Newsletter 21st August 2016
Today is the Twenty First Sunday of the Church’s year.
A fairly quiet week as we come to the end of the summer holidays. I hope that the days will be warm.
Wednesday of this week is the feast of the Apostle St. Bartholomew and Saturday is the feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine.
The new kneelers on the benches in the Church look very smart – please help to keep them clean.
A day out to York on Thursday with a friend to visit a well- known museum. I hope to come back with some interesting stories for the parish magazine.
Please return forms for the First Communion classes as soon as possible as I need to order the books for the children and to prepare the programme.
Some warm summer days but already a tinge of autumn – not long now before the pools are put away for another year. It will be necessary to move the position of the big pool next time – the frame has sunk into the ground and we need a level surface.
To visit the great nephew recently for his birthday celebration. We spent the afternoon on an elaborate Lego model. He tells me that he is no longer a schoolboy – he is really an engineer – but not everybody knows this yet. I wonder where he gets this from.
We now have a date for Confirmations – Saturday 24th June at the 6.30pm Mass. I have put out some inscription forms. Generally, candidates should be about 13-14. I am working on a timetable for classes and arranging a timetable. It would be helpful if I could have numbers as soon as possible so that I can order the books.
Works on the railway are proceeding well. It will not be long before track laying commences on the flyover and dive-under at Rotherhithe. The signalling will be interesting as there will be some fairly steep gradients and as far as possible a train should not be brought to a halt on a steep slope. It is noticeable that is not always easy to start if a train is held up on the gradient at St. John’s.
A prayer for you:
Almighty God, you have graciously given us this world to live in: may we respect the gifts of your creation: that in using, and above all, sharing this world’s resources, we may give glory to you and prepare for eternal life. Amen.
A familiar recipe for onion soup. Cook some slices of onion gently in butter until soft. Sprinkle with some sugar and cook until golden brown. Add some beef stock and seasoning and simmer gently. Spread some pieces of bread with butter and grated cheese and place in the bottom of the soup bowls and pour the soup over them. Sprinkle with a little more cheese before serving. This is a classic Parisian recipe: in the past served regularly at the old market at Les Halles.
It is worth quoting some Yeats from time to time:
The trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
Upon the brimming water among the stones
Are nine and fifty swans.
I like some of the translations which have appeared in recent weeks in the Diary column in the Times. One of the best was Magnum Opus – a large Irish cat and I also like Avocado Pear – a live in nanny for a French lawyer.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon