Monday, April 30, 2018

Rosary on the Thames...

...and we gathered on the south bank, near the Royal Festival Hall, to join the nationwide Rosary on the Coast campaign of prayer. Huddled against the rain and cold, we were quite a good crowd, with people from various  parishes in the Southwark deanery including  including St George's Cathedral. We prayed the Glorious Mysteries, had a reading from the Prophet Daniel, and prayed a nunmber of other prayers...as I walked back along towards London Bridge, I heard singing wafting across from the opposite bank, where a similar group had evidently gathered: "Faith of Our Fathers"  drifted across the water.


Saturday, April 28, 2018

To Richmond...

...in pursuit of research on the history of St Mary's University, in local archives held in the Old Town Hall...

Evening Mass at St Elizabeth's. Saturday evening Mass is not the most-attended one, but there were a goodish number of families as well as stray people like me.  The whole parish has a youthful feel. There was a report on the parish finances, delivered after the end of Mass.I thought it would be dull and settled down with an I-shan't-bother-to-listen mood. But it turned out to be rather interesting: Mass attendance has increased by 25 per cent over the last two years, various plans for future parish development and mission...

In lots and lots of ways, the Britain of today is so radically different from the one in which I spent my childhood. I've become used to feeling somewhat alienated. Suddenly, waiting in the rain for the bus I had a  different feeling, a quiet understanding of what it might be like being a child at St Elizabeth's that evening...or, rather, some one looking back in many years' time, and saying "My dad used to take us to the Saturday evening Mass at the Catholic church in The Vineyard, up by Richmond Hill..." There are still cosy family memories being created.

To mark its 125 anniversary...

...a splendid concert presented by my old school, St Philomena's, Carshalton, in the superb setting of St John's, Smith Square. All v. impressive...the school's House Flags (didn't have such things in my day) were marched up to the accompaniment of deafening African drums (didn't have those, either).  Some fine singing,  the "Dance of the Mirlitons"  by a flute trio, with and some fun things - a lively rendition of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" in 1920s dress, and a concert band playing the theme tune to "Raiders of the Lost Ark".  A great atmosphere, the whole place filled with cheering and applause. Most  moving bit was, at the end,  the School Hymn sung by a massed choir plus all the pupils lining the galleries, followed by Rutter's "The Lord bless you and keep you..."

Gulp. There's going to be a special Mass in the school grounds in July. Might go...

You really must read...

...this trenchant comment on the ghastly way in which the great Bishop Bell of Chichester has been treated by today's Anglican establishment.

And while you are about it, do read other features on the excellent website..well-written, challenging, perceptive.

Friday, April 27, 2018

Valerie Riches, RIP...

...a woman of courage and kindness, wisdom and good humour...a mentor and friend, died recently.

Valerie was one of the founders of a group that became Family and Youth Concern, upholding and defending marriage as the lifelong union of a man and a woman, researching issues inpacting family life and with great courage opposing the promotion of homosexual lifestyle, abortion, and the sexualising of children.

Her family home was destroyed by bombing in 1941 but Valerie belonged to a generation which did not think of themselves as victims. She worked in the Admiralty after leaving school, and then for a musicians' agency, and it was through love of music that she met Dennis Riches: they wrote a most readable biography of their family story together under the title Built on Love - warmly recommended. As her children grew up, Valerie began a new career as a social worker, and it was this that became the spur  for involvement with groups defending the family. Always a careful, thoughtful researcher producing publications devoid of loud polemic, she was not particularly fond of personal publicity, but could be a powerful and effective debater and contributor to TV and radio discussions.

Britain owes a debt to this courageous woman, and her work continues today.in the Family Education Trust. There is a fine obituary of her in the press today. And  in my heart, I add my own tribute of affection and gratitude.




Tuesday, April 24, 2018

On St George's Day...

...the History Walkers gathered near London Bridge for a special Walk. We had a good group, and it was a perfect evening - cool and pleasant after too much heat in the previous days. As we walked down Southwark Street towards the river, one of those new sort-of-like-TV-in-the-street noticeboards flashed up three words "IT'S A BOY!" : a new prince on this most appropriate day.

...and then at the Borough Market we encountered a St George, a Dragon, and a girl dressed as Brittania - great fun, and we gave them a round of applause and some of the Walkers wanted to pose with them for pohotographs...

At St Magnus the Martyr we enjoyed the shelter of the wide porch and pondered the long history of London - King Lud, Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Normans...and as I was taking us through the centuries, beals pealed out across the City, perhaps for Evensong, or St George, or  maybe just evening practice...anyway it all matched our mood.

It was a perfect History Walk, and afterwards I enjoyed a long talkative drink with a couple of young Walkers.  We found, by chance, the absolutely perfect pub (cosy,  old, NO NOISY MUSIC!) and the evening was rounded off with exactly the sort of good cheer that St George's Day merits.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

The Society of Genealogists...

...asked me to lead members on a Catholic History Walk. We started at St Martin-in-the-Fields, and I explained that the fielde were those belonging to the monks of Westminster Abbey, who turned Thorney Island and the marshes along the Thames into good farmland...

Then along the Strand, and down to te river...where I spent rather too long explaining about the general histoiry - Britons and Romans, Saxons and Vikings...they really wanted more about "Smells and bells" which was how the Walk had been advertised, so we headed for Covent Garden, which I explained was originally Convent Garden, and we talked about Henry VIII and so on. I forgot to add the other material I usually add, about origins of pub signs and nursery rhynmes, all very Catholic...I mentioned the various famous Catholic churches around London, explaining that there were none in the old City itself as this was forbidden for many years (not long ago the City boundaries were shifted so one Catholic church is now included)..

I do wonder why the CofE doesn't give a couple of the City churches to the Catholic Church on a loan-and-pay-the-bills basis, so that City workers could get to weekday Mass more easily. Lots go to St Mary Moorfields,  St Etheldreda's or across the river to Precious Blood, but meanwhile  the City's glorious Wren and Hawksmoor churches -  which before the Great Fire were ancient Catholic churches - are for the most part simply not used most of the time...

London is currently sizzling in sudden heat. As the Walk ended, I realised I had missed an important phone call. The "Son Rise" radio show from the USA wanted to talk to me about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. So I called them back and we did an interview. Extraordinary, really,  after a morning working my way through the centuries, to be standing  just off The Strand, talking to America about a Royal Wedding and current controversies...

On which subject, I do hope the Royal couple desist from thinking that their role is to impose politically-correct opinions on the rest of us on certain issues.  Catholics in Britain today value the freeom won after some difficult times...






Tuesday, April 17, 2018

And how did Auntie Joanna spend Monday?

...with brown paper and jiffy bags, sticky labels, tea, cakes, talk, laughter and fun!  Read here

A reunion...

...with a college friend. We first met forty years ago, have stayed in touch over the years. What first made our friendship was a shared Christian faith - we still share it. She has faced widowhood with courage, is active with some good local projects, has the wisdom and commonsense that I remember from College - and the sense of fun - and made me welcome with real enthusiasm. It was a beautiful day, and we walked with her daughter and enchanting lively grandchildren through a glorious local park, enjoyed a cream tea, then later talked till late...I caught the last train back to Paddington and was home in the small hours. A day to cherish...

Thursday, April 12, 2018

...and read Auntie Joanna in the USA's National Catholic Register...

...here.



Sussex...

...and a meeting of the small committee that oversees the Catholic History Walks. This is always combined with a very agreeable Sussex day, which this time included a walk along the Chichester canal - well worth a visit, and lovingly maintained by a team of local volunteers.  Everything lussh and green following lots of recent rain.

We also spent time in the local Catholic church, where there is regular Adoration during the week.  Plenty to pray about, in rather worrying times for the world...



Wednesday, April 11, 2018

...and forthcoming royal celebrations...

...read Auntie Joanna's thoughts on that, here

Sunday, April 08, 2018

Spring tides along the Thames...

...and crowds of young people packing the South Bank in the first warm(ish) evening of the year. Drinks, talking, laughter, a Friday, with work finished for the week.  I trundled my suitcase along (returning from family visit toi the West Country), enjoying it all. The wide clean sand was inviting, the water lapping towards it.  "Watch my case for me for a moment?" I asked a young couple, and scrambled down the steps. It was glorious to run along, a sudden sense that winter was over.I got a stick and wrote "Auntie was here!" on the sand, dipped my hands into the Thames and then hurried back up the steps - it would be an hour or more before these were under water, but there is something fearsome about the river's tidal surge.

Some sand-sculptors create wonderful castles and pictures in the sand - all to last for just a few hours before being swept away. Next day, as I retraced my steps on my way to another appointment, one such artist had made a most beautiful Easter scene, with Middle Eastern buildings and a Tomb with its stone rolled back...

I have a favourite restaurant not far from the river (I am not so daft as to give away its location, as it is mostly not too crowded) where I sometimes sit and work over a modest meal. A couple of hours spent thus, and then I headed for Soho, where a beautiful Mass for the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday was followed by a procession around Soho Square with the relics of St Mary Magdalene. Then Adoration with the Blessed Sacrament on the altar. Street-missionaries take lanterns and invite passers-by to come in and light candles. It is the most moving thing to see people walking  up the lantern-lit aisle, slightly nervous at first , but then touched by the glittering candlelit scene, and relaxed about lighting a little tea-light by the altar steps...

Wednesday, April 04, 2018

Paul VI, and a story worth discovering...

...in the latest CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT.

Read here...info not widely known.






Tuesday, April 03, 2018

...of interest to those who read my Good Friday blog...

...read here...



...and do come...

...on one of the next Catholic History Walks, now starting the new Spring season in earnest:

Tuesday April 10th, meet 2pm at the Church of the Mst Precious Blood, O'Meara Street, London SE1

Sunday April 15th, steps of WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL 3pm

More info here

...and on Saturday...

...April 7th, for the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, at St Patrick's, Soho, there is a special event which I hope to attend, with a  time of Adoration in the evening: info here.

Working...

...after the Easter break, and a  couple of major projects are moving into the next, most complicated, stage.

Research for one project will, it seems, involve sitting in a former nuclear bunker at a disused Amercan Air Force base.I'll keep you [posted on how it all goes.

...He is risen indeed!

Allleluia!!!

A wonderful family Easter, with the Exulstet and a  church glowing with candlelight...a celebratory lunch, and pleasant walks...family talk and simnel cake and chocolate eggs...

A Bank Holiday with  a walk and pub lunch, and some bookshop-browsing in Oxford, and I indulged in a couple of new books about CS Lewis.