Offertory £861.26
Cafod £1
Newsletter Sunday 2nd October 2011.
Today is the first Sunday of October, the month dedicated to the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There will be Rosary, Litany and Benediction this evening at 6.30pm.
The film Club meets again today – this time the film is Liar, Liar. I understand that this has a 12 plus age limit, so please keep this in mind if children ask to attend.
The First Communion Programme has now started. I think that this year there are 26 children, so a great demand in buying biscuits and orange juice for the classes. Thanks to the parents for all your help and support. I know that the children enjoy the classes and are very proud when the First Communion day arrives.
Friday is the Autumn Family Fast day, so remember to take an envelope today and bring it back next Sunday.
Tuesday is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi and Saturday is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Education meetings on Monday and Tuesday this week and the Editorial Committee for the parish magazine is due to meet on Wednesday. Also, unusually, there will be a wedding in the Church on Friday.
Gradually we are becoming accustomed to the new Mass texts, though you probably notice that I slip up from time to time. The most annoying part is the Mass book, which is a thin paper back that will not stay open. I look forward to the arrival of the proper missal. Thanks to Mary for the loan of a book stand from her kitchen which has been a great help. A reminder, please, to return the cards to the box at the end of Mass.
You might have noted that the station named Downton is in fact Horsted Keynes on the Bluebell line. It is meant to be Yorkshire but somehow the steam engine belongs to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. I gave up after the first episode.
Gradually the garden is settling into autumn. A good crop of conkers this year though the apples were variable. From time to time I found some excellent raspberries. The canes up against the brick wall helped them to ripen. I continue to tend the herb garden, though the slugs put paid to the basil after a couple of weeks. The main problem is to clear the pine needles from the tree above.
We are making good progress with the works to the big hall: I try to ensure that it is clean for you to use at week ends for the classes. We will be painting the outside as well, so everything will look smart. The bell for the clock was out of order for a couple of weeks as there was a problem with one of the electrical circuits. Also I hope to complete the works to the Angelus room fairly soon.
Here is part of a very old Eucharistic prayer:
We thank you, Holy Father, for your Holy Name which you have made to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge, faith and immortality which you have made known to us through your servant Jesus Christ. To you be glory for ever and ever.
Here is a recipe for a typical Spanish Chicken stew. Season some chicken pieces with salt and brown in some hot lard. Add a cup of stock and as dissolved bouillon cube and a large glass of red wine. Bring to the boil and then lower the heat and add a good lump of butter. Lower the heat and cover tightly until the chicken is cooked – probably about 90 minutes. Serve with some fried bread cubes
I like the poems of A.A. Milne
Once upon a time there were three little foxes
Who didn’t wear stockings and they didn’t wear sockses,
But they all had handkerchiefs to blow their noses
And they kept their handkerchiefs in cardboard boxes.
They lived in the forest in three little houses,
And they didn’t wear coats and they didn’t wear trousies.
They ran through the woods on their little bare tootsies,
And they played Touch Last with a family of mouses.
I think that is enough for this week.
Best wishes to you all
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon