Newsletter 5th August 2018.
Today is the Eighteenth Sunday in ordinary time.
Monday is the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Wednesday is the feast of St. Dominic. Friday is the feast of St. Lawrence, who appears in one of the stained glass windows in the Church. Saturday is the feast of St. Claire, the sisters of St. Francis.
A quiet week – with no meetings or travels so maybe a chance to catch up with a few things in the house and the garden.
The new boiler for the Church will be installed during the last week of August and the first week of September. It will be necessary to remove some asbestos from the boiler room and when this is taking place, for reasons of safety, it will not be possible to play in the garden or to access the church through the garden. I will let you know the exact dates for this.
By now you will have seen the inscription forms for the First Holy Communion classes and I hope that they can be returned in the fairly near future.
The College in Spain has closed down for the summer – but there is quite a lot going on – appointments of new staff and making the arrangements for them – as well as contacting the new students so that they can come out to the College in September. I am looking forward to our visit at the end of October. Would anybody else like to come?
I will try to call across to see the boy and his sister this week as it is birthday time. Their mother does not work on Wednesday so we can chat about everything whilst the children set to work on the latest Lego. Also, if I am lucky, she might have some Prosecco in the fridge.
I have adapted this prayer and hope that you can accept it.
Grant Lord that we may give you thanks and praise you for the gifts of creation but also learn to love the things of heaven: even now, as we use the things of this world, may we also look forward to the joys of the life to come. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
I liked this poem
WE are the music makers
And we are the dreamer of dreams
Wandering by lone sea-breakers
And sitting by desolate streams;
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.
Here is a recipe for a sorbet: grate the zest of an orange and of a lemon into 4oz of sugar and 1/4pint of water and boil to a thin syrup. Mix with the juice of four oranges and the lemon and chill and freeze. When frozen break it up and add the beaten whites of 3 eggs and 4oz of double cream. Refreeze the mixture for about an hour before serving. It seems easy but I found it quite difficult.
Fifty years ago, the last of the old Routemasters were being delivered – the long version with F registrations. Already fleets of single deckers were being assembled for an extensive network of Red Arrow route, which somehow did not quite work out. The opening of the Victoria line in the autumn led radical changes to many routes. It will be interesting to see what will happen when the Elizabeth line opens in the autumn.
After an absence of several years, the Catholic Directory for England and Wales has been published once again. I have obtained a copy. Please let me know if you need details of the address of a Church and times of Masses when you go on holiday.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon