Today, on the feast of Pentecost, we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the apostles, gathered in Jerusalem.

After the second reading we will read the Sequence, a special prayer to the Spirit.

From Monday, the calendar of the Church returns to Ordinary time. The green vestments will come out again and will be used until we begin the season of Advent at the end of the year. From Monday the Mass will be from the Seventh week in ordinary time and the Scripture readings will be taken from the first cycle. On Sundays for the next couple of weeks there will be feast days – Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi – until we pick up the cycle of Sundays in Ordinary time once again.

Saturday is the feast of the Venerable Bede, famous for his history of the early English Church. The accuracy of some of his chapters has been doubted from time to time: but certainly it is important as we have nothing else.

Next Sunday we complete our celebrations with the Second set for First Holy Communion at the 11am Mass. Not quite so many as last week, but this year we had take two Sundays as there were so many children. Once again I hope that we will have a fine day.

A splendid day on Wednesday with an invitation to the inauguration of the new Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. This takes place in the Painted Hall of the Old Naval College. The new Mayor receives the chain of office and is officially installed for the coming year.

After the morning Masses today there will be coffee in the Angelus Room and a chance to sign cards for CAFOD.

The great nephew is beginning to chat away to everybody. He has always been most friendly – but now it is beginning to make sense – frequent requests to his mother to read to him – though she has to return to her text books rather than reading once again the story of James the red fire engine.

I am sure that you would like to read something from Bede’s history today:
At that time, Bosel, the bishop of that province, laboured under such weakness of body, that he could not perform his Episcopal functions; for which reason, this Oftfor was, by universal consent, chosen bishop in his stead, and by order of King Ethelred, consecrated by Bishop Wilfrid of blessed memory, who was then Bishop of the Midland Angles, because Archbishop Theodore was dead and no other bishop ordained in his place.
(This refers to England in the year 680, just after the death of the Abbess, Hilda of Whitby)

And some more Sylvia Plath: from Ariel
And now I
Foam to wheat, a glitter of seas.
The child’s cry
Melts in the wall.
And I
Am the arrow
The dew that flies
Suicidal, at one with the drive
Into the red
Eye, the cauldron of morning.

Here is a soup from the Canary Islands. Soak some red and white beans overnight and drain and dry. Mix with some chicken stock cubes and some pieces of boiling fowl, some water and stew very slowly.. Meanwhile. In some olive oil. cook 2 cloves of garlic, a chopped onion and add them to the soup and some bunches of watercress and cook for a further half hour. It can be left to stand overnight and re-heated the next day. Sometimes this is served with pieces of hard boiled egg.

I think you need a prayer after this:
O God, you make all things work together for the good of those who love you. Kindle the abiding fire of your charity in our hearts, that the longing that you inspire in us may not be stifled by any temptation. We make our prayer through Christ Our Lord.

The works at Victoria have become more and more extensive and it is quite difficult to move around. The railway station is not as bus as it was when the boat trains used to leave for Dover and Folkestone from the Chatham side. The Brighton side is quite busy but the platforms became cramped when they were cut back to make room for the extended concourse. The days when the
Golden Arrow and the Night Ferry as well as the Brighton Belle left from Victoria are long gone.

Best wishes to you all

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon

Newsletters have to be prepared well in advance. By the time that you read this, I hope that I will have returned once again from a visit to the College in Spain. A week of work – catching up with the administration, visits to the Banks and meetings with the Trustees who will came for their annual inspection. Back by way of Madrid and London City these days as the direct flights from Stansted came to an end in March.

Today is the Feast of the Ascension. After the reading of the gospel, we extinguish the Paschal Candle, a sign that the Risen Lord has returned to his Father in heaven. During the days to come we pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit as we prepare to celebrate the feast of Pentecost next Sunday.

There is a second collection today to support the work of the Catholic Press Office.

Next Sunday there will be a Coffee morning after Mass with a chance to sign cards for CAFOD.

A splendid day today for the First Holy Communions. Congratulations to the Children who will be receiving the Sacrament today for the first time. They have worked so hard in their classes and we are very proud of them: also they seem to have enjoyed it all very much. Thank you to all the parents who have helped in so many ways. This is the first of the two celebrations – there are so many children this year that there will be a second celebration on 26th May. I hope I remember to put out the correct cake with the right names or otherwise there will be trouble.

I think that the weather is beginning to improve at last – so who knows – it might be time to think about putting up the pool once again. I have washed all the towels and the swim suites and there is a good supply of chemicals in the garage. The only trouble is that the grass did not quite recover from last year. Thanks to the children who have sent in their ideas for items for the garden. There were some really good suggestions and we will not be looking to see what might be possible. The only problem will be that with so many things, you will not want to go home.

So far, not too busy this week. A meeting at the Children’s Society on Wednesday and then on to the Town Hall at Lewisham in the evening. Maybe time to catch up on quite a few things.

After the Confirmation, I was pleased to be able to entertain Bishop Lynch to lunch. There some things left over afterwards and I was able to use them to make a special sandwich. (If you take it to school in your packed lunch, you might be able to trade it for a choc bar.) Prepare the bread with a bed of lettuce. Add a thin layer of hollandaise sauce. Then some peel prawns and a good sprinkling of chopped chives.

After a late start, the garden is doing very well. I am pleased with my herb garden and will be trying to put in some more mint and some basil. After a said winter, the olive tree is looking happier though it will be some years before it produces much fruit. In think that the raspberry canes have survived the winter and there is plenty of blossom on the apple trees. The sweet chestnut is always the last tree to bloom but the buds have now come, so summer must be on the way.

The new railway line at St. John’s is in use. The connection was brought into use over the Easer holiday but tidying up work has continued since then. As yet, I have not seen a train stopped on the incline up from the main line. I imagine that there could be some problem in re-starting in wet weather and I will be watching this with interest.

Of late, a great interest in the life and writings of Sylvia Plath. Here is something from one of her poems: Crossing the Water.
Black lake, black boat, two black, cut-paper people.
Where do the black trees go that drink here?
Their shadows must cover Canada.
A little light is filtering from the water flowers.
Their leaves do not wish us to hurry:
They are round and flat and full of dark advice.
(As a summer task, you might think of reading a biography and then her only novel: The Bell Jar).

And time for a final prayer:
O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; grant that we, to whom thou has given an hearty desire to pray, may by thy mighty aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Best wishes to you all

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon

Newsletters have to be prepared well in advance. By the time that you read this, I hope that I will have returned once again from a visit to the College in Spain. A week of work – catching up with the administration, visits to the Banks and meetings with the Trustees who will came for their annual inspection. Back by way of Madrid and London City these days as the direct flights from Stansted came to an end in March.

Today is the Feast of the Ascension. After the reading of the gospel, we extinguish the Paschal Candle, a sign that the Risen Lord has returned to his Father in heaven. During the days to come we pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit as we prepare to celebrate the feast of Pentecost next Sunday.

There is a second collection today to support the work of the Catholic Press Office.

Next Sunday there will be a Coffee morning after Mass with a chance to sign cards for CAFOD.

A splendid day today for the First Holy Communions. Congratulations to the Children who will be receiving the Sacrament today for the first time. They have worked so hard in their classes and we are very proud of them: also they seem to have enjoyed it all very much. Thank you to all the parents who have helped in so many ways. This is the first of the two celebrations – there are so many children this year that there will be a second celebration on 26th May. I hope I remember to put out the correct cake with the right names or otherwise there will be trouble.

I think that the weather is beginning to improve at last – so who knows – it might be time to think about putting up the pool once again. I have washed all the towels and the swim suites and there is a good supply of chemicals in the garage. The only trouble is that the grass did not quite recover from last year. Thanks to the children who have sent in their ideas for items for the garden. There were some really good suggestions and we will not be looking to see what might be possible. The only problem will be that with so many things, you will not want to go home.

So far, not too busy this week. A meeting at the Children’s Society on Wednesday and then on to the Town Hall at Lewisham in the evening. Maybe time to catch up on quite a few things.

After the Confirmation, I was pleased to be able to entertain Bishop Lynch to lunch. There some things left over afterwards and I was able to use them to make a special sandwich. (If you take it to school in your packed lunch, you might be able to trade it for a choc bar.) Prepare the bread with a bed of lettuce. Add a thin layer of hollandaise sauce. Then some peel prawns and a good sprinkling of chopped chives.

After a late start, the garden is doing very well. I am pleased with my herb garden and will be trying to put in some more mint and some basil. After a said winter, the olive tree is looking happier though it will be some years before it produces much fruit. In think that the raspberry canes have survived the winter and there is plenty of blossom on the apple trees. The sweet chestnut is always the last tree to bloom but the buds have now come, so summer must be on the way.

The new railway line at St. John’s is in use. The connection was brought into use over the Easer holiday but tidying up work has continued since then. As yet, I have not seen a train stopped on the incline up from the main line. I imagine that there could be some problem in re-starting in wet weather and I will be watching this with interest.

Of late, a great interest in the life and writings of Sylvia Plath. Here is something from one of her poems: Crossing the Water.
Black lake, black boat, two black, cut-paper people.
Where do the black trees go that drink here?
Their shadows must cover Canada.
A little light is filtering from the water flowers.
Their leaves do not wish us to hurry:
They are round and flat and full of dark advice.
(As a summer task, you might think of reading a biography and then her only novel: The Bell Jar).

And time for a final prayer:
O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; grant that we, to whom thou has given an hearty desire to pray, may by thy mighty aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Best wishes to you all

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon

Today, the Fourth Sunday of Eastertide is a day of prayer for vocations to the priesthood and to the Religious life. There is a second collection today to help meet the costs of training the future priests of the Diocese.

Tuesday is the feast of St. George, the patron of our country and the patron of the Cathedral Church.

Thursday is the feast of the Evangelist, St. Mark.

Only another week to the Confirmations. Bishop Lynch will be administering the Sacrament at the 11am Mass on Sunday 28th April. There is a rehearsal on the Saturday morning after the morning Mass at 10.30. It should not take too long – no more than about half an hour. I hope that members of the group will be able to attend.

This Mass will be very full with families and friends, so if you normally attend the 11am Mass, you may possibly consider coming to an alternative Mass on this day.

A busy week ahead with a meeting at the School on Monday. On Tuesday the Chapter Canons meet and attend the Mass of St. George in the Cathedral. On Wednesday a meeting at the House of Lords and on Thursday to Greenwich Town Hall for the Education Committee.

There is a funeral Mass in the Church on Friday at 11am for Mrs Joyce Neighbours.

The works to the garden are continuing. You will have noticed the new hedge to replace the holly. The idea was to produce a barrier to keep cars off the grass, but somehow the holly never really made it. Two tons of earth arrived the other day and with a lot of references to “mate” the driver wanted to unload it outside the Church. I was able to persuade him to take it round to the garden.

The painting of the sacristy has now been completed. Work on the floor is due to start on 29th April. At the same time work will start on cleaning the benches. I know that the kneelers need replacing but this will have to wait for a little while.

Thanks to the children for their proposals on items for the garden. Please let me know if you have any further suggestions.

Paschal candles are quite large when they are new but by the end of the year, about half is left over. I had a bright idea of trying to use them as altar candles and found some stands at Jean Louis. On the first week, a guest at a baptism knocked one over, sending wax everywhere, so perhaps it was not quite such a good idea after all.

Here is a Grace by Robert Herrick:
Here a little child I stand
Heaving up my either hand;
Cold as puddocks though they be,
Here I life them up to thee
For a benison to fall
On our meat, and on us all.

Here is a strange dish from Catalonia:
Cook and drain some spinach and cut it up. In some oil, fry some pieces of garlic and a couple of chopped anchovy fillets and then add the spinach together with some pine nuts and some chopped raisins. Season with slat and pepper and cook very slowly. (I have tried this and I am not sure that I would recommend it – but at least it is interesting.)

A prayer from the psalms:
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him singing for joy.
Go within his gates giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise,
Give thanks and bless his name.

Most of the old roof has disappeared on the Brighton at London Bridge Station and the brown tin clad buildings, constructed in 1970, are coming down. The new Brighton concourse is light and pleasant and contrasts with the crowded tunnels on the South Eastern side. It will be splendid when it is completed but the disturbing factors are that for a time the Thameslink trains will no longer serve London Bridge and also the Charing Cross services will be fast to Waterloo East. This will make life difficult for many people.

Best wishes to you all

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon

I hope that you enjoyed your Easter break. Gradually a hope that the Spring is coming at last after weeks of cold.

Good progress with the works: you will have seen that the decoration at high level has been completed and the next task is to attend to the floor. Also the new railings have arrived at the entrance to the Church.

No feast days this week as we are continuing to celebrated Paschal tide – the days after the Resurrection. On these days the first reading at Mass is taken from the Acts of the Apostles.

Not long now until the Confirmations. The young people have completed their course and there will be a rehearsal on the morning of the 27th. One or two adults have asked if they could be confirmed as well and I would be grateful if they could contact me to ensure that they can be included on the day.

Today I have put out a consultation booklet for the young people to obtain their ideas on things that we might add to the garden. Please add young ideas and maybe a drawing: I cannot promise that we will be able to do everything, but your ideas will be helpful.

On the Bank Holiday it was most interesting to arrive at Waterloo station and find the Great Western express to Penzance about to depart. It had been diverted from Paddington because of works at Reading. After Salisbury it was taking the route through Westbury to Taunton. There was a Southern pilot man in the cab to show the route to the Western driver. It could have taken the old Southern Route all the way to Exeter St. David’s but this would have been too much for GW – which saw the Southern West of England route as a rival.

Some familiar lines from Eliot which always appear at this time of the year:

April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dead tubers.

In Spain in mid-April, the weather would suddenly change: cold and damp to the middle of the month but then the sun would come out and we would begin to look forward to the warm days. A few weeks to start revising for our exams which would be at the beginning of June.

Here is a recipe from Andalusia. Fry a chopped onion gently with some olive oil. Add a cup of rice and cook for a minute or two and then add two glasses of sweet sherry. Then move to a bigger pot and add some chicken stock. Towards the end add a knob of butter and seasoning to taste. This goes well with cold meat or fish.

A prayer for today:
Teach us, O Lord, to fear without being afraid: to fear thee in love that we may love thee without fear, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Diana Lau has asked me to say how much her family appreciated the presence of so many people at Joe’s funeral Mass on 22nd March and also for their very generous contributions to the British Heart Foundation – a cause that was very dear to him.

In spite of the cold weather, I am pleased to see that the roses are starting to bud once again – the olive tree is still there but is hoping for some warmer days. The daffodils have not done very well this year and some have not made it at all. There is a bit of rhubarb, but this is quite slow at present. I look forward to seeing some blossoms on the apple tree. The monkey puzzle tree at the end of the garden is still there, but progress is slow. Also the first buds have no appeared on the hydrangeas.

At the moment some stressful days as exams are due to start within the next few weeks. Prayers and best wishes for all who are taking important exams at this time. I hope that the A level papers will not be too obscure.

The great nephew was on his travels over the Easter period: he went to Prague (with his parents). I will have to ask him about this. I was last there in 1980 and I suspect that a few things may have changed since then.

Best wishes to you all

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon

Today, the Sunday after Easter is known as Low Sunday. It is also known as Quasimodo Sunday from the first word of the Latin Introit antiphon at Mass. The famous bell ringer at Notre Dame took his name from the fact that he was born on this day.

A word of thanks to all who helped with our Easter ceremonies in so many ways so that they were solemn and prayerful – and on Easter Sunday – also joyful.

Also a personal word of thanks for your very generous Easter offerings.

What is happening with the works to the Church – we are continuing with the internal decorations of the walls and are now painting the central aisle at high level. Also, we will be oiling the floor of the Church. You may have noticed that a section was painted experimentally and it has come up very well. Also, the benches will be given a clean and a polish. When the works are completed, the interior of the Church will be transformed and we will be very proud of it.
The oiling of the floor will take place over four weeks, as it is necessary to move the benches. This means that we will continue to use the Angelus Room for some time during the week but we will be back in the Church at weekends.

The Paschal Candle, which was blessed during the Easter Vigil, is a symbol of the presence of the Risen Christ. It remains in the Sanctuary until Ascension Day and is lit at the Sunday Masses. The brass studs are filled with incense and represent the five wounds of the Lord. They were added to the candle during the vigil Service on Easter night.

The schools are closed this week but I am kept very busy at present with preparations for marriages. This year so far there are 27 in hand – many in the Church- but some taking place elsewhere. Best wishes and prayers for them all.

And now for some other news: it is remarkable to see how the old train shed on the Brighton side at London Bridge station is being demolished. The old station, in spite of a number of adaptations, never really recovered from the serious war damage so a new start is the best solution.
At St. John’s, you may have noticed that the connections are now in place for the additional track over the flyover.

Recently I have been using my Kindle to read the Pickwick Papers. At times Dickens can be infuriating with his elaborate descriptions and curious use of words. However, his style is well suited to a picaresque novel and he creates a vivid impression of journeys by stagecoach and the discomforts of the coaching inns. We need a modern Dickens to provide a similarly vivid account of travel by Ryanair.

A quotation the other week from Gide on the “posh” side of the newsletter. I was reminded that at one time his writings were on the index of forbidden books. I think that in particular “Les Caves du Vatican” upset a few people. I got out my copy, which begins by explaining how the hero, who was a freemason and an unbeliever visited Rome in 1890 during the pontificate of Leo XIII. A book, which begins in these terms, is looking for trouble.

I always like these lines from Eliot:
I made this, I have forgotten
And remember.
The rigging weak and the canvas rotten
Between one June and another September.
Made this unknowing, half conscious – unknown, my own.

And a prayer:

I offer you Lord, my thoughts to be fixed on you; my words to have you for their theme; my actions to be done according to your will; my hardships to be endured for your sake. Amen.

A reminder to look up the Ofsted report for St. Matthew Academy on the web site. It is now classified as a “good” school.

In preparation for the Confirmations on 28th April, cards are now available in the repository. First Communion cards and Rosaries will be available from the beginning of May.

Best wishes to you all
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday. At the 9.30 Mass, the palms will be blessed in the garden and we will process into the Church.
Blessed palms will be available in the Church later in the day.

This year we read the account of the Passion from Luke’s gospel. You are asked to join the parts marked for the crowd.

Masses will be at the normal times on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There are no morning Masses on Thursday.

At 4pm, there will be a special Mass for children and at 8pm, there will be the solemn liturgy of the Last Supper. During the Mass the feet of twelve men are washed, commemorating the task that the Lord undertook on this evening. Eucharistic Ministers are asked to attend if possible so that they can renew their commitment for another year. At the end of Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is taken in procession to the altar of repose and the high altar is stripped of all its ornaments. The Church remains open for prayer until 10pm.

On Good Friday, the Churches in Blackheath share in a service at Whitfield Mount, which starts at 10.30. We will leave in procession from our Church at 10.10.

The solemn afternoon liturgy is at 3pm, including the reading of St. John’s Passion, the veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion. There will be Stations of the Cross at 8pm with the veneration of the relic of the true cross.

There are no morning Masses on Saturday and no Mass at 6.30. The solemn vigil begins at 9pm with the blessing of the new fire and of the paschal candled in the garden and the procession into the Church. There is the solemn singing of the Easter Hymn, the Exultet with the readings from Scripture and the Easter Vigil Mass.
On Easter Sunday, Masses are at the normal times. Children are especially encouraged to come to the Mass at 9.30. On this day, rather than reciting the Creed, there is a renewal of baptismal promises.

So a lot of information this week – so what else to tell you about?

Earlier in the month, I was working at the College in Spain. If we so wish, the Rector has kindly agreed that we can come to stay at the College in October. The problem is that the Ryanair flights direct to Valladolid have come to an end so the journey will not be so easy. It will be necessary to travel by way of Madrid and then take the train to Valladolid – so really not something for the faint hearted – but let me know if you still might be interested.

Recipes from the College are always good: here is something we had one evening.
A salad containing lettuce, baby tomatoes, pieces of walnut, pieces of avocado pear, some pieces of grapefruit and some prawns.
Served with some sea food sauce

Work on the redecoration of the Church is processing well: there will be a break over Easter but I hope that it can be completed over the next few weeks. Frequently visitors speak favourably our Church – I think it is more than just the design – it is the care that we all take in looking after it.

Passing through the Terminal at Madrid airport, I found that I was accompanied by a Column of police with helmets and riot gear. But there is always time for a song from Gilbert and Sullivan:

Ah, take one consideration with another
- with another,
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one
When constabulary duty’s to be done
To be done
The policeman’s lot is not a happy one.

Just room for a prayer for Holy Week:
Saviour of the world, who by your Cross and precious death have redeemed us, have mercy on us, we humbly beseech you O Lord. Lord Jesus, you gave yourself for us. Give us the fullness of your love, that for all your love, with your love, we may love you.

Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon