This months's Parish Priest's News
My dear friends,
One of the pressures brought about by the Pandemic is the recording of School Worship. While Mr Wingham and I are delighted to have discovered our own “Miss Spielberg” who’s skill at cutting and editing allows us to make our mistakes without a retake preparing the content of up to seven sessions on one day is, should we say tiring in the least.
Presented with the theme “Falling out and Falling in” a few weeks ago was helped by having just read the account of the Council of Jerusalem and the agreement reached between those who followed S Peter and those who followed S Paul. I was reminded that while in Rome we visit the Basilicas of each of the Princes of the Apostles, relics of each are in the Baldachino over the Altar in the Cathedral of S. John Lateran.
On the 29th of June each year we celebrate the joint solemnity of SS Peter and Paul each martyred in Rome in the same year though not the same day but there is no evidence that they ever met and we know their Journeys to that city took different routes. It seems to me that the diversity of the two martyrs each united by the Holy Spirit urging them on to make the Good News available to as many as possible is a most valuable example to those, both lay and ordained called to minister in the Church.
Let’s all take time to remember those called from many diverse backgrounds and ages, who will be ordained in the coming weeks and those for whom it is a time of thanksgiving for earlier ordination. Also please remember to pray for those who are testing their vocation and for those called to assist them. Finally a prayer that more may feel the same call working in them by God’s grace.
On a practical note the Solemn Mass (new style) will be at 7pm on the Feast Day still enabling those who wish to eat before to do so and others to eat earlier after observing the Eucharistic fast.
Last month I wrote of our preparation for the time after the restrictions may be lifted. As I write we are all aware that there may be a delay in this, yet we shall still prepare so that when by the grace of God we can return to socialising, in whatever form that may take, we shall be ready.
In the meantime I continue to be grateful for your forbearance with the changes we have had to become used to and encourage you to use the e system and website to look out for last minute changes as they may evolve.
With my love and prayers,