Newsletter 1st September 2024
Sunday Masses: Saturday 6.30pm first Mass of Sunday
Sunday 9.30 and 11am
Weekday Masses
Monday to Friday: Mass at 8am.
Saturday Mass at 10am and 6.30pm
Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1
Today is the Twenty Second Sunday of the Church’s year.
A final newsletter from the present author. The writer will be departing on Monday morning. The new Parish Priest, Father Kyne will arrive on Monday and the curate, Father Bellfield is due to arrive later in the week.
The heading gives the timetable for this Sunday, but it is possible that with two priests, the timetable will be revised in the coming weeks.
You will be able to see the boy, Dexter, and his sister, Anna, reading at the 11am Mass and also their cousin Eva. Also my niece Catherine will be reading.
Tuesday is the feasts of St. Gregory the Great, the Pope who sent St. Augustine to England.
Countless recipes, consultation with volumes of poetry and details of public transport arrangements as well as an up-date on the activities of the boy and his sister. To put it mildly, the newsletter has been somewhat unusual, but it has been great fun compiling it week by week.
To add a personal note, the future pattern of the next few weeks is a little uncertain. I will be settling into my new flat, unpacking everything and starting a new way of life. I expect I will continue to see many of you about in the village and other places. At the time of writing this I am not sure if I will have another job: I am waiting to see if my application for a position as a School Chaplain will be approved.
Betjeman is always fun:
Rumbling under blackened girders, Midland, bound for Cricklewood,
Puffer its sulphur to the sunset where the Land of Laundries Stood.
No recipe this week – the kitchen has come to an end – I expect it will be beans on toast on many evenings in the future.
Thank you for all the First Communion and Confirmation forms. I will pass these to the new priests, and they will be in touch with you when the new classes have been organised. There are still some forms available in the Church.
My herb pots have flourished in the warm summer days. Even the basil has managed to survive. Lots of apples on some of the trees though very few cherries and as yet the fig tree is not ready to produce any fruit. I have tried to clear the ivy from the corner of the house, but it is not easy. A note of warning: ivy can be poisonous, and it left an unpleasant rash for a few days. Also, a dead tree at the end of the garden had to be removed. No garden at my new house – in future dried herbs will come in pots from the grocery store.
And to end with a blessing for you all.
May the Lord bless you and watch over you, the Lord make his face shine you and be gracious to you, the Lord look kindly on you and give you peace, and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit remain with you always.
With best wishes,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon.