Newsletter 29th July 2018
Today is the seventeenth Sunday of the Church’s year.
I hope that by now you are enjoying your summer holidays.
Tuesday of this week is the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. As a young man he grew up in Valladolid, which at the time was the capital of Spain.
Mark is the shortest of the four gospels – so this year, during August, we read chapter six from John’s gospel which gives the promise of the Eucharist. This year, on these Sundays, I will speak to you about the structure of the Mass.
On Thursday a group of priests will be coming for lunch at mid-day. We have formed a small group – and meet at different parishes about once a quarter for lunch and a discussion on items of common concern.
The forms are now available for First Communion classes so please complete them and return them as soon as possible. Much of the work is done by email so make sure that your address is shown clearly.
A recipe from Spain but you will need to be brave to cook this. Crush four cloves of garlic and slice two further cloves. Slice some mushrooms and sprinkle with lemon juice. Heat some oil in a pan and add the crushed garlic and some chopped chilli. Add the mushrooms, season them and stir often until they are tender. Stir in the chopped garlic and some chopped parsley and cook for another minute. Serve hot.
A night prayer:
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray; and in your mercy defend us from all peril: for the love of your only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The recent biography of General de Gaulle mentions that for a time he rented a house at Petts Wood. There is a Diocesan story that the local parish priest called to ask why he had not seen the General at Mass. He was received icily by an aide who told him – Mon General has his own chaplain.
A request please – that if you bring a car into the garden, please close the gate before you leave. It is helpful to keep the garden secure from outsiders.
Over the summer weeks, there is no music at the Sunday Masses. A word of appreciation to the organists and to the choirs who help. They will be back again in September.
The boy is looking forward to his birthday party. His friends all like to come so that they can admire his sister. There are going to be some interesting days ahead.
We haven’t had any Hopkins for some time.
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! Bright wings.
At least on the South Eastern, the new timetables seem to be settling down with reasonable time keeping. One day I must take the new fast Thameslink service to Cambridge. I understand that a new platform has been added to the original single platform serving up and down trains. I know that I should have spent more time in the UL, but looking back, we did seem to spend a lot time playing trains.
Please excuse a little Spanish from Pablo Neruda:
Mi casa era llamada
La casa de flores, porque por todas partes
Estallaban geranios: era
Una bella casa
Con perros y chiquillos.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon.