Newsletter 5th May 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 Sixth Sunday of the Easter Season.
Thursday is the feast of the Ascension. It is a Holy day of obligation. Masses will be at 8 and 10am and 6.30pm. The Paschal Candle is extinguished after the gospel. At the end of the day, the candle is moved to a place beside the font. It represents the Risen Lord remaining with his Church, but he has now returned to his Father in heaven.
Newsletters have to be prepared well in advance. By the time that you read this, I hope that I will have returned safely from a visit to the College in Spain. This was the week for the meetings of the Trustees – lots of paperwork, explanations about everything and minutes to be prepared. I am not sure if they really understand what I am up to – but they have to look interested.
This time I did not stay with my family in Madrid on the way home – it is a bit complex – making the journey from central Madrid to their home – and easier to stay in the College of an extra day after the meetings.
No magazine this month – there were problems with the renewal of a computer, but an assurance that the next issue will be splendid with some very good articles.
Monday is the Bank holiday so with luck I will be going down to work on the steam railway. There is a limited service with only one steam engine at present, so I do not need to leave at an early hour. There will be Mass at the normal time of 8am.
Otherwise, a full week. There is a meeting of the Governing Body of the College on Tuesday evening. The Parish Council meets on Wednesday evening in the house at 8pm. Also, the last of the First Communion classes on Saturday. We should have sent out an agenda for the parish Council already.
Something unusual this week. Mix some cream cheese with some crème fraiche. Add two tablespoons of white wine, a tablespoon of olive oil, some finely chopped garlic, some chopped parsley and some chopped chives and season to taste. Chill and serve on toast or bread – this recipe comes from Burgundy.
And some Auden
Picnics are promised and planned for July
To the wood with the waterfall, walks to find,
Traces of birds
A mole, a river,
In factory yards
Marked strictly private.
Lord Jesus, we pray for all children, that their growing spirits may take no harm at our hands: and help their parents with your love so that may guide their children with courage and faith.
I have not had time as yet to look at my herb pots. The chives and the parsley seem to have survived for another year but some of the rarer items need to be cleaned out and replanted. The basil remains inside.
Best wishes to you all.
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon