at the church of SS Anselm and Cecilia. This is a popular church, often packed out on feast-days and special days such as Ash Wednesday with people working in nearby offices hurrying to lunchtime Masses. And so on to St Giles-in-the-Fields and thence to St Patrick's Soho. Here we venerated relics of the martyrs, with Fr Doug Grandon of the American contingent presiding. And then we headed in groups to Tyburn. Here, a magnificent Benediction - the strong chorus of voices praying the Divine Praises - and a final splendid rendition of Faith of Our Fathers....and then an excellent Tea provided by the dear sisters, who beamed as they plied us with tea and sandwiches and pastries...
We had begun the Walk with three hearty cheers for the good people of St Sepulchre's for letting us use their churchyard, and we finished with three hearty cheers for the good Tyburn Sisters for their wonderful welcome and Tea.
Every year, I think the Martyrs' walk won't get the numbers or will meet with some disaster...and every year it is splendid and crowded and the people are wonderful.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
COME AND HONOUR THE ENGLISH MARTYRS...
The Martyrs' WALK - the Tyburn Walk - takes places tomorrow, Sunday 26th June, starting at 2pm outside the church of St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, near the Old Bailey. Join us there! We will walk to Tyburn, with stops at, among other places, St Etheldreda's Ely Place, SS Anselm and Cecilia in Kingsway, and St Patrick's, Soho...prayers, and some short talks on the history, along the way. Opportunities for confession. Benediction at Tyburn. ALL WELCOME.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Kent...and a thunderstorm...
...of immense proportions. London sticky in pre-storm warmth. Train from Waterloo East as I was due to speak at St Anselm's, a Kent parish in Ordinariate care, as part of a series of lectures for this Year of Mercy. Fr Ed Tomlinson met me at High Brooms station and we had a quick spaghetti supper at the presbytery in Pembury as I wrestled with trying to get on to Skype for an interview with EWTN's newsroom about Brexit. Fr Ed is a former Anglican, married to Hayley: they have a bunch of delightful children who came home all damp and cheery from a spell in the local swimming pool. Hayley and I worked hard on the Skype link, but couldn't get the video bit to work (camera on my laptop disabled?) so I did the interview as sound-only...meanwhile Fr E. went off to celebrate Mass and organise things for my talk.
In the warm, sticky evening I hurried down the lanes to the church,and got warmer and warmer...and rather confused....it was a relief to meet a search party out from the church to rescue me. The meeting went well - a large audience, and the talk was one of a series exploring the Beatitudes. I focused on "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" , and looked at the lives of modern saints, noting in particular St John Paul the Great, and M. Teresa of Calcutta...
As things finished, we repaired to the village pub. Much lively conversation...the Church...current events...Brexit...
As we left, the rain began. And as we made our way back to the presbytery it was clattering down in torrents. The evening sky had had a curious glow - now the storm broke over us, and thunder rolled and crackled over Kent.
In the warm, sticky evening I hurried down the lanes to the church,and got warmer and warmer...and rather confused....it was a relief to meet a search party out from the church to rescue me. The meeting went well - a large audience, and the talk was one of a series exploring the Beatitudes. I focused on "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" , and looked at the lives of modern saints, noting in particular St John Paul the Great, and M. Teresa of Calcutta...
As things finished, we repaired to the village pub. Much lively conversation...the Church...current events...Brexit...
As we left, the rain began. And as we made our way back to the presbytery it was clattering down in torrents. The evening sky had had a curious glow - now the storm broke over us, and thunder rolled and crackled over Kent.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
I was due to meet...
...some American friends, to lead a walk in London, with Mass at St Etheldreda's . But their flight was delayed and the plans had to be cancelled.With a sudden bonus day, I went home and tackled the lawn, and the overgrown lane at the back of our house, which had suddenly become impenetrable in the past couple of weeks because of the downpouring rain and warm air.
Our small garden is full of happy memories of smmer suppers and barbeques, and I enjoy hanging out the washing and bringing it in all fresh and airy. Another batch of J.'s shirts went up today when I'd finished the mowing.
We have a great apple tree that began as a tiny foot-high stalk brought from Fernyhalgh after a pilgrimage there. It now towers over everything: we had it pruned last year and now it is laden with fruit. If you read up the story of Fernyhalgh you will see why it is so lovely to have this tree in our garden.
The front garden is a small strip of lawn which is always pleasant to mow, as neighbours pass by and there is lots of stopping to chat. Then later, as the light slowly faded, I sat down to tackle some work at the computer. The rose bush which J. bought for me some years ago has, like the apple tree, flourished over the years and taps against the window as I write.
Our small garden is full of happy memories of smmer suppers and barbeques, and I enjoy hanging out the washing and bringing it in all fresh and airy. Another batch of J.'s shirts went up today when I'd finished the mowing.
We have a great apple tree that began as a tiny foot-high stalk brought from Fernyhalgh after a pilgrimage there. It now towers over everything: we had it pruned last year and now it is laden with fruit. If you read up the story of Fernyhalgh you will see why it is so lovely to have this tree in our garden.
The front garden is a small strip of lawn which is always pleasant to mow, as neighbours pass by and there is lots of stopping to chat. Then later, as the light slowly faded, I sat down to tackle some work at the computer. The rose bush which J. bought for me some years ago has, like the apple tree, flourished over the years and taps against the window as I write.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Auntie will be speaking in the village church...
...of St Anselm at Pembury in Kent tomorrow., I have a particular affection for this parish. The priest in charge is Fr Ed Tomlinson, who I first met when, as vicar of St Barnabas church in Tunbridge Wells, he was considering joining the Ordinariate. I became good friends with him and with his wife Hayley, and when in due course they came into full communion with the Catholic Church, was sponsor for the latter when she was confirmed. It was Holy Week, and a warm, sticky Spring evening. In some ways the future still seemed uncertain, but going ahead in faith, they prersevered in prayer and in due course Fr Ed was given charge of the small outpost of Pembury, where a somewhat bleak hall was attended on Sundays by a smallish congregation.
And now it is a thriving parish: the old hall has been turned into a a charming church, and a new hall - the Hine Room, named for Bishop Hine who grew up in the village - has been added for the Sunday School, social events, and other activities. It's where I will be speaking tomorrow. There is a fine outdoor Calvary shrine, and a lovely garden. Local people know "the church on the green" and it plays a major role in village life, and in the life of the surrounding area. The parish holds processions and celebrates the feasts and seasons of the Church's year in style.There are lots and lots of young families.
It will be a pleasure and deliught to be part of the Year of Mercy events at Pembury, and I am thrilled to have been invited.
And now it is a thriving parish: the old hall has been turned into a a charming church, and a new hall - the Hine Room, named for Bishop Hine who grew up in the village - has been added for the Sunday School, social events, and other activities. It's where I will be speaking tomorrow. There is a fine outdoor Calvary shrine, and a lovely garden. Local people know "the church on the green" and it plays a major role in village life, and in the life of the surrounding area. The parish holds processions and celebrates the feasts and seasons of the Church's year in style.There are lots and lots of young families.
It will be a pleasure and deliught to be part of the Year of Mercy events at Pembury, and I am thrilled to have been invited.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
In Old Oscott House...
...Maryvale...
I am staying the night, as I have some work to do here tomorrow. There is such a feeling of homecoming as one comes up the drive... Then a friendly greeting, and pizza and lots of cheery talk...and then in due course Night Prayer in the chapel, the familiar verses of the psalm going back and forth...and the Salve Regina as the light dies beyond the Madonna window behind the altar and sanctuary....
And, from my window I look out diagonally directly into the chapel, and that sanctuary, and the Lord is there...
In 1846 Newman wrote: ‘I am writing in the next room to the chapel. It is such an incomprehensible blessing to have Christ’s bodily presence in one’s house, within one’s walls, as swallows up all other privileges and destroys, or should destroy, every pain.’
I am staying the night, as I have some work to do here tomorrow. There is such a feeling of homecoming as one comes up the drive... Then a friendly greeting, and pizza and lots of cheery talk...and then in due course Night Prayer in the chapel, the familiar verses of the psalm going back and forth...and the Salve Regina as the light dies beyond the Madonna window behind the altar and sanctuary....
And, from my window I look out diagonally directly into the chapel, and that sanctuary, and the Lord is there...
In 1846 Newman wrote: ‘I am writing in the next room to the chapel. It is such an incomprehensible blessing to have Christ’s bodily presence in one’s house, within one’s walls, as swallows up all other privileges and destroys, or should destroy, every pain.’
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Visiting...
...a busy hospital, I dropped in to the chapel. It is part of a general area where there is also a Moslem prayer-room and a general prayer-room: I didn't visit either of those so do not know what they are like. The chapel is mostly used by Catholics, and has the Blessed Sacrament reserved, a statue of Our Lady, and an altar and Cross. And it was in use - a group was gathered for prayer, and were just finishing. It was good to be able to join them for a rousing rendition of "Sweet sacrament Divine".
It is very important that people - or their relatives - notify the Chaplain when they go into hospital. It should never be assumed that he will be notified by the authorities: that doesn't happen.
It is also important that we all make use of hospital chapels - whether as visitors or as patients.
Sadly, in too many places, it is the Moslems - staff and patients and families - who seek to make use of facilities for prayer, rather than the Christians. This is true at airports as well as hospitals - and in correspondence following my recent feature in the Catholic Herald, I have discovered that too often chaplaincy facilities in a prison can become Moslem-dominated too.
And we must pray for more priests - and more religious sisters. The chaplain in this particular hospital is ably assisted by some excellent Sisters, and spoke powerfully of the good that they do.
It is very important that people - or their relatives - notify the Chaplain when they go into hospital. It should never be assumed that he will be notified by the authorities: that doesn't happen.
It is also important that we all make use of hospital chapels - whether as visitors or as patients.
Sadly, in too many places, it is the Moslems - staff and patients and families - who seek to make use of facilities for prayer, rather than the Christians. This is true at airports as well as hospitals - and in correspondence following my recent feature in the Catholic Herald, I have discovered that too often chaplaincy facilities in a prison can become Moslem-dominated too.
And we must pray for more priests - and more religious sisters. The chaplain in this particular hospital is ably assisted by some excellent Sisters, and spoke powerfully of the good that they do.
Friday, June 17, 2016
A Brigettine Day...
...on Monday Sept 12th, at the Brigettine guest house at Iver Heath, Bucks. To mark the canonisation of St Eisabeth Hessleblad, the Association of Catholic Women is holding a Brigettine Day - come and enjoy the lovely surroundings of this delightful Guest House, and hear historian Fr Nicholas Schofield speak on the founding of the Brigettines in the early Middle Ages, their great house in England at Sion on the Thames,and more...and hear about Mothetr Elisabeth and the two Englishwomen who helkped her to re-found the Brigettines at the start of the 20th century...
Save the date now.
Save the date now.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Around the City of London...
...we went, pausing at the splendidly-named St-Vedast-alias-Foster, and Guildhall, and St Lawrence Jewry...it was a friendly and delightful group of History Walkers, a pleasure to lead. At St Lawrence, there was a display about the Battle of the Somme, marking this centenary year...some poignant exhibits, and the chap in charge, was v. knowledgeable about the battle...and so on through the City, and we finished at the place where a plaque marks the site of the birth of Bl.John Henry Newman....and thus the first of this new series of History walks ended....and there are more to come: info here...
Today, another gathering in London: Plenary Session of the clergy of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. I had volunteered to help w. refreshments...it was, as always, a pleasure to be at St Patrick's, Soho, where the Plenary was held. The mood seemed upbeat, morale good. They had Fr Stephen Wang as guest speaker in the morning, then discussion of various topics during the afternoon.
BTW, Auntie is speaking at the Ordinariate parish of St Anselm, Pembury (Fr Ed Tomlinson) on Wednesday as part of a series of events for this Year of Mercy...
Today, another gathering in London: Plenary Session of the clergy of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. I had volunteered to help w. refreshments...it was, as always, a pleasure to be at St Patrick's, Soho, where the Plenary was held. The mood seemed upbeat, morale good. They had Fr Stephen Wang as guest speaker in the morning, then discussion of various topics during the afternoon.
BTW, Auntie is speaking at the Ordinariate parish of St Anselm, Pembury (Fr Ed Tomlinson) on Wednesday as part of a series of events for this Year of Mercy...
Monday, June 13, 2016
Join Auntie Joanna...
...on a Catholic History Walk this Wednesday. Meet .6.30pm on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. All welcome. We'll be exploring the City and its rich histoiry. Come and discover about Roman London, Saxon London, Medieval London, and more...
The Walk will last about an hour and a half. You can of course leave at any stage as we will be on bus and Tube routes all the way.
The Walk will last about an hour and a half. You can of course leave at any stage as we will be on bus and Tube routes all the way.
THE TRADITION....
...of throwing buns from the roof of the Town Hall at Abingdon is not so very old...it dates back to the 18th century and the coronation of George III. It happens for all major Royal occasions - and so a large crowd gathered in the town square on Saturday, as the Mayor and members of the Borough Council gathered on the roof with some 5,000 buns specially baked by the local branch of Tescos...
The trafiic had been diverted, and various preparations made, including polite notices announcing that upturned umbrellas were not to be used.
It was all tremendous fun. The square was packed,. A band played, and we sang "Happy Birthday" to Her Majesty, and then the National Anthem...and expectation grew, and as 7pm drew near people began to chant "We want buns! We want buns!" And then, when the church clock finally marked 7 - the buns began to fly through the air with tremendous speed and there was great shouting and scrabbling and cries of excitement. Cheers greeted spectacularly good catches. Enormous enthusiasm - arms outstreched, children diving to collect buns that dropped to the ground, raisins and currants flying off as buns whizzed overhead...
It all lasted for some ten minutes or so, and then as the last buns were thrown, the bells of St Nicholas churvch rang out a glorious joyful peal...
The buns were delicious, eaten with butter over a mug of tea later.
On a previous family visit, I had been told that "the Mayor and councillors throw buns from the Town Hall roof on Royal occasions" and wasn't sure it was true. But it is.
The trafiic had been diverted, and various preparations made, including polite notices announcing that upturned umbrellas were not to be used.
It was all tremendous fun. The square was packed,. A band played, and we sang "Happy Birthday" to Her Majesty, and then the National Anthem...and expectation grew, and as 7pm drew near people began to chant "We want buns! We want buns!" And then, when the church clock finally marked 7 - the buns began to fly through the air with tremendous speed and there was great shouting and scrabbling and cries of excitement. Cheers greeted spectacularly good catches. Enormous enthusiasm - arms outstreched, children diving to collect buns that dropped to the ground, raisins and currants flying off as buns whizzed overhead...
It all lasted for some ten minutes or so, and then as the last buns were thrown, the bells of St Nicholas churvch rang out a glorious joyful peal...
The buns were delicious, eaten with butter over a mug of tea later.
On a previous family visit, I had been told that "the Mayor and councillors throw buns from the Town Hall roof on Royal occasions" and wasn't sure it was true. But it is.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
The Catholic Women of the Year Luncheon...
...will be held this year on Friday October 28th in London. Save the date! The four elected Catholic Women of the Year will be announced in July. Tickets for the Luncheon are £45 each, available from: CWOY , 33 Ashburnham Tower, Worls's End Estate, London SW10 0EE.Info about the event, its history etc, is here...
Friday, June 10, 2016
Celebrations, and a Monarch's Birthday...
...on Thursday evening, the Brigettine Sisters hosted a delightful celebration to mark the canonisation of St Elisabeth Hessleblad at Maryvale on the outskirts of Birmingham. Archbishop Bernard Longley celebrated Mass, along with several priests from the diocese, in the fine chapel that John Henry Newman knew and loved. Then followed a grand buffet supper, with a great many delicious things to eat and drink. And later, in the warm summer night, I took a quiet walk around the gardens, following the paths I took when studying at Maryvale...
Next morning I was woken - as I used to be on our student mornings - by the sound of the sisters singing in the chapel two floors below me...I had to make an early departure, as I needed to be in London for a major History Walk later in the day...
Taxi to New Street station through the morning rush hour, train to Euston...and then as I made my way to Precious Blood Church, there were helicopters clattering overhead, and I was greeted by the news that "the Queen just passed along the road - on her way to St Paul's!" And indeed she had - the big Thanksgiving Service was about to start, and we duly watched it on the TV in the parish room. Archbishop Welby preached extremely well, and the great cathedral looked splendid...and it was one of those occasions when, just for that hour or so, things felt vaguely to be as they ought...
And for me that feeling continued, as by pleasing coincidence, this was the day chosen by the Richard Challoner School in New Malden for a special History walk in London culminating in a pilgrimage through the Jubilee Door of Mercy at St George's Cathedral. A splendid bunch of young men, looking extremely smart in their school uniforms, they were reverent at Mass in Precious Blood Church, cheerful and talkative eating sandwiches by the river, and a wonderful and enthusiastic audience as I explained about Saxon/Viking battles at London Bridge...and the origins of place-names with endings like -minster and -chester.... and the ambitions of the Tudoir monarchs...and more...
We went along the riverside, and then down along the Southwark Bridge Road, pausing at various places of interest - and I left them at the Cathedral, ready for a final special service of prayers to mark their Pilgrimage. I made a quick visit to the Blessed Sacrament, pausing at my favourite window - a fine stained glass depicting beloved St John Paul, blessing and anointing the sick, gathered in the Cathedral for that purpose during his great visit in 1982....
Next morning I was woken - as I used to be on our student mornings - by the sound of the sisters singing in the chapel two floors below me...I had to make an early departure, as I needed to be in London for a major History Walk later in the day...
Taxi to New Street station through the morning rush hour, train to Euston...and then as I made my way to Precious Blood Church, there were helicopters clattering overhead, and I was greeted by the news that "the Queen just passed along the road - on her way to St Paul's!" And indeed she had - the big Thanksgiving Service was about to start, and we duly watched it on the TV in the parish room. Archbishop Welby preached extremely well, and the great cathedral looked splendid...and it was one of those occasions when, just for that hour or so, things felt vaguely to be as they ought...
And for me that feeling continued, as by pleasing coincidence, this was the day chosen by the Richard Challoner School in New Malden for a special History walk in London culminating in a pilgrimage through the Jubilee Door of Mercy at St George's Cathedral. A splendid bunch of young men, looking extremely smart in their school uniforms, they were reverent at Mass in Precious Blood Church, cheerful and talkative eating sandwiches by the river, and a wonderful and enthusiastic audience as I explained about Saxon/Viking battles at London Bridge...and the origins of place-names with endings like -minster and -chester.... and the ambitions of the Tudoir monarchs...and more...
We went along the riverside, and then down along the Southwark Bridge Road, pausing at various places of interest - and I left them at the Cathedral, ready for a final special service of prayers to mark their Pilgrimage. I made a quick visit to the Blessed Sacrament, pausing at my favourite window - a fine stained glass depicting beloved St John Paul, blessing and anointing the sick, gathered in the Cathedral for that purpose during his great visit in 1982....
How's this for a God-incidence....
...here's the story:
Yesterday morning I had an email from Carol Ann Harnett at the School of the Annunciation asking how things were going with the Catchetics course I am doing. I had in fact been postponing writing to her: I was going to tell her that with life being so extremely busy, I was thinking of dropping the course because there just hasn't been time to tackle it properly...I am also doing a post-graduate degree elsewhere, and am involved with a great deal of journalism and TV work...I had only taken on the course because I wanted to support the School...
But I hadn't really wanted to make the decision to drop it, so kept putting it off...
I wrote a sort of "holding reply" to Carol Ann... naturally she wrote back urging me to keep on with the course if I could possibly do so, as I would then be among the first to complete it and be able to celebrate with the other pioneers at Buckfast Abbey in the Autumn...
So, sitting at Starbucks at Euston station en route to Birmingham, I decided that as I had 20 minutes to spare, I might as well have a go at the thing...opened up my laptop, located the next bit (Catechetics: Task C, sections 3 and 4...) and started to tackle it....
And a voice said"The people you meet at railway stations!" and it was Carol Ann. Laden with backpack, she was on her way north and had dropped in for some coffee.. Niether of us ended up having any: she had ten minutes before her train and we spent too much of it saying "!!! How amazing!" and so on...and then she hurried off to her platform and I in due course to mine...
There are 57 million people in Britain. Extraordinary to meet like that. And, yes, I've completed Task C and rather enjoyed it...
Yesterday morning I had an email from Carol Ann Harnett at the School of the Annunciation asking how things were going with the Catchetics course I am doing. I had in fact been postponing writing to her: I was going to tell her that with life being so extremely busy, I was thinking of dropping the course because there just hasn't been time to tackle it properly...I am also doing a post-graduate degree elsewhere, and am involved with a great deal of journalism and TV work...I had only taken on the course because I wanted to support the School...
But I hadn't really wanted to make the decision to drop it, so kept putting it off...
I wrote a sort of "holding reply" to Carol Ann... naturally she wrote back urging me to keep on with the course if I could possibly do so, as I would then be among the first to complete it and be able to celebrate with the other pioneers at Buckfast Abbey in the Autumn...
So, sitting at Starbucks at Euston station en route to Birmingham, I decided that as I had 20 minutes to spare, I might as well have a go at the thing...opened up my laptop, located the next bit (Catechetics: Task C, sections 3 and 4...) and started to tackle it....
And a voice said"The people you meet at railway stations!" and it was Carol Ann. Laden with backpack, she was on her way north and had dropped in for some coffee.. Niether of us ended up having any: she had ten minutes before her train and we spent too much of it saying "!!! How amazing!" and so on...and then she hurried off to her platform and I in due course to mine...
There are 57 million people in Britain. Extraordinary to meet like that. And, yes, I've completed Task C and rather enjoyed it...
Thursday, June 09, 2016
Off to Birmingham...
...to celebrate with the Brigettine Sisters at Maryvale, honouring the canonisation of their foundress Mother Elisabeth Hessleblad.
If you'd like to celebrate too, mark September 12th in your diary. The Association of Catholoic Women is holding a Brigettine Day at Iver Heath, Bucks. Fr Nicholas Schofield will talk about St Brigitta and the original Brigettines - they had a magnificent house at Sion on the Thames - and I will take up the story with the re-founding of the Order under M. Elisabeth. Mass, lunch, freshly-brewed coffee, prayers at the attractive garden shrine...
If you'd like to celebrate too, mark September 12th in your diary. The Association of Catholoic Women is holding a Brigettine Day at Iver Heath, Bucks. Fr Nicholas Schofield will talk about St Brigitta and the original Brigettines - they had a magnificent house at Sion on the Thames - and I will take up the story with the re-founding of the Order under M. Elisabeth. Mass, lunch, freshly-brewed coffee, prayers at the attractive garden shrine...
A most enjoyable evening...
...with the Ladies Ordinariate Group, with Mgr John Broadhurst talking about how the Ordinariate came into being...the events of the 1990s in the C.of E., the meetings and conferences...conversations over the years with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger...
LOGS has its own small part in the story as it continues - we'll be having our Birthday celebration in September at the Ordinariate Rectory in Golden Square, Piccadilly, and planning our activities for 2017. Meanwhile, we have an outing to Chilworth Priory planned for July, and have been busy with the "Our Father" project: over 40 schools from across London have taken part, and we have been busy reading the entries and sorting out prizes...
LOGS has its own small part in the story as it continues - we'll be having our Birthday celebration in September at the Ordinariate Rectory in Golden Square, Piccadilly, and planning our activities for 2017. Meanwhile, we have an outing to Chilworth Priory planned for July, and have been busy with the "Our Father" project: over 40 schools from across London have taken part, and we have been busy reading the entries and sorting out prizes...
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
Summer downpours...
...and because I love rain and loathe hot weather, I have been relishing it.
Tonight the warm weather is uncomfortably sticky.
At the weekend we celebrate the Queen's official birthday. Children at church will be given commemorative cards, and there will be various celebrations...this book is being distributed...
Tonight the warm weather is uncomfortably sticky.
At the weekend we celebrate the Queen's official birthday. Children at church will be given commemorative cards, and there will be various celebrations...this book is being distributed...
Sunday, June 05, 2016
The Martyrs' Walk: join us!
The Martyrs' walk is on Sunday June 26th, starting at 2pm at the churchyard of St Sepulchre-without-Newgate. Nearest tube: St Paul's...
All are welcome. The Walk will take us to, among other places, St Etheldreda's, Ely Place, SS Anselm and Cecilia in Kingsway, St Giles-in-the-Fileds, and St Patrick's, Soho, We finish at Tyburn Convenmt for Benediction and Tea, approx 5.15pm...
Other Walks that readers of this Blog might enjoy are the Catholic History walks, which are listed here...
Saturday, June 04, 2016
To the West country...
...for a family visit, travelling by a very late train from Paddington, and with a change at Bristol Temple Meads: one dear little family on the train had a child who was asleep, snuggled safely against Mum and Dad,and actually continued half-asleep as they gently stood him up to get him off the train - I knew exactly how he felt...
Somerset, as always, enchantingly beautiful in lush summer greenery. A good time of family talk and catching-up over a cheery lunch, and then a winding bus journey back to Taunton. Because of travelling home on Sunday, I caught an evening Mass at St George's Church, a magnificent and imposing building in Billetfield,
Somehow, as it was a Saturday evening Mass, I had expected something slightly dreary, but it was very well attended, with lots of young people, and a rather good homily about St Paul. One of the readers was a young man with an exceptionally fine strong voice and we got chatting afterwards - turned out we had mutual friends in the English College in Rome...
An evening busy on the computer: rather blissful to have a comfortable room, no distractions, opportunity to tackle various projects.The hotel is very near the church, which is illuminated at night. I used, for the first time, my brand-new blessed-by-Pope-Francis rosary, given to me in Rome, and stood by the window, looking out on to the glorious tower of the church illuminated against the night sky...
Somerset, as always, enchantingly beautiful in lush summer greenery. A good time of family talk and catching-up over a cheery lunch, and then a winding bus journey back to Taunton. Because of travelling home on Sunday, I caught an evening Mass at St George's Church, a magnificent and imposing building in Billetfield,
Somehow, as it was a Saturday evening Mass, I had expected something slightly dreary, but it was very well attended, with lots of young people, and a rather good homily about St Paul. One of the readers was a young man with an exceptionally fine strong voice and we got chatting afterwards - turned out we had mutual friends in the English College in Rome...
An evening busy on the computer: rather blissful to have a comfortable room, no distractions, opportunity to tackle various projects.The hotel is very near the church, which is illuminated at night. I used, for the first time, my brand-new blessed-by-Pope-Francis rosary, given to me in Rome, and stood by the window, looking out on to the glorious tower of the church illuminated against the night sky...
It's important...
...to enjoy London and its history if you are a visitor to this great city. So do please join us on one of the Catholic History Walks that are happening all through these summer months. Details and full information here...
We are offering a ood range of different walks and dates and times. So: to all my correspondents, especially those from the USA, who write to me asking for detailed information on "what places of Catholic interest I should visit while in London" - please come and join us! I cannot write in great detail to each and every enquirer who seeks information about London's places of Catholic interest - it just isn't possible. These History Walks have been designed with the idea of giving people an opportunity to "come and see"...
We are offering a ood range of different walks and dates and times. So: to all my correspondents, especially those from the USA, who write to me asking for detailed information on "what places of Catholic interest I should visit while in London" - please come and join us! I cannot write in great detail to each and every enquirer who seeks information about London's places of Catholic interest - it just isn't possible. These History Walks have been designed with the idea of giving people an opportunity to "come and see"...
Prison...
...is a place that does not loom large in the minds of most people in an everyday way. This might give you bit of a glance at it...
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)