Newsletter 21st July 2024
Sunday Masses: Saturday 6.30pm first Mass of Sunday
– Sunday 9.30 and 11am and 5pm.The
Monday to Friday: Mass at 8am.
Saturday Mass at 10am
and 6.30pm
Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1
Today is the Sixteenth Sunday in the Church’s year.
Monday is the feast of St. Mary Magdalen. Thursday is the feast of the apostle, St. James, the patron of Spain. Friday is the feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They appear in one of the stained glass windows in the Church behind the St. Joseph altar.
I have already mentioned to you that a curate will be appointed to the parish in September, Father Fraser Bellafield. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. George’s Cathedral yesterday so this will be his first appointment.
Thank you for your generous support of the Foodbank project last week.
Works on the parish buildings start on Monday: nothing major but a programme of maintenance projects to ensure that everything is in good order. We will be redecorating the interior of the Angelus Room so that it will look very smart. Also the gutters around the hall need cleaning. The works will take about two weeks.
A day in London on Wednesday as I am gradually handing over the financial administration of the College in Spain. There will be visits to the fund managers to introduce my successor and to sign the new mandates. I started this task in 1975, so I have served the College well.
The fig tree is producing some good new leaves – this is the second flowering in the year. As yet, no sign of any fruit. The gospels have a story of the cursing of a barren fig tree.
And some Robert Herrick today:
In sober mornings do not thou rehearse
The holy incantation of a verse;
But when that men have well drunk and fed,
Let my enchantments then be sung or read.
A prayer from the Psalms:
Let the peoples praise you, O Gd;
Let all the peoples praise you.
May God give us his blessing
Till the ends of the earth revere him.
Today make a simple salad with some French beans, some chopped new potatoes and some skinned tomatoes. Season well with some oil and some wine vinegar. Poach some eggs, allow them to cool, and coat with a stiff mayonnaise. Place them on top of the salad.
The new “tram busses” are due to appear on route 358. It is a long route, almost 14 miles. They have been delayed as the electric charge was not sufficient for a day’s travel. Pantographs have been fitted so that they can be recharged in about 10 minutes after each journey.
Some of the young people have graduated from University this year. Congratulations to you and I hope that all will go well in the future.
Best wishes to you all
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon