St Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter 20th August 2023
Sunday Masses: Saturday 6.30pm first Mass of Sunday
– Sunday 9.30 and 11am and 5pm.
Monday to Friday: Mass at 8am.
Saturday 10am and 6.30pm
Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1
Today is the twentieth Sunday of the Church’s year.
Saints this week include St. Pius X on Monday and the Apostle St. Bartholomew on Thursday.
Thank you for your help and kindness following the recent operation to my eye. I am pleased to report that all is going well: I have a further visit to the hospital next month to complete matters.
The fig tree is gradually recovering with several new shoots, and I hope that there may be some fruit next year. Some of the herb plots have completed their season of growth and need cleaning out.
I have been busy during the past week preparing the timetables and the charts for the First Communion classes. The books are on order, and I look forward to the meeting with the parents in September.
A rare dish this week: cook some onions in a little oil; add some fennel, some chopped tomatoes and some courgettes, with some herbs and seasoning to taste. Cover the dish and cook over the lowest possible heat for about an hour, Uncover and increase the heat for a moment. Sprinkle with some parsley before serving.
And something from George Herbert this week on Prayer:
The milkie way, the bird of Paradise.
Church-bells beyond the stares heard, the souls bloud,
The land of spices; something understood.
A little entertainment to fill in the spaces this week.
I have been working on a French production of My Fair Lady:
A Hertford, Hereford et Hampshire, les ouragans arrivent rarement –
Que vous etes gentil de m’inviter
Puis encore – pleut-t-il ou?
Railway stories are always entertaining. The Southern Railway used names from the legends of King Arthur for some of its engines. These included Joyous Gard, the name of an estate gifted by the King to Sir Lancelot. This resulted in a protest from the Aslef representative – what about the drivers? –
And a prayer:
O God whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth: we humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things and to give us those things which be profitable for us; through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Have you found the Irishman in Hamlet?
Act 3, Scene 3 line 73 –
Now might I do it, Pat, now he is praying.
And I am sure you would enjoy some Betjman on Ireland –
Bells are booming down the bohreens,
White the mist along the grass.
Now the Julias, Maeves and Maureens
Move between the fields to Mass.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon