What's Goin' On?

So here we are again - back in lockdown.  This time it was made quite clear by the Welsh Government that it includes places of worship, so Mass on Friday  - a Requiem as it happened - was our last for a few weeks. Since Saturday we have been back on live-stream Masses only. 

Celebrating this morning, I felt particularly aware of the echo of my voice, amplified for the benefit of the microphones, but projected into an empty space, devoid of the people for whom it exists.  So I have to populate the space with the unseen, those who have tuned in down the phonelines and the fibre and their desktops, laptops, tablets and phones.  It's not like doing radio broadcasts where the unseen is the normal, and you're surrounded in the studio by editors, producers and Eleri Sion, the presenter on Radio Wales. Here we are in uncharted territory, as they say. 

And, while I'm about it. how weird I find celebrating Mass with a church full of masked parishioners, as we have been doing recently until Friday. We read so much into one another's faces, don't we. Just to see the eyes I find dehumanising. I've mistaken people or confused one with another more than once. 

This year has been such a strange world, with few signposts to help us navigate. I find myself asking what's going on, what's going on in the "big picture". What changes are taking place deep down in our culture, our world. Or will everything be the same when, if, it is all over? 

 I'm reminded of one of my all-time favourite albums, Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On?" It will be 50 years old next year, but I return to it every so often. For some, Marvin Gaye is most famous for the single "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", but it's really his albums, especially this one and "Let's Get It On" from the early 70's that mark him out as one of the greats. Definitely one of my desert island discs. here he is performing the first two tracks of "What's Going On" live.

 

The Gospel in song

I found this beautiful song, "Little Things with Great Love", based on Sunday's Gospel, on the wonderful Pilgrim's Path site. I hope to quote it at Mass this Sunday.   

These are the words, by Audrey Assad and others

In the garden of our Saviour no flower grows unseen
His kindness rains like water on every humble seed
No simple act of mercy escapes His watchful eye
For there is One who loves me His hand is over mine

In the kingdom of the heavens no suffering is unknown
Each tear that falls is holy, each breaking heart a throne
There is a song of beauty in every weeping eye
For there is One who loves me His heart, it breaks with mine

O the deeds forgotten, O the works unseen
Every drink of water flowing graciously
Every tender mercy You’re making glorious
This You have asked of us:
Do little things with great love
Little things with great love

At the table of our Saviour, no mouth will go unfed
And His children in the shadows stream in and raise their heads
O give us ears to hear them, and give us eyes that see
For there is One who loves them. I am His hands and feet

21st October 1966

At 9.15 the tip slid down the hillside and onto the village of Aberfan. 116 children and 28 adults lost their lives. The photo captures the devastation of Pantglas School. 

I was 13 in form 2 (year 8 in present terms) at St Illtyd's school.  I remember someone interrupting our lesson to come and tell us what had happened. My family had some phone calls from friends living in distant parts, hoping we were OK. People rushed up to see if they could help. 

Aberfan was truly one of those events where you can remember where you were. Huge results came from this terrible disaster in terms of the clearance of many, many tips across the Valleys. But at what a price?

The name Aberfan is imprinted on our memories and hearts. Say a prayer today for the victims and for our care for the environment and for one another.

 

2 Teresas for the price of one

I have a particular devotion to St Teresa of Avila, who has played a part in my vocation story. So I was looking forward to celebrating her feast day this week on Tuesday the 15th October.  But I don't know what happened in my brain as I woke up on Tuesday - which was the 13th, not the 15th.

I announced to Fr Andy at breakfast that while he said Mass at Christ the King at 9.30, I would do likewise back at base at St Brigid's. And I would pay for us to have the very nice fish and chips from Fintan's in Llanishen.  And that we would have hake, please.

As I started Mass at 9.30 I heard the phone ring, but let it go as I had already started. It was - of course - Andy calling to point out that I had the wrong day!   Anyway later as I tucked into my hake 'n' chips, Andy spilled the beans. Wrong day, Matthew!

So, we celebrated St Teresa of Avila twice this week. And, you know I'm sure I heard some polite laughter coming from heaven, where I'm sure Teresa enjoyed the double honour!

Feelgood from 1967

Lockdown Cardiff

The reality of local lockdowns such as the one affecting Cardiff and much of South Wales gets suddenly highlighted when it bears down on something affecting ourselves. 

During the week I had to say no to a visit from my sister who lives in Hampshire, with her husband and one of my nephews. An improvised Zoom this evening was lovely - but it's not the same, is it? 

Then, I have been coordinating plans from now until Christmas to celebrate First Confessions postponed from March, our annual November Mass of Memories for the deceased, and about 12 baptisms, that have also built up since March. One of the Baptism families told me that they had been looking forward to one of the godparents coming from Ireland... but now it isn't possible.  Or is it?  We don't know...

 

Rosary for October

 

Yesterday evening I gave a little talk about Our Lady, the first of a series leading into the month of the Holy Rosary.  There is a session at 7.30pm each evenng from yesterday, and details are on the poster above.  The talks are given mostly by priests our diocese, including our own Fr Andy, and they are on the Cathedral's Facebook site as mentioned in the poster. . The whole project is the brainchld of one of our parishioners - great to see such initiatives!