newsletter 16th August 2015

Newsletter 16th August 2015
Today we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, transferred from 15th August. The Church believes that at the end of her life on earth, Mary was taken, body and soul, into heaven. She becomes the proto-type of a fully redeemed humanity, realising our own hope of the resurrection of the dead at the end of time. This has always been part of the belief of the Church but was defined formally in 1950.
On Thursday, the results of the GCSE examinations will be announced. I hope that you have done well with lots of A* grades. At St. Matthew’s some of the boys cannot bring themselves to open the envelopes with the result – they kiss the flap hoping that this will improve their grades.
Thanks to the children for their ideas for using the Myra fund. We are looking to see what is the best suggestion and will let you know in the next couple of weeks.
Gradually the First Communion forms are coming back and I will be pleased to receive them as soon as possible so that I can order the books for the course.
Thursday of this week is the feast of St. Bernard and Friday is the feast of St. Pius X. Other days this week will be kept as the 20th week in ordinary time.
I am keeping a careful watch on the cherry tree and giving it plenty of water. Also the magnolia tree is doing well. I gave up on the oregano after it was attacked by birds, and have planted a second pot of basil. The shoots are beginning to appear and I am keeping them covered with a net. I need to plant some more curly parsley soon and also the dill is beginning to go to seed.
Now time for the recipe: you will need some skinned chicken pieces. Mix some paprika with some salt and pepper and coat the chicken. Cook some garlic cloves in some hot oil until brown and remove from the pan. Cook the chicken in the oil in batches until brown all over. Return to the pan, add a cup fino sherry and some chicken stock and a bay leaf. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile squeeze the garlic form the skins and pound with some parsley and add to the stock. Cook for about a further ten minutes until the meat is tender.
A prayer for today:
I pray to you, Lord, to enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will, make holy my inward being. Give me sorrow of my past sins, let me not fall into temptation. Let me grow stronger in all that is good and true.
Belloc on Vultures:
The Vulture eats between his meals
And that’s the reason why,
He very, very rarely feels
As well as you and I.
His eye is dull, his head is bald
His neck is growing thinner
Oh! What a lesson for us all
To only eat at dinner!
Also time to remind you of Alexander Pope:
Who would not laugh, if such a man there be?
Who would not weep if Atticus were he?
(I think he must have been reading Harper Lee.)
Gradually the new railway lines at Rotherhithe with the dive-under are taking shape. Sometimes period of intense activity and on other days, nobody seems to be there. Lengths of new and ballasted track have been completed on the route to London Bridge but as yet they have not been connected up. Two diesel locomotives with loads of ballast wait patiently day by day. It is difficult to work out how they got there –is it possible that track has been uprooted so that there are marooned and cannot move anywhere?
The great nephew enjoyed his aunt’s wedding – she is a great favourite. He was wearing a very smart outfit. His small sister enjoyed the food but was too young to enjoy the celebrations and retired to bed.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon