Newsletter 13th November 2016
Today is the Thirty Third Sunday of the Church’s year. It is also Remembrance Sunday. The Mass at 11am will be a Requiem Mass for the dead of the world wars.
We are almost at the end of the Church’s year. Next Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King, the final Sunday of the year.
There is a second collection today for the Bishop’s Administration Fund.
Traidcraft Christmas cards will be available in the Angelus Room after Mass.
Next Sunday there will be an opportunity to sign cards to be sent to prisoners of conscience.
A busy week ahead. On Tuesday I travel to Paris for the day for a meeting of the English Foundation at the Catholic University. Off to Ebbsfleet early in the morning to catch the Eurostar.
On Thursday to Douai Abbey to Chair a meeting of the Historic Churches Committee. There is a long agenda and the meeting may extend into the afternoon. I start very early so that I can share in the morning office in the Abbey Church and then the Mass. The office starts at 6.10.
This means that this week there will not be early morning Masses at 7.30 on Tuesday and Thursday.
Also to Greenwich on Wednesday evening for a meeting of the Education Committee. There is a Finance Committee at the same time at the Sixth Form College but I am not sure if I will be able to fit it all in.
Fairly soon the costumes will be coming out again for the Christmas plays. Three plays on 18th December, on Christmas day and on the Feast of the Epiphany which is kept on 8th January next year. The list of
parts will be going up fairly soon so please remember to sign up as soon as possible.
A request for some more parents to help with the Liturgy for the small children in the Angelus Room. It is always very popular and the children are very proud of their work. A few more parents to help from time to time would be most welcome. We have put up a list for possible volunteers.
On 21st November works will start to renovate the organ in the Church. This should take about two weeks. During this time the weekday Masses will be held in the Angelus Room. It will be possible to celebrate the Sunday Masses in the Church as normal but without music at 9.30 and 11. I will keep you informed on the progress of the works.
I usually manage to bring back a recipe from Spain. This comes from “El Caballo de Troya”, a restaurant that some of you may recognise. Cut some courgettes into chunks, leaving the skin of them, and steam them so that they remain firm. Meanwhile butter a soufflé dish and beat up some eggs so that they are frothy. Combine the eggs and the courgettes in the dish and season. Cook in a hot oven until the egg has set and begun to rise. We described this as “comforting food”.
Several of my contemporaries from many years ago were staying at the College. The arguments continued on past events. I was blamed for sinking the boat in the river in the summer of 1960 but this is totally false. I brought the boat up the river that day with great skill, but it was another set who sank it in the rapids by the railway bridge.
A prayer of intercession: May holy Mary, and all the saints intercede with us to the Lord that we may be helped and protected by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Time for some Keats:
Where are the songs of spring? Ay where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,
White barred clouds bloom the soft dying day,
And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue.
And just room to include the Alan Bennett’s story of the aquarium keeper from Brighton who was dismissed as not being fit for porpoise.
Best wishes to you all
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon