On the train to...

...Arundel, where every year there is a glorious Carpet of Flowers in the cathedral to honour the feast of Corpus Christi. Things culminate in a procession through the town, with Benediction in the castle grounds. I'm on the train whooshing through the London suburbs and in due course we'll be in the Sussex countryside. Knights and Dames of St Gregory take part in the procession and I have my green cloak etc with me.

Yesterday evening an excellent meeting of the Catholic Writers' Gyuild, held as usual at Farm Street.    Topic was  Hanna Chrzanowska.  No, I hadn't heard of her either. But it's a fascinating story: she is the woman who, among much else,  organised and ran a system of home-nursing  in Krakow in the difficult years under Communist rule, transforming the liives of sick and handicapped people who were marooned in grim conditions in dingy flats, unable to get out and lacking proper care. With teams of volunteers, Hanna  gave practical care and also organised day-trips, singalongs, gatherings for prayer and celebration...all this with the support and encouragement of Archbishop Karol Wojtyla. We in the West are now only just beginning to grasp the significance of how the Church provided for human and spiritual needs under Communism, and these stories are emerging...lessons for us to absorb and examples to follow......

A tragic...

... and alas not unexpected, result in Ireland.

One of the most baffling comments in the post-referendum round-up of interviews: a jubilant lady who announced that she had voted  for repeal "for my daughters...I have two daughters, and I want it for them"  Can she really be saying that she cheerfully assumes her daughrers will want to abort their babies?  Does she really want to tell the world that is how she expects her daughters to behave? Ugh.

After the Royal Wedding...

...read Auntie's take on the subject: here...

An excellent lecture...

...by Fr James Tolhurst, who has just brought out a new edition of John Henry Newman's Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine.

Fr J. is a great Newman scholar, and his lecture illuminated Newman's message.  Newman's journey into full communion with the Catholic Church was of course bound up with his understanding of the development of doctrine - and through his work the Church has been enriched.

The lecture - extremely well attended, every seat filled and people standing at the back - was in the Challoner Room at the Church of Our Lady and St Gregory, Warwick Street. The Church is in the care of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham and the evening was chaired by Mgr Keith Newton, the Ordinary, who noted that this was in fact the first Catholic Church that Newman ever attended - he went there when young with his father, to hear the music at the sung Mass. Newman is now a Patron of the Ordinariate.

This was a very enjoyable evening, with a celebratory feel - and a particular joy for our family as Fr J. is a good family friend of many years' standing.

...and read Auntie Joanna...

...on Cardinal Newman... here...

at St Mary's....

...University,Twickenham, in strong sunshine. The exam season - students busy with papersstudying everywhere, in the refectory and grounds and library and so on...

Want to learn something of the |University's history - and the history of the extraordinary house created by Horace Walpole, which gives this whole district its name?

Next WEDNESDAY, May 23rd, meet 12.30pm at the main entrance. Bring some sandwiches if you like: there ius also a refectory and coffee-bar where you can buy some. We will look around, enjoy the beautiful grounds, and learn the story. There is Mass at 1pm for those who wish.

A Mass, a parish barbeque...

...for the feast of the Ascension (see previous blog post) and then an overnight train to Scotland for a meeting today of the editorial team for FAITH magazine. The Caledonian Sleeper has all modern comforts - a cabin with freshly laundered duvet, washbasin, welcome-pack with soap etc - and there is just a hint  of the Great Railway Age as the train rumbles its way up through England and across the border, to arrive at  Edinburgh's Waverley station by 7 am...it's not WH Auden, but there are faint echoes...

HURRAH!!!

WE ARE TODAY CELEBRATING ASCENSION THURSDAY.

We are celebrating it on the right day, and the churches will be well-attended.

WE LOVE OUR FEAST DAYS!

At this church, there will be Masses at  10am and 1.05pm, and  the children's choir will be singing at a special Mass at 6.30pm  in the Ordinariate Form, preceded by Evensong at 6pm. Come and join us!

It is a great relief to have the Feast of the Ascension back on its proper day.

Give your support to...

...the Cardinal who is urging that schools help children to accept their biological identity as boys and girls and thus find their true joy.


...and watch this video...

Find ouit about the efforts of Auntie and team to teach the Lord's Prayer to London children...

...report in the latest PORTAL magazine

Local elections in Britain...

...and some relief on Auntie's  part  that her reflections shared in advance proved to be rather gloomier than the actual events...

...and on to the offices of ...

...the Catholic Union, which has a Charitable Trust  sponsoring some useful projects for schools.    This will mean another day of packing and posting prizes in due course...this will happen, not at the Catholic Union office but at this church which has hosted many such gatherings in recent years.

And then an afternoon at the computer tackling various writing ventures

Want to see the latest FAITH magazine?  Feature on pro-life event at Westminster, announcement of a new initiative, The Humanum Institute, book reviews , and more...if you are interested, send a Comment to this Blog (which I will not publish) with your POSTAL address and I will send you a complimentary copy.

The Catholic History Walks are flourishing: read here for info on the next Walks coming up in May and June...