newsletter 20th January

Newsletter 20th January 2013

Today back to ordinary time with the green vestments for a few weeks. This is the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time. Easter comes early this year and Ash Wednesday is on 13th February.

This year we used the Third Cycle for the Scripture readings in Sundays which means that the gospel comes from Luke during Ordinary time. On weekdays, the readings are from the first cycle.

This evening there is a Joint Service at St. Margaret’s for the week of prayer for Christian Unity.

The Eucharistic Ministers meet on Thursday evening at 8pm.

The Funeral Mass for Mrs Hedy Sumption will take place on Friday at 11.30am.

Several feasts this week: Monday is the feast of St. Agnes, Thursday the feast of St. Frances de Sales and Friday the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

Next Sunday there is a second collection for the Catholic Education Service.

At this time of year, we have something from Keats:
St. Agnes! Ah! It is St. Agnes’ Eve-
Yet men will murder upon holy days.
Thou must hold water in a witch’s sieve,
And be liege-lord of all the Elves and Fays
To venture so: it fills me with amaze
To see thee, Porphyry – St. Agnes’ Eve!
God’s help! My lady fair he conjurer plays
This very night: good angels deceive her!
But let me laugh awhile, I’ve mickle time to grieve.

Recently, at Victoria Station, I noted the twelfth new Routemaster operating on route 38, stock number LT12. In the late 1920s, when the new ST type was in production, Chiswick was delivering almost 70 new vehicles per month. The chassis came from the AEC works at Southall whilst the London General Omnibus Company constructed the body at its own works.

Here is something from St. Francis de Sales, who is always entertaining.
When stags have grown too fat they hide themselves because they know that they are out of condition and would not be able to run very fast if pursued; so if we burden our hearts with desires for useless and superfluous things we cannot run easily and freely in the ways of God, which is what we mean by devotion.

Do you ever invite anybody for afternoon tea these days? Here is a recipe for some very acceptable sandwiches. Butter some slices of brown bread – it is best if it is one day old – and cut of the crusts. Make up a mixture with some hard boiled eggs, some mango chutney and some chopped watercress and spread the bread with this mixture. I am sure that your guests will be most impressed.

And now a prayer:
We thank you, Holy Father, for your Holy Name which you have made dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge, faith and immortality which you have made known to us through your servant Jesus. To you be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

A further update on the orchids. I have been advised that they require a minimum amount of water – a tiny cup each week – and should be out of direct sunlight. The leaves of the two older plants seem to be thriving but no sign as yet of any new flowers, but they are being treated with great care. Thanks to Nancy for a new plant which is now in full bloom. The herbs have survived the worst of the winter rains but I will have to look for some potted plants in the spring.
No sign yet of spring bulbs that they should be appearing soon.

The new gym at the St. Matthew Academy was been completed and is now in use. You will be able to see it from the train on the way to London.
The roadway has to be completed as well as clearing the site and attending to the exterior works.

The recent collapse of the roadway was caused by a leaking water main. I think the leak had been there for some time as the pit in the road quickly filled with water. One of the results of the leak is that the water pressure in the house is much better. It seems that all the water pipes in this area are quite old and there is a continual problem with breakages.

With best wishes

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon

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