Easter through music

Two more videos I've recently come across that capture Easter as a reality now. The church is always reminding us that we are Easter people, and I believe that the Resurrection can come to us and touch us in many, many different ways.

So here first is Easter via music. Music is one of my great loves, from listening to my Mum playing the piano and my Dad whistling, via singing in the Cathedral choir, to my large collection of Cds and, more recently i-Tunes stuff. Do watch until the end, and Henry's wonderful comments on what music means to him.

Next, more Resurrection-through-music, this time a song by an American I'm afraid I haven't heard of before, Jason Gray. It's called "Remind Me Who I Am", and is illustrated by a striking video. Mary Magdalen recognised the Easter Jesus when he called her by her name. He calls all of us, and our deepest identity is to be beloved by his Father - and ours. We all need to be reminded who we are. Fr M approves these videos bigtime. Enjoy.

Celebrating Easter! Ahem...

Been a while since I did any Fr M reviews of eateries aroud these parts. What reminded me was I realised yesterday I had had lunch out four times in a week. So here goes...

Easter Monday I was invited by friends in the parish to join them for a daytrip to eastern Monmouthshire. It hadn't rained for several weeks, so we knew it was a Bank Holiday because it was pouring. However we set off, getting as far as the pretty village of .Grosmont, with its castle and church with an eight-sided tower. Catch the village website here.

So lunchtime comes and ye olde pub, the Angel is SHUT. It was one of the first in Britain to be bought by the villagers and prides itself on being a VILLAGE pub, so I don't know if that means it's shut on a day when OUTSIDERS are likely to visit... Anyway, an open sign outside Gentle Jane's Tearooms attracted us, and we decamped a few yards down the street there. Lovely! Opened under new management just three days previously, they were anxious to impress, and were attracting local custom as well as visitors - a good sign. I had a Ploughman's with three tasty cheeses and good helpings. Gentle Jane? Fr M approves.

We've got roof/ceiling/electrics problems in Christ the King Church, and the bishop's office suggested we check out what they have done in the similarly-dated Catholic Church in Ledbury. This was where I was parish priest 1983-1986, so I know it well. Current pp Richard was wonderfully helpful in telling myself and three parishioners all about the excellent work they have done to their buildings, and left us with loads to think about. But soon it was lunchtime, so I took a risk on suggesting to the gang that we head for one of my old 1980s haunts - the Farmers Arms at Wellington Heath. Lunching out was not yet so popular in those days, but the Farmers was always packed, and it was there I learned to love trout. But twenty-five years is a long time... Well it's still there, rather quieter, but delightfully un-tidied-up, if you know what I mean. One of our group thought it was fabulous, two were quietish, but it grew on me, and I love a bit of nostalgia. The service warmed up after a while, but I wasn't too hungry so I had a chorizo ciabatta panino. I have to say the chorizo would have been transparent if it had been sliced any thinner, but I enjoyed the old place in its village setting with lovely view of a quiet valley. Fr M approves - just.

Fr T and I often pop out for a quickie pub lunch on Saturday, yet we'd never hit one of our two nearest places, so this week we popped into the Ty Glas, and had a very respectable All Day Breakfast. The place was half empty, tables slightly sticky, furniture just a tad tired, and had piped pop music, but with the common two for £10 or so, who's arguing? Fr M approves - at a push.

And so we come to Sunday. I was baptising an adult, David, at 9 o'clock Mass at St Paul's, and was invited to the celebration lunch later, at a recent Portuguese addition to Cardiff's restaurant scene, Almada, in Canton. Now you're talking... Opened by former staff of Casanova, the popular Italian restaurant in the city centre, I really liked this place. Thirteen of us settled down to scrummy nibbles while I waited for my salted cod fritters, or as we call them pasteis de bacalhau. Just enough to get the old taste buds going, in time for my Entremeada com lomba de porco - pork belly and tenderloin with chorizo mashed potatoes etc... heaven. Some scrummy Portuguese version of pannacotta with some crazily tasty orange stuff finished it all off, and with a drop or two of Portuguese wine and liqueur, it almost finished me off too, especially as I was due to celebrate six o'clock Mass, and got back at approx. 5.10...  Almada's already in at number 9 in TripAdvisor's list of Cardiff restaurants, but who cares? What really matters is that Fr M approves - a lot.

I wouldn't want you to think that your humble blogger spends all his time out at lunch - it was a very uncharacteristic week. However, I have to say that I enjoy sharing a meal with friends, parishioners or my trusty fellow-worker here. What could be more pleasant? Thanks friends, thanks Gentle Jane's, Farmers, Ty Glas and Almada.

Dolan and the dove

Cardinal Timothy Dolan continues to hit the spot with his preaching at St Patrick's Cathedral in New York. First, here he is at the Chrism Mass on the need to anoint the Church, the "bleeding, broken, mystical Body of Christ." Next, a very impressive but very simple homily for Good Friday showing what can be done with a "formula" type sermon. Lastly - a great word for Easter itself on the Living Jesus.

Now for the more visually minded, one of my favourite Catholic rituals, the "Scoppio del Carro". It happens in Florence after Easter morning Mass, when the Cardinal at the altar ignites a burning bird that flies down the cathedral on a  wire and sets off a firework display ouitside in the square. Here is an official newscast about it, in Italian I'm afraid but you'll get the idea.

Now here is the same thing filmed I think by a mobile phone from outside the cathedral - watch out for that dove flying out of the doors low over the heads of the crowd!

A new Creation

For Easter I wanted to find images that just spoke of everything beautiful, everything good, everything positive and resurrection-filled. I thought of this stunning picture taken at the flower market in Aix-en-Provence on our pilgrimage last September, and I thought of this happy picture of my nephew Gareth and his wife of eight months Sara. I know the pictures don't show Jesus, at least not explicitly. But St Paul says that in the Resurrection we have a new creation. Well, if the flowers of the old one are this beautiful, what must you and I, the new creation really be like? And surely the happiness of committed love is a direct reflection and expression of Easter joy.  

A very Happy Easter to everyone - and thanks for the pictures, Paul and Gareth and Sara.

O my people, what have I done to you?

Our Holy Week services are going well, thank the Lord. I was at Christ the King yesterday evening for the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Twelve feet were duly washed - actually fourteen, because two people stuck out both of their feet for me to do... Then we processed into the Parish Centre for the Watching. Our wonderful flower ladies had made a beautiful shrine for the Blessed Sacrament, and, with the lights dimmed, there was a very spiritual and reverent atmosphere. 

This afternoon I was back here at St Brigid's, for a very full church. Once again, I read the Passion myself, which people seem to appreciate. The Cross was carried by three of our teenage candidates for Confirmation. I always love the Veneration, watching our parish family venerate our crucified Lord. The old approach with such love, and often such pain too. The children approach with that mixture of simplicity and understanding which is theirs. One little boy just stood there looking at this huge lump of wood, but seemed to "get it" anyway...

So here for Good Friday is the music I used for the five minutes before the Liturgy started.

Oh, really?

Here's something I wrote for the Christ the King parish magazine "The Link" which came out on Sunday...

As I write, it’s two days into the final of “Masterchef” on the telly. Andrew, Shelina and Tom are fighting it out to win the culinary crown. Judges John Torrode and Greg Wallace put them through their kitchen paces, which this year included a trip to Thailand. “Cooking”, they tell us, “doesn’t get any harder than this.” The editing is fast and modern, and the crowning glory is the commentary of the “Narrator”, India Fisher. Her husky and luscious tones seem to elevate this cooking competition into the stratosphere of spirituality, where you can imagine her narrating the Last Judgement itself. “And now, Fr Matthew faces his greatest challenge ever...”

Reality TV has swept all before it over recent years from “Big Brother” onwards. Most of the programmes I have never seen, but I will own up to, um, one or two early series of “BB”, some episodes of “I’m a Celebrity”, and, especially for Saturday evening flopping, “X Factor” and “Britain’s Got Talent”, though both of those two have gone down the plughole I think. “The Apprentice” is still not to be missed and back soon, and I’ll be trying to catch that... and there’s “Masterchef”.

What is it with reality TV? Certainly we like to see people squirm, however manipulated they and we are by producers and editors. We scoff at contestants’ mistakes and foolishness, and maybe assume that we could do better. In one way, it is reality, but in another way it’s not – its bubble-wrapped, marketed and well-aimed at us. Andrew, Shelina and Tom rise up from being obvious amateurs to semi-stars - at least for a few weeks. We don’t always like our reality too real, do we? We like some distance between us and it, so that we can feel comfortable, or disengage, as and when we feel like.

So, welcome to Holy Week and Easter, when God-made-man takes on hatred, evil, suffering and death with sacrifice, commitment, forgiveness and love – and wins.  In the Holy week services this and much more is presented and celebrated with us, for us and by us. And just in case we try to put that little bit of distance between ourselves and these deepest parts of reality, welcome to Holy Week - with its dirty feet washed, its garden of tears, nails of pain and empty tomb. And we will partake of it with palm leaves in our hands, bread-become-body in our stomachs, its rough wood on our lips, and waxy candles lit from blazing fires and held tight.  Sight, touch, taste, sound and even smell all tell us. This really is reality, and you cannot escape from it. It did, and does, all really happen, we are all really here and we are all really saved.

A happy and really good Easter!

Fr Matthew

Passing over

So regulars will know about recently made Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York - a very special bishop. I caught this teeny weeny one and a half minute video with him talking on what is Holy Week all about. Take a look, as an intro to this special time... (thanks William) 
I am a Governor, of course, of our parish primary school, Christ the King, and yesterday the Governing Body carried out what is probably our biggest responsibilty - the appointment of a new headteacher. It's a decision that affects hundreds of children throughout their lives, so we were delighted that everything went well, and we appointed the current deputy to "step up". With Patrick now, er, sorted, we have to start all over again to find a replacement for him! We hope that we will be as fortunate again...

Priesty days

I think that it's the variety of a priest's life that surprises people when they get to know us a bit better.

Saturday we had First Reconciliation for St Paul's and St Brigid's after Fr T had celebrated Mass and heard the "normal" Confessions. The 9 or 10 children were great, as 7 or 8 years olds always are, and mums and dads plus catechists were duly moved - again, as always.  The children are so open and honest - it's only us oldies who learn to, er, well, use a little euphemism here, a few quickly gabbled sins there, hoping Father won't notice the Big One we slipped in....

Then on to Corpus Christi High School, which was the venue for a special day celebrating Archbishop Romero, whose anniversary it was. Nice group of people, and Fr T and I stayed on for the bring 'n' share lunch - or, in our case, just share! Great to meet parishioners from former parishes. One lady was astonished that I remembered her name - but with one like Roswitha, even I would remember it!

Then home to prepare for Sunday liturgies, starting with Saturday evening when the Confirmation candidates, halfway through their programme, have a Mass of Election, while the catechumens, approaching the Easter Vigil, had one of their Scrutinies. The next day, I had an email from a young man in his 20s or 30s, like the two guys on Saturday, who had been at that Mass, and wanted to find out himself about becoming Catholic...  Unfortunately the evening was, um, affected by an uncooked (I think) samosa I stupidly ate at Corpus. I'll leave it at that!

Sunday, in addition to our normal Masses with their music, good fellowship, children's liturgy etc etc, we had a very good Youth Way of the Cross at 3pm in St Brigid's. Prepared by some of our catechists who work with our young people, the teenagers (and younger) did the whole thing themselves, three taking it in turns to lead, with 8 or 10 others adding the parts at each station. Very impressive, and so confident - wonderful young people.

Today I had what I call the "3 Arches Group". For those who don't know, the 3 Arches is our local hostelry. Every other month or so we local ecumenical clergy meet for lunch. Today we were seven, including two young youth workers from the Welsh Presbyterian church. They job-share - and are married! I was, er, interrogating them on their work, as in our 3 Churches we are going to give our youth work some serious reflection after Easter. 

And finally, I've just come in from leading a "Twilight Retreat" for the parishes here. It was intended as a lead-in to Holy Week, and people seemed to appreciate it, We started in the Hall with a look at the liturgy of the Week, then used two poems written from the point of view of Judas and Peter to stimulate  a bit of discussion.  After a break we crossed over to the church for a reflective time using two more poems and the Seven Last words of Jesus. People could come up and stand at the foot of our large crucifix - at what I call "Mary's place."

The Week of the Servant

Things are getting busier as Holy Week approaches, so I'm realising it's a whole week since my last post.

For the last six years or so it's been my privilege to help with the formation of permanent deacons for our diocese. Sometimes I have been tutor and other times spiritual director in their three year programme. After a session it's great to have a chat about the Lord, the Church and anything else that comes up. At present I'm working as tutor to one of our students, and we've taken to watching a few Chritsian videos after our session. So here is one that I have pinched from his YouTube playlist. It's "The Servant King" sung by the composer, Graham Kendrick. It's a song that has become very popular since it was written, I think in the 1990s, and here he sings it at Glastonbury Abbey in 1996 for "Songs of Praise". It makes a good introduction, perhaps, to our celebration of Holy Week, beginning next Sunday.

Dancing

I came across a video I haven't seen around for ages. It's just called "Dancing", sub-titled, um, "Where the hell is Matt?" You've probably seen it already, as it came out in 2008 and has been viewed on YouTube over 42 million times. It simply features a crazy Australian now living in the USA dancing his little dance right across the world... yes, honestly.

Yet there is something charming, even moving about it. It's a gratuitous (well, not quite as he was backed by a company) few minutes of frivolity that involved thousands of people from right across the globe. It took, I think, 18 months to make. And, of course, it is a dance, and there is something about dance. Existing in all cultures, dance has often figured in our human religious expression from King David dancing before the Lord to the hymn "Lord of the Dance" written by Sydney Carter in 1963, via the older English hymn "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day", dance somehow captures freedom and a whole range of emotions. On one level it's, well, just a dance, but it seems to connect with a lot more... Watch out on the video for the Demilitarised Zone in Korea, Gurgaon in India, and many other scenes.

If you're up for some more dance, here are the immortal Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers  They're dancing to one of my favourite songs, recorded over 50 times, whether in 1930s form, or sung by Bryan Ferry in the 1970s - Jerome Kern's "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." By the way, note that this sequence is filmed all in one take, not by endless editing of different takes like in today's movies.  Enjoy.

Crazy in love

For once I managed to bring all three of the readings from today's Mass into my homily. The Ten Commandments tell us of the plan our loving Father has for us. They are not suggestions but commandments, not just someone else's opinion, but the manufacturer's intructions, his vision for the good working of his creation and of ourselves, the pinnacle of that creation. And yet... and yet, somehow, despite the psalms and the language of Isaiah and others, we feel that the God of the Old Testament is somewhat distant, dwelling on the mountain-top...

For Jesus, the doing of this Father's will is the greatest priority, and so to find the Temple, the centre of the religion and the very House of God, being abused unleashes a righteous anger in him, as he overturns the tables - and the equilibrium of the onlookers with them.

And yet... and yet... something has happened by the time of St Paul's passage from 1 Corinthians. With its talk of wisdom and foolishness, strength and weakness, we are brought to a new place, we breath a new atmosphere. Jesus who whipped the people in the Temple, does not touch those who crucify him.  

At this middle part of Lent the Church starts to lead us to the mysteries of Holy Week. The man on the cross is utter weakness and complete foolishness - unless.  Unless it was done out of love, such great love not just for the onlookers but the whole human race. A love so great that divine strength is poured into human weakness, divine wisdom transfigures human foolishness. The weakness and foolishness of Jesus are those of love.

So we can bring our weakness and stupidity and foolishness to our Father too, asking Him to flood us with his wisdonm and power and strength.

Manipulation and leadership

I've got a hang-up about manipulation and the priesthood. Not only is manipulation bad anywhere, but my experience of communities riven by abusive priests has given me an abhorrence of it wherever I see it. And it can lurk in the most unexpected of corners, as with one late priest who got people to do what he wanted by the twinkle in his eye and charming smile. But that was still a gentle form of manipulation.

I had an interesting lunchtime chat yesterday with a friend who has loads of experience in the world of work, management and all that stuff. The subject of leadership came up in the context of priesthood. I said how one of the priests who worked with me in a previous parish took exception to my saying that I thought we priests were called to be leaders. The other priest said that this kind of thinking was old hat, pre-Vatican II etc. I tried to show him that what leadership means has changed, how we are meant to lead, but that we are still leaders. The priest wasn't convinced. 

However, I am more convinced of this than ever. My lunch-time companion shed light on all this by pointing out that management is a matter of keeping things going, but leadership is about helping the community to see ahead, discern the future, and enable and empower everyone to get there. I found that very helpful. The two of us agreed that we still have too many priests that put all the emphasis on management but do not seem to have grasped leadership. While talking about Vat II, and sometimes acting in an apparently freed-up style, in practice it's do what I say, because I say it.

My experience - and especially in my present appointment - is that time and effort invested in preaching the Gospel and trying to follow a model of leadership which is the opposite of manipulation, especially when sometimes it would be "easier" or "quicker" to slip back to the do-what-I say approach, bears fruit a hundredfold. For all concerned.  

Catch this homily

From archbishops to cardinals... Pope Benedict recently made a bunch of new cardinals at a ceremony in Rome, among whom is the amazing Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. Cardinal Dolan is quite something, and a wonderful speaker in my humble opinion. So here he is preaching at a Mass a few days ago in St Patrick's Cathedral in New York, after returning from Rome . I especially love how he moves effortlessly from the fun, backslapping part to the serious stuff. He strides around the sanctuary of St Patrick's, so at home among the people of God and in the Lord's home. Big guy, big personality, big heart, big faith. Wonderful.

Station Mass

So here at St Brigid's we hosted our deanery Lenten Station Mass last night at 7pm. I'm glad to say that it went well. These liturgies require quite a lot of planning, especially as we were welcoming people from other parishes. Who's doing what in the Mass, parking, refreshments, order of service, music, and - especially - managing the clergy, getting them to move at the right time, get to where they are distributing Holy Communion etc etc. Particularly good was the music, as our 3 Churches Choir did a great job at singing the Psalm (a setting specially composed by conductor Les Collins) and a lovely piece at Communion, as well as leading the congregational singing.

The Archbishop was in good form, managing to get in a reference to our September Pilgrimages. His homily developed the ideas from his Pastoral Letter last Sunday - a sort of "Variations on a Theme of My Own". He joined everyone for a cuppa afterwards in the Hall. 

Were many there? Well, the Archbishop estimated about 150. You can always do with more on these occasions, but it was good I think, considering it was the first Station Mass for a while, that it was on a Friday and that it was at the time of 7, which may be a little early for some.

So, a good celebration. Now, to get on with Lent...

Pingpong and Lent

Time for another video. I caught this amazing one on another Catholic blog that I can recommend, coming from the Archdiocese of Washington DC.

Four college lads have perfected the art of throwing pingpong balls into plastic cups. It must have taken them hours, days, weeks of practice. And yes, I know - they should be spending their time doing something more useful, like studying for example. However, I think it's a great way of reminding ourselves what things we can achieve with practice and dedication.

Lent is around the corner. Are we going to take it seriously, put in some effort and dedication, and really achieve something? Or are we just going to let this moment of grace pass us by... again?

In the soup

Those of a delicate disposition should look away now... because your humble blogger has a confession to make.

How, do you think, did Fr M observe Valentine's Day? 

By a bird being found in his bedroom.  There, I've said it now.

I came home from Mass at St P yesterday morning and Mary the housekeeper greeted me with the devastating truth, "Father Matthew, you've had  a bird in your bedroom!" I was rapidly searching my brain to discover what had led her to this conclusion, when she added,"I've just chased it out the window, so it's gone now."  It seems that somehow a little sparrow or similar had got into the house and found its way to my bedroom. I then remembered that I had heard some chirping coming from somewhere for a day or two. It must have got trapped in the eaves or something and found its way in. I tell you what, it's a thrill a moment in a Catholic presbytery...

Meanwhile, we hosted the fortnightly meeting of our Fraternity today - our support and prayer group for priests. Still reeling as I was from yesterday's revelations, Mary redeemed herself by putting together for us a lovely chicken and chorizo soup. Yum.

Still much chat, undertandably, about our new archbishop. Last week we priests of the city finally voted to merge the two deaneries into which the city has been divided for a while. So we now need a new dean for Cardiff, and the archbishop has invited us to send in names. We shall see... 

Music and life

Goodness, a week has gone by since I last posted...

Yesterday was the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. As regulars will know, I am a  big fan of pilgrimages, and they don't come any bigger than Lourdes! Strangely, I haven't been there for quite a few years. Our September Pilgrimage doesn't go to Lourdes as there are so many other ways of getting there. But if anyone out there hasn't been - go as soon as possible, to this special place, to the Blessed Sacrament Procession, the baths, the Way of the Cross, the torchlight procession - and to the Grotto, that centre of peace and prayer.

Tuesday saw Archbishop George Stack meeting with us priests from the city of Cardiff, and he shared with us some very interesting ideas and plans.We shall see...

This morning I heard about the death of Whitney Houston, poor lady, with such a beautiful voice, best known for "I Will Always Love You". Crack cocaine is a real scourge. I've got one of her CDs, that I'll play later I think.

To end on a happier note - a brilliant music-and-supper evening last night here at St Brigid's, organised by our excellent Social Group. The courses of a three course meal alternated with performances by professional singer and entertainer Jeff Hooper. Well, I'm afraid I hadn't heard of him, but what a pleasant surprise. Slotted somewhere between Frank Sinatra and Matt Monro, he kept us entertained with his fine voice and good patter, and soon had the audience on his side. Originally from Llantrisant, he has sung with all the local greats, Shirley B, Tom J etc, and has his own Jeff Cooper Swing Easy Big Band. Great evening, Fr M approves. Catch Jeff's website here.

A quiet Sunday evening

At approximately 7.30 earlier this evening, I realised that four things were going on in our various rooms, halls, churches etc at the same time. I was in St Brigid's sacristy with our Sunday evening prayer group. Next door one way were the money counters, doing the Sunday collection. The other direction, in the church, were the 3 Churches Choir, busy practising for the Station Mass that we are hosting on 24th February. Meanwhile up in Christ the King Parish Centre, this year's Confirmation programme was getting under way with 20 something youngsters and 5 or 6 catechists.

From time to time I have to remind myself that we are blessed with so many people in our churches here who are willing to be involved. I don't know which is the sweetest sound - charismatics singing in tongues, the choir singing in harmony, the confirmation young people and catechists growing in faith - or the counters counting the money... Only kidding, honest!

Women of God - videos of life 2

It's the feast day of the patroness of the Church where I live, St Brigid. We always have an evening Mass, ending with a little procession to the statue of St Brigid which parishionersrs erected in memory of the late Canon Tom Dunne, parish priest here until 2001. After intercessions for the parish I give the final blessing under the statue, holding a St Brigid's Cross.

The first reading for St Brigid is St Paul talking about all of us making up the body of Christ. It struck me how the reeds that go to make up a real St Brigid's Cross are fragile, easily bent or even broken on their own. But together they are strong, and can make something beautiful and inspiring, like a Cross.

Talking of something beautiful, that reminds me of Malcolm Muggeridge's book on Mother Teresa, "Something Beautiful for God", which did so much to get her known. I recently came across this short video about one episode in her work. I'm not sure where it was filmed - in some war-torn part - but the last sequence, about a sister and a patient, I found very moving. Watch the expression on the boy's emaciated face slowly slowly change from fear, anxiety and aloneness, as he is warmed by the massage and, more importantly, the love being shown him, until he reaches for sister's arm at the end.

Can I live? Videos of life 1

Another busy week... more bereavements than usual, so funerals to arrange... usual variety of pastoral problems in the parishes etc. 

In our prayer group this evening we talked and prayed a while about pro-life issues. I remembered a song that I meant to put on here a while ago, but forgot. It's an American hiphop singer/TV personality called Nick Cannon, currently married to Mariah Carey, as an unborn baby singing to his mother. Song is called "Can I Live?"  If you can handle rap, then give it a listen. It's hard to imagine this being produced in the UK - it would be soooo uncool. I know we may not always be comfortable with some American approaches to pro-life matters, but noone could say it's not on the agenda over there.  Problem here is that by people staying sort of British low-key, well, the opposition is winning  by default. Mums sometimes just don't know - that's a child. Somebody pointed out this evening that we often hear sad news about a mother "losing a child" through miscarriage or still birth. But we don't hear the same phrase used with regard to abortion...

You can catch the song with its accompanying video here, but the quality isn't very good, or here, with the words on screen. I like the last words, "Thanks for listening, thanks for listening... Mom."

To learn more, visit LIFE, SPUC or the Association of Priests for the Gospel of Life.