Bright future, bright serving faces

Yesterday evening I led a joint meeting of our Parish Councils. We were discussing nothing less than the future direction of our 3 Churches, and in particular the developing relationship between them. I'll be saying much more about that in coming weeks. I'll just say here that it went very well, and the atmosphere was very optimistic and practical. Our people are wonderful, and as I often say, I am sure that the future of the Church is safe. As long as it's not left to the clergy! 

Meanwhile I had a few things to do in town today, so I took the opportunity to have a wander and see how things are doing in the city centre, something I don't do very often. Good ol' Queen Street rolls on as ever, but, oh dear, it seems to me that some other parts are sort of slipping. I cut through the Queens Arcade, for example, to find it, well, heading towards running down. Even the older part of St David's (Centre) to me doesn't look as good as it used to. I ask myself whether everything been sacrificed on the altar of the extension to St David's and devotion to the Blessed John Lewis?

I'm fascinated by customer service, spurred on by Mary what's-her-name on the telly. Treatment at the Queen Street branch of my bank, Barclays, was excellent, just the right balance of helpfulness without the gushing. St Davids eateries looked heaving, so I headed over to the Shop-formerly-known-as-Howells via Waterstones.  I discovered some old book vouchers in a drawer, and bought something on Provence, goal of our September Pilgrimage this year, with helpful assistant making the experience a good one. The restaurant at the Shop-formerly-known-as is usually quietish, and I hadn't been there for ages. Food was, er, OK, but at least lots of smiles were in evidence.  I was heading off to my next bit of business when I was distracted by the presence of an in-store Caffe Nero, whose cappuccino turned out to be the culinary highpoint of the day. The two serving were both very good - a young chap who called every male "man" in that sort of pretend-American which he pulled off well, and a girl of indeterminate European background who was also efficient and friendly. Caffe Nero also opens onto Trinity Street. Fr M approves.

Variations on a theme

A good weekend, lots going on. Here in our 3 Churches we celebrate seven Masses between Saturday evening and Sunday. So, one weekend  Fr Tomy and I do three, the next weekend four etc. I was in Christ the King this time, so I was on three... but all three were different. Now, of course, usually we preach more or less the same homily at all three (or four) Masses, but this time it had to be three very diferent versions around the same theme, the words of Jesus in the Gospel, "You are the light of the world".

Saturday evening the Confirmation candidates were with us after their day retreat at Porthcawl. For them, to be the light of the world is an amazing challenge, so amazing that we need the gift of the Holy Spirit to carry it out. At 8.30 this morning we were observing Poverty and Homelessness Week, so here we talked about specific ways that we can be a light in our world, noting that the first reading specifically mentioned those who are poor or without shelter. Then at 10.30 we had the First Holy Communion children with us, so we thought about torches lighting up the dark and how we can be like torches, bringing light into other children's and people's lives.

I found another feel-good video today, this time about bringing some fun into an otherwise tedious aspect of life.

Acknowledgements to Greg Stewart

Good ol' Google

Hey folks, we didn't quite make it to the 1,000 visits last month!  993 - 7 short! Why couldn't a few have gone out 'n' come back in again... boo hoo.

Anyway, by way of consolation I paid a visit to Google's latest venture, Google Art Project. I like wandering around museums and galleries, I know not everybody does. I've hit lots of the greatest ones, like the Brera in Milan where I was in July.  In this project, Google allow you to wander around various rooms in some of the world's greatest museums. Then, they have filmed some masterpieces of each collection in extraordinary detail, so that you can zoom in to an amazing degree. I happened to notice that one of these is Rembrandt's "Return of the Prodigal Son" in the Hermitage, St Petersburg. This has in recent years become one of the world's best-known religious paintings, especially after Henri Nouwen wrote a book based on it. If you want to study the detail of this wonderful work by the master of painting teh humanity of human beings, then go to the new site www.googleartproject.com . Click on the Hermitage, and you can then click on the image of the painting. Stunning. Fr M approves - bigtime. 

The Big Push

I was just checking how we're doing for visitors to this blog, and discovered that January has been a record month! Up until this morning there have been 962 visits during the month, beating the previous record of 820 in May.  Now you may notice that 962 is not far off 1,000, and that this is the last day of the month. On normal rate we might get there by midnight, but if, by accident of course, some people actually popped in more than once today, then we would surely pass that landmark. Childish, moi? Go on, make Fr M happy!

Talking of being happy, it's time for a Fr M feel-good video. It's the birthday of Mukhtar, a bus-driver in Denmark who is very popular with his regular passengers... Enjoy.

A new year...

There seems to be an air of newness in the Church in some ways. Christ the King have our extended and refurbished Parish Centre. St Brigid's has a refurbished kitchen. Even St Paul's has new altar cloths!  The new translation of the Missal is on its way (more of that in later posts), the new Ordinariate is up and running. And, of course, in the not too distant future, we will hopefully have a new Archbishop.

In a few weeks, on February 8th, our two Parish Councils are meeting to discuss a new body to oversee the pastoral life of our 3 Churches. Christ the King is reviewing the adminstration aspect of parish life, with St B and St P to follow possibly later in the year. Several new people seem to have come forward in recent weeks to help in various ways in parish life. And so on.  Maybe it's the beginning of a new year, 2011. An old Latin saying is ecclesia semper reformanda - the Church, always to-be-reformed or renewed.

Here is another of my favourite photos that I took during 2010. This was a simple bowl of summer flowers on a window sill in the church at Rhulen, hidden away in the hills of Radnorshire. The sun lit up the flowers - and the whole church, giving it this warm orangey glow. A lovely sight, a lovely moment - summer 2010.

Facing the past and the future

Oops  - bit of a gap since my last posting. Not an extraordinary week - just a busy one!

I just came back from the Service of Prayer for Christian Unity arranged by our local CYTUN Churches Together in Llanishen and District. It was held in the very cosy and intimate local United Reformed Church and led by their husband-and-wife lay pastors. I enjoyed it, and there were quite a few Catholics to fly the flag.

I always pick up some good idea, thought or practice from visits to other parishes and denominations. At the very end of this evening's service, before the blessing, we were invited to turn towards the door while the Apocalypse reading about a new heavenand a new earth was read. It was a lovely way of sending us out back into the world. Nice tea, coffee and variety of cakes to finish!

This week came the news that the first part of the introduction of a revised translation of our Missal is to be implemented this coming September. This will mainly cover the ordinary of the Mass - the parts that don't change from week to week. This will include the famous mutation from "And also with you" to "And with your spirit". I'm surprised that this is the timescale, because at our in-service day a while ago, I got the distinct impression that it would be after Advent at the earliest. Remembering that nothing much happens in the summer, and Lent and Easter have their own priorities, that does not leave much time! Ho hum...

The picture shows worship at the ecumenical Taize community in Burgundy France, which I visited back in 1993.

The Ordinariate

So, Saturday saw the ordination to the priesthood of three former Anglican bishops at Westminster Cathedral, and the setting up of the eagerly anticipated Ordinariate in England and Wales. We welcome these men, and of course all who become Catholics. I have voiced a few uncertainties about the whole thing here before, so I have been following some of the discussion on other blogs more prominent than my own! 

On one someone asked the question "Why wasn't it perfectly fine for Anglicans to come through the front door directly, as they've done in the past?" This captures the bit of uncertainty that may be in the mind of some people at the moment. There seem to be many issues surrounding this development, some of which, I must confess, I am still coming to understand... The Church thinks according to the Big Picture and the Long Run, so hopefully things will become a little clearer...

Blessed John Paul II?

I came across a good video of the late Pope John Paul II today. Professionally edited with music, it seems to capture the excitement and optimism which the man generated wherever he went. It seems he is on his way to beatification. I saw him on several occasions, including Cardiff in 1982, of course, but met him to shake hands and exchange a few words on our very first September Pilgrimage back in 1990. He surely radiated Christian faith, hope and love, and I think the video gets that right. Watch out for the moments from his last years, and the time when a dove settles on his head! Enjoy.
ps Thanks to Rocco Palmo of "Whispers in the Loggia"
pps  Bit of a rumour that Bishop Tom Burns of Menevia is coming to Cardiff as our archbishop. Watch this space.

Quadri-location

So what were you doing at 7.30 this evening? Here is an interesting insight into parish life....

At 7pm this evening, parents of children at St Brigid's and St Paul's who are receiving their First Holy Communion this year were meeting with myself and the two catechists in St Brigid's Hall meeting room.

At the same time in Christ the King Centre, confirmation candidates from all 3 Churches were starting their first session of preparation for the Sacrament in March.

At 7.15 our regular Sunday evening Prayer Group gathered in the sacristy at St Brigid's for their time of prayer and praise. Usually I join them but...

And at the same time our 3 Churches United for Justice and Peace group were starting their monthly meeting in the main hall at St Brigid's. I switched to them after time with the mums.

First Communion parents, Confirmation candidates, charismatic prayer group, Justice and Peace workers. Who said that parish life is boring?  And that is just one evening, and a Sunday one at that! Oh, and by the way, anyone know how to be in four places at once? If being in two places at once is bilocation, I think this must be called "quadri-location".

For a little tranquility, here is a photo from my 2010 archives of the farmhouse near Llangynwyd, south of Maesteg, where my ancestors lived 350 year ago...

Adoration

I usually listen to Radio 4 in the morning, the (in)famous "Today" programme. About 7.45 there comes their "Thought for the Day", and this morning, which should be, of course, the Epiphany, it was a reflection on a painting of the Adoration of the Magi by Peter Brueghel. The speaker pointed out the travel-weary Magi, the birth-weary Mary and the generally weary Joseph. Soldiers lurk ominously in the background. The Baby seems to recoil a little from the whole thing.

It's all very Brueghel, and we have to say, it has the ring of truth about it - if a painting can have a ring about it!! Resplendent Adorations, like the Rubens I have at the moment on the right, are amazing and uplifting. The reality, we fancy, was a bit more down to earth, maybe a bit more Brueghel. Very appropriate, for a Messiah come down from heaven - to earth.
As usual click on the picture to see it enlarged. 

Happy New Year!

A very happy New Year to all in the blogosphere!

Had a great Christmas, except for the weather... not that I'm worried about finding how much the Christmas Offering was reduced or anything like that...no...  Spent a lovely few days with my family during last week. Everything went well there, especially with my eldest nephew having got engaged recently.

I did a kind of review of 2010 during a few quiet moments. I can recommend that practice, as it's very easy to forget events, both good and not so good. Blessed John Hnery Newman tells us that we can only understand events when looking back - very true. Now, of course, we face a new year. I suppose the event in my own life dominating this first part will be discovering who my new archbishop-boss will be. Hopefully we will not have too long to wait to find out, especially as there is now a new Nuncio in place in London. 

As I do from time to time, I also add here my front page thoughts from the newsletter this week - entitled "New Year - New Directions??"

St Paul’s, Christ the King and St Brigid’s have now been together for six years. We have all moved along in our own journeys and our journey as a cluster of churches. From a position of friendly co-existence we have made progress in so many ways – probably far more than most of us realise! Just at present, for example, we are looking at closer ties in administration and in Baptism preparation. I believe that it is now time to review that progress, and to plan for the next period in our 3 Churches growth. While we are aware of possible developments also coming from the diocesan level, that should not deter us from seeking the Lord’s wisdom for what we already have. And what we have is one of the largest clusters in Wales, and one to which others are increasingly looking for a model.

Although I definitely think this review should be undertaken, I do not have set ideas about where it should go. It does seem that some kind of body for the 3 churches would now be feasible - and both strategic and pastoral. At present St Brigid and St Paul constitute one parish and Christ the King another. That could not be changed without a new Archbishop’s consent, and the consultation of the Council of Priests. However, a title like Three Churches Council would avoid that minefield. Perhaps each of the three could then have a smaller body to handle its own particular issues. Just one idea...

There are many issues to think about – and pray about. Let’s begin 2011 with a commitment to seek a vision for our part of the vineyard – and let everyone feel part of that search!

See you later this week

I hope everybody had a happy and peaceful Christmas Day. For us the Christmas season now continues at least another week.

Fr M is having a few days with his family this week, so no postings until the weekend.

Pope Benedict's "Thought for the Day"

Today, an historic first for Christmas Eve - Pope Benedict gave Radio 4's "Thought for the Day". For my Christmas gift to all of you out there in the blogosphere, I reproduce here his words.

Recalling with great fondness my four-day visit to the United Kingdom last September, I am glad to have the opportunity to greet you once again, and indeed to greet listeners everywhere as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.

"Our thoughts turn back to a moment in history when God's chosen people, the children of Israel, were living in intense expectation. They were waiting for the Messiah that God had promised to send and they pictured him as a great leader who would rescue them from foreign domination and restore their freedom.

God is always faithful to his promises, but he often surprises us in the way he fulfills them. The child that was born in Bethlehem did indeed bring liberation, but not only for the people of that time and place - he was to be the Saviour of all people throughout the world and throughout history.

And it was not a political liberation that he brought, achieved through military means; rather, Christ destroyed death forever and restored life by means of his shameful death on the Cross. And while he was born in poverty and obscurity, far from the centres of earthly power, he was none other than the Son of God. Out of love for us, he took upon himself our human condition, our fragility, our vulnerability and he opened up for us the path that leads to the fullness of life to a share in the life of God himself.

As we ponder this great mystery in our hearts this Christmas, let us give thanks to God for his goodness to us and let us joyfully proclaim to those around us the good news that God offers us freedom from whatever weighs us down: he gives us hope, he brings us life.

Dear Friends from Scotland, England, Wales and indeed every part of the English-speaking world. I want you to know that I keep all of you very much in my prayers this Holy Season. I pray for your families, for your children, for those who are sick and for those who are going through any form of hardship at this time. I pray especially for the elderly and for those who are approaching the end of their days.

I ask Christ, the light of the nations, to dispel whatever darkness there may be in your lives and to grant to every one of you the grace of a peaceful and joyful Christmas.

May God bless all of you!

TCP, carols and a 2010 Christmas

Snow is still everywhere in Fr M world.  I'm ogling a scab below my knee, the likes of which hasn't been seen since childhood. Memories of grazed knees, witch hazel, TCP etc etc.

We had a wonderful Carol Service last night, which everybody seemed to appreciate. Simple, well prepared and carried out, thoughtful, warm and joyful. Congrats to the 3 Churches team - Fr M approves.

In the i-Phone Facebook Twitter age, digital Nativities were inevitable. There is a clever but, I'm told, rather disrespectful digital nativity video doing the rounds, but I found this one, and I think it is good. Fr M approves. As usual, double click to see full width. Enjoy...

Acknowledgements to Fr Tim Finegan

Shins, rings, and maybe sings

Thanks for enquiries about my shin bone. A very neat little plaster thingy left over from my earlier ankle thingy is protecting my right shin fine. I will survive. In fact, on Sunday we returned to the scene of the fall-flat-in-the-flowerbed-melodrama, when we were invited to lunch back at the golf club. I snarled at the offending wall. Grrrrr...

Snow... is falling even as I type on Monday morning. Folks turned out for all of our Masses over the weekend. Attendance was about 25-40%. Aren't Catholics wonderful! Here's a picture I took of Fr Tomy clearing snow on Friday before our heavier fall that day.
My nephew was due to propose to his beloved on the Acropolis in Athens this weekend - but had to resort to plan B, which was Basingstoke, where he lives. At the moment my brother and sister-in-law are stranded at Milan airport, where they were supposed to leave yesterday.

I was in Canada for two years in the 1980s, doing my canon law studies. Winters there were of course very, very cold - 20 below was common. But the winters were also very predictable, the same every year more or less. So although it's good to complain about how the authorities here are never prepared, I have some sympathy, given that we had about 25 years without serious snow!

Meanwhile, we have a 3 Churches Carol Service planned for Wednesday evening - not looking good. But the thing is, some of our wonderful Catholics will turn up, no matter what the weather!

Have a nice trip

Yesterday the Lord saw fit to allow me to fall flat on my face. Literally. In a flowerbed. I was on the way to the Christmas Dinner of our two ladies' groups, the UCM and the CWL (note that I said "On the way to" not "coming back from, at a late hour"). Walking across the car-park, I was looking over to my right at the clubhouse of the golf club where it was being held, and didn't spot the low wall surrounding a flower bed in my path, shrouded in darkness. Next minute, a bang on my two shins, hands out in front of me and into the earthy flower-bed I go. Damage to me was minimal, one grazed top of my shin, just about where you touch down when genuflecting. Damage to flower-bed - dunno, and don't care. Get some lighting in your car park!

I'm sure there is a sermon in this somewhere, but as it feels like it might be something to do with humility, I'm not going to rush into that one. At least it gave the good ladies of the 3 Churches something to laugh about...

Mind the gap?

The months continue to pass by, and we still do not have an Archbishop. Yes, we know that the Roman summer has come and gone, when the Vatican shuts down, the Pope too has come and gone in September, and, sadly, the Nuncio, one of the key people in the process of appointment, is gone as well, through ill health. 

I'm told that one or two other British appointments have taken as long as this - getting on for eight months - over the last few years. There is much reference among the clergy at the moment to that fact that we seem to be getting on fine, thank you very much! Some whisper that they are finding it hard to get someone to come here, that Bishop X or Y has turned it down (yes, you can).

All joking aside, the bishop in a diocese has absolutely the key role. Canonically he holds full power - judicial, executive and legislative. Pastorally, he is first shepherd and father of the diocesan family. He has the potential to influence every single aspect of diocesan life, and personally I would see one of his primary roles as being to inspire and uplift the people of God.

In a circular to the clergy today Mgr Bob Readon, Diocesan Administrator, urges us to keep up the prayers for this vital appointment. Will do, Bob!
Picture shows the "Cathedra, or bishop's throne, of St Gregory" in the church named after him in Rome.

Thankyou and Hallelujah!

Many, many thanks to all those - eight at the last count - who sent me links to this Christmassy flash mob. So I thought I'd better put up a link here. Folks at a shopping mall food court near Niagara Falls got a surprise just a few weeks ago....  Enjoy - 17 million already have! 

Mass with a swing

Fr M loves a bit of (melo)drama with his religion, and you can't get much more dramatic than the botafumeiro. This is the enormous thurible in the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, the great shrine in north-west Spain. We went there on our September pilgrimage about ten years ago, and witnessed the botafumeiro in action. It swings from the roof 80 or 90 feet up, and at its wildest almost swings horizontal. Sparks fly everywhere, and the whooooosh as it passes over is very loud. It's very difficult to film it, so I was delighted to find a link to this video of Pope Benedict in Santiago a few weeks ago. It's the best film I've seen for giving an idea of what an amazing experience it is to see, hear, smell and almost feel the thing flying over your head. Check out too the looks on the faces of the Vatican officials. Enjoy a little Catholic drama. Thanks to Catholic and Lovin It.

Faster, faster, faster

Sorry guys - a six day gap between blogs. Partly it's just Advent busy-ness, and partly this cold weather sort of slows down the canonical braincells, I think.

Now, this week I'm due to do one of my "Wednesday Word" broadcasts for Radio Wales. A few moments ago, I had just put on the kettle for my post-Mass cup of coffee when the producer rang. We decide the topic on Monday, I write the piece during the day, email it to her, then she comes back to me on the Tuesday with any, er, observations, then I go in to do the broadcast live on Wednesday.

So this time it's going to be based on the news today that the Government want us all to be on "superfast broadband" by 2015. Faster, faster, faster - everything must be faster. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't imagine going back to dial-up broadband myself. But we just seem to worship at the shrine of instant everything nowadays - and life, especially some of the most important aspects of life, ain't like that.

All of this is very Advent, when we are asked to wait, to pause and to reflect - to slow down and appreciate. My producer thought this was an excellent theme, and proclaimed it to be appropriately "countercultural" - which is BBC language for a good idea. So I'd better get down to it, and see where I can get with it. If you would like to hear it, it is on Radio Wales this Wednesday roughly 2.40pm.