Newsletter 14th September 2014
Newsletters have to be written well in advance, but by the time that you read this, I hope that I will have returned safely from a few days in Venice. An opportunity to admire the art, delve into the history – but also to observe the operation of the vaporettos on the Grand Canal.
Today, instead of the normal Sunday Mass, we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The story of the finding of the True Cross by Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine is well known. We have our relic of the true Cross and I will put it out for veneration today.
During the week, the Masses are for the 24th week in ordinary time.
On Wednesday evening there will be a meeting for the parents of the Children who will be making their first Holy Communion next year. It is at 8pm in the big hall – a meeting for parents, not for the children. I will explain everything and you will receive the necessary books and timetables. If at all possible please try to come.
The Wives Fellowship is coming for a service in the Church at 11.30 on Tuesday.
Now the autumn has come, the round of tasks has started again – School meetings on Monday and Thursday – a Board meeting for the Children’s Society on Wednesday and to London on Friday for a meeting regarding the Sixth Form College .
A reminder that the Parish Council meets on Tuesday 23rd September at 8pm. I will have the agenda papers for you next week.
Also a bit in advance but the Justice and Peace Group will hold a Coffee morning after the Masses on 28th September. I must set to work with a little baking. Gradually I have mastered the art of making a jam sandwich, ensuring the sponges are well cooked but not too hard before adding the jam and the cream. Years ago, when we were boys in Spain, we used to bake sponges in a biscuit tin oven, fired with pine branches, and use a reed from the river bake to see if it was properly cooked. I don’t seem to have any reeds about here – and indeed biscuit tins are rare.
Thank you all for the very generous donations to the Myra Fund – which is for the continuing benefit of the young people of the parish. The capital at present amounts to £8579 and this should produce an annual income of about £400 at present. An important condition is that the income must be spent in the year that it is received.
The great nephew enjoyed his visit to the Jubilee celebration – his social life is very full and he had to leave for another party. His sister Anna spent a lot of the time on the floor of the sitting room with young Theo – who is her contemporary.
Some Tennyson this week:
A land where all things seem’d the same!
And round the keel with faces pale.
Dark faces pale against that rosy flame,
The Mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came.
(I had to read all this for Part II of the Tripos – even now I find it somewhat difficult!)
Words from Psalm 15:
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
Who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
Since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
It looks as if there will be family wedding bells again next summer: my brother tells me that he has been investigating transport and it will not be possible to bring a Routemaster along the lane to his house and he has to settle for a Bedford OB. If and when the Pope allows priests to marry – and indeed if anyone would marry me – I have already decided that I will hire one of the new Routemasters – it is always good to make plans in advance.
With the mixture of sun and rain, my pots of herbs have thrived this year. No more attacks from snails. The basil and the fresh parsley go well with a tomato salad. Add a little olive oil and some wine vinegar and you could almost be in Burgundy.
Best wishes to you all
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon