Newsletter 20th May 2018
Welcome to Mass today as we celebrate the feast of Pentecost – the coming down of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
After the readings we will recite the Sequence – Holy Spirit, Lord of light. Please stand so that we can recite this together.
Today is first of the two days for First Holy Communions at the 11am Mass. Congratulations and prayers for the children. The second day is on 10th June. A word of thanks to the parents who have done so much to make the classes so enjoyable and instructive.
Back to ordinary time from Monday with prayers and readings at Mass taken from the seventh week in ordinary time. The Scripture readings are from the second cycle. The green vestments appear once again for use until Advent.
There are some new feasts introduced this year which may not appear in your missals. Monday is now the feast of Mary, mother of the Church and Thursday is kept as the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest. Thursday is also the feast of our patron, Our Lady help of Christians.
Next Sunday is Trinity Sunday.
Friday is the feast of the English Saint, St. Bede, well known for his history of the Church in England which is respected as one of the earliest versions of the history of our land.
The garden seems to be much more spacious following the recent works. When I have had time, I have tried to tidy up some of the beds. If you can spare an hour or so at the weekend to help from time to time it would be most welcome.
The new railway timetable starts from today. It will be interesting to see how it works out. It seems to me that the new signalling system, based on a control centre at Three Bridges rather than the old signal box at London Bridge is far from perfect and in recent weeks there have been a number of signalling problems.
If you are off for a picnic, Arabella Boxer suggests making some Watercress and Walnut sandwiches. Chop the leaves finely and mix with some chopped walnuts, binding them together with mayonnaise. You can use some thin slices of white or brown bread. Remove the crusts and cut into four. A very acceptable alternative to cucumber sandwiches.
And now something from Robert Frost:
I shall be telling this with a sigh,
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
A prayer for Pentecost:
Lord Jesus, all power is given you in heaven and on earth. Transform our understanding and our will by the gift of your Holy Spirit; may our minds and bodies be subject to your Spirit and all our affections be directed towards your holy will, to the praise and glory of your grace.
The boy is enjoying the summer term at school. He has not scored many runs at cricket but oils his bat regularly with linseed oil in the hope that he will be able to hit several sixes before the end of the season.
To celebrate his feast, a short extract from Bede’s history:
King Alfrid sent the priest Wilfrid to the King of France, to be consecrated bishop over him and his people. That prince sent him to be ordained by Agilbert, who, having left Britain, was made bishop of the city of Paris and by him Wilfrid was honourably consecrated in a village called Compiegne.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon