Spy Wednesday

Wednesday in Holy Week is sometimes referred to as "Spy Wednesday".  Spies, conspiracy, plotting... all these kind of things leave a nasty taste in our mouth. Especially, of course, if we are on the receiving end of the spying or plotting or conspiracy.  And yet how easy it can be to find ourselves involved in this kind of thing, even if on a scale much less significant than the plotting against Jesus.  Little jealousies, annoyances, "news" whether - fake or not - can all be twisted into stuff to be used against another. 

People still argue about Judas - his motives, his intentions and frame of mind.  What is clear is that at the end he has not known Jesus well enough, as he has lost hope. For hope is a very precious virtue that I think is often forgotten when compared to its companions faith and charity. Hope gives us a future, we can move forward. I suppose the plotting, spying and conspiracy was, and often is, based in fear. Who is this Jesus, and how is he going to disupt my world and my plans for the future. Better to get rid of him. 

Our school's Journey through Lent and Holy Week 2021

At the beginning of Holy Week, here is a compilation of the celebration of the events of the week by the various classes of our wonderful parish primary school, Christ the King. Look at the creativity and sincerity, very touching at many points. Just one xample - don't miss the very bref moment at 6:45...

Well done, children and staff - and thank you!

Holy Week begins...

 Palm Sunday - the Week of Holiness begins... 

All our * services are streamed, but are not public until Easter Sunday itself.

Monday - Wednesday   9.30am Mass*

Maundy Thursday         8.00pm Mass of the Lord's Supper*

                                                   followed by virtual watching until 10.30pm*

Good Frid                      3.00pm Commemoration of the Passion and Death of Our Lord*

                                                   Streaming focussed on the Cross until evening*

Holy Saturday               8.00pm  Easter Vigil and First Mass of Easter*

Easter Sunday              9.00am  Mass at St Paul's

                                      9.00am  Mass at Christ the King

                                     10.30am Mass at St Brigid's*

Booking is needed for the Easter Sunday Masses - see our newsletter available via 3churches.org

25th March - the Annunciation

People may know by now that one of my favourite paintings is that by Antonello da Messina (1430-1479) of the Virgin of the Annunciation. Over the 30 years since I first came across it in the gallery in Palermo it has provided material both for my own reflection and for sharing reflections with others. It's a painting to sit with, to contemplate, to study the details - the hands, the background, the book, the face... It is Mary the moment the angel leaves her, leaving her with so much to ponder - and us.

Iceland volcano live from one side

Iceland volcano... from the other side!

St Joseph

Today pictures rather than words...

                First Joseph the worker resting

                Joseph the strong supporting

                Joseph at Bethlehem protecting

                Joseph the universal patron belonging to all

                Joseph the foster father carrying

                  Joseph the loving - hugging

                    Joseph the carpenter teaching

                    and, a new one for me, Joseph just being there for Him... and for us

Noah's Ark and St Patrick

We had a lovely thankyou card from Noah's Ark, the children's hospital at UHW, for a fundraiser we had at St Brigid's some while ago. The original cheque got lost and cancelled, but eventually our donation got through. The card has been put together from work at the play therapy sessions there. It's a bright happy card that seems to point to the arrival (hopefully) of spring...

 

Meanwhile, for St Patrick's Day here is a modern interpretation of the famous St Patrick's Breastplate prayer. It's sung by Ronan Johnston and his group Emmaus. Ronan has led worship at our Cardiff Celebrate Conferences    (words below).

 

I arise today   With a mighty strength
In the power of the Trinity  three in one guiding me
With the speed of light And the depth of the sea
God’s strength this day come rescue me.

Be beside me Lord Be with me Lord
Be in me Lord  be around me Lord
Be below me Lord Be above me Lord
Be on my left and be on my right

I arise today with a mighty strength,
I’m free of the fear of the world,
By the power of your resurrection,
With a holy host,And a tongue of flame,
Protect my life so I can praise your name

Angels from Russia

I came across this music while preparing for Sunday's Mass. It's a chant for Lent from the Russian Orthodox liturgy, sung simply by four men. It seems to be in Russia, although the church is not set up for Orthodox worship with a screen etc. Maybe it's a church that has been returned to its proper use - perhaps one our Russian viewers could comment or explain?. Anyway, sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy.

 

Celtic roots and branches

Every so often I revisit some part or another of my vast family tree, to see if anything or anyone new has appeared on the scene. And so it was that I discovered Denny in Ohio, who is, I think, my fifth cousin - yes, fifth cousin. We share ancestors down in Carmarthenshire where my direct line of Joneses comes from. My great-great-great- grandmother and his were sisters all those years ago. It turns out he has visited Wales and even emailed me a picture of him in front of a CARDIFF sign on a station platform here. 

Although I suppose I'm an old hand at genealogy now, it's still fun to encounter connections like this. From not knowing about any American family twenty years ago, I'm now aware of and/or been in touch with folks in New Jersey, Ohio, Utah. Arizona and California. Sounds like an interesting holiday route! 

If I can help with your family history, let me know - though I make no promises, especially if your history lies in Ireland. That is notoriously difficult for genealogists, as most civil records have been destroyed in conflicts, we're in the hands of church authorities....

Talking of Ireland, I'm about 40% Irish by ancestry and I love music from all the Celtic countries. Here is a traditional song from Ireland popular in the gaelic-speking areas sung by group Clannad. It is from a concert in Christ Church Church of Ireland Cathedral Dublin about 10 years ago.  It certainly touches the Celt within me... It's sung in Gaelic so I've put a translation below.

If you want to watch/listen to the whole concert visit  https://youtu.be/o2vIu3nr3OI

Down by the beach, in the depths of the night
    Thíos cois na trá domh, in ndoimhneacht na h-oíche
The big world asleep, I'm alone
    An saol mhor ina gcodhladh, 's mise liom féin
The seabirds are calling sadly
    Na h-éanacha mara ag scairtigh go léanmhar
Like poor souls in pain
    Cosúil le h-anamnacha bochta i bpéin

 

Full moon and full tide
    Ionlán gealaí 's iomlán rabharta
Joy and silence, and beauty in the world
    Aoibhneas 's ciúineas, 's áilleacht sa domhain
The murmur of the sea echoing in my ears
    Crónán na fairrige ag dul siar ar mo chluasa
The soft music of the water flowing in the river
    Bog-cheol an uisce ag sileadh sam abhainn

 

Inside the inlets is an old blessed graveyard
    Istigh ar h-inseáin tá sean-reilig bheannaithe
The place where saints lived in ancient times
    An áit inar mhaireadh naoimh sam aimsir fadó
There are people inside spending time gayly
    Tá daoine istigh ann ag chaith seal do h-aerach
They will no longer walk across the shore
    Ní shiúlfaidh siad thar fán chladaigh níos mó

 

Loneliness struck my mind as I looked at the cemetery
    Bhuail uaigneas m'intinn 's mé ag amharc ar an reilig
I'm thinking of people inside lying there
    'S mé ag meadhradh ar dhaoine istigh ann ina luí
Young men and women, old people and children
    Fir a's mná óga, seandaoine 's páistí
The people of my people and the friends of my heart
    Muintir mo mhuintir 's cairde mo chroí

 

No cocks are crowing and the stars are fading
    Tá no coiligh ag glaoch 's na réalta ag bánú
The moon is setting and it 's not long
    Tá an gealach ina luí 's ní fada go lá
Goodbye now blessed old graveyard
    Slán agat anois a shean-reilig bheannaithe
And the people who walked with me down by the beach
    'S na daoine a shiúlfadh liom síos cois na trá

Laughter and silence

Today we celebrated the Requiem Mass for Fr Ray O'Shea, former parish priest of Christ the King, and, a long time ago, assistant at St Brigid's.  As with all funerals at the moment, we had to stay within the restrictions of the present situation, with no more than 30 present, social distancing etc. Thank God, all went well.

Ray had the ability to light up a room, and bring laughter and joy into a situation. Here of course, his coffin before the altar, he had been reduced to silence, a silence we could all fill with our own memories, thoughts and prayers.  

After posting "Bridge Over Troubled Water"  from the concert in Central Park, it was suggested I add "Sound of Silence" from the same performance, another of Simon and Garfunkel's classic songs.

Hello darkness, my old friend  I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping  left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain still remains
Within the sound of silence

 

In restless dreams I walked alone,  narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp   I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light that split the night
And touched the sound of silence

 

And in the naked light, I saw  ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking,  people hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share,  and no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

 

"Fools", said I, "You do not know  Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you,  take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell  and echoed
In the wells of silence

 

And the people bowed and prayed  to the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning  in the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets 

are written on the subway walls  and tenement halls"
And whispered in the sound of silence

The sun shines in Wales

St David has been doing his job as patron of Wales very well. Sun has been shining and Wales have been winning...  Wow, two bits of good news in one weekend!  OK the sun may pull back again in a day or two, and Wales might even come against France in a week or two - but. hey, we all want some good news, don't we?

Fr Andy and I enjoyed watching the match together on Saturday afternoon. It was exciting, a little controversial in parts, but it all adds to the spice.  Although Andy grew up in Hereford, he was born in Wales, Merthyr Tydfil to be exact, and has spent all his priesthood here in Wales too. And I certainly don't have any split loyalties, as I don't have a drop of English blood, as far as I know, except for great-grandfather Kearns. He happened to be born in Bristol because that's where his family went at the time of the Irish famine, before they moved over here after only a year or two.

So, here's to good news - keep it coming

And for those who have never heard the Welsh national anthem, here it is - Principality Stadium - with crowd!  Happy feast day everyone.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Time for some more music from my past.

By 1970 I was 17 years old and in the sixth form. American duo Simon and Garfunkel had built up a big following over previous years, but they were saving some of their greatest songs for the album they brought out that year "Bridge Over Troubled Water". The title track became one of the top selling songs of all time, and I think that over-used word iconic can truly be used of it. 

On the album itself Art Garfunkel sings most of the song until he's joined by Paul Simon in the last verse. Ten or so years later the pair performed their famous "Concert in Central Park" in New York. It attracted over half a million people, some say many more. They played all their great songs and many were waiting for "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Garfunkel performed it solo with very small backing, and that's the version I have chosen here.

The song is simple really, but captures the need we all have for someone to be there for us, and, hopefully, our resolve to be there for others.  

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all
I'm on your side
Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

 

When you're down and out, when you're on the street
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you
I'll take your part
Oh, when darkness comes, and pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

 

Sail on silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine, all your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend, I'm sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind

Alone?

Having trained in the years after Vatican II, with its emphasis on the community and participation, especially in the Eucharist, I always felt that a priest celebrating Mass on his own was a no-no. What was the 'point', I would say to myself.  Well, the pandemic has had many, many consequences, but one has been that I have now been in situations where it has been helpful to indeed celebrate Mass on my own. I don't mean on my own in the church being joined via webcam by loads of people - I mean literally on my own.

Take today. It was Fr Andy's turn to celebrate the 'public' Mass at 10.30 in the church here at St Brigid's, and it's good sometimes to concelebrate.  But I have also on quite a few occasions celebrated on my own on the dining-table in the presbytery, as I have just done now this evening.  With the world outside silent on a Sunday lockdown evening, the silence seems to fill the room. It's not an empty silence - the needs of the world find their way in, and, more importantly it's a silence that in some mysterious way enables God to be more 'free'. As I make my way through the well-known prayers and the readings, he feels very. very close, around the table with me. And this makes the silence even more potent, so that after the readings or after Holy Communion or at the end, or at all three points, I have to stop to just sit there and be...

I am finding that this experience is filtering into my public celebrations too. I seem to be even more aware of God's presence - and the presence of the people whether in the church or at home - than ever before. I'm coming to realise that this may be an example of what more and more people are talking about as the hidden graces or benefits of this terrible situation in which we find ourselves. 

On the day when the Gospel tells of Jesus being led into the desert by the Holy Spirit, into the place where we are on our own, we discover that, of course, we are not really on our own. And if we can really enter into this situation, just God and I together, we can gain a much deeper understanding of who we are - and who is this God who is with us there.

Ash Wednesday through Art

"Tapestry" at 50

Time for another musical memory. I heard on the news this morning that it's 50 years since the release of Carole King's landmark album "Tapestry". This came out as I was starting University, embarking on a new phase of my life. "Tapestry" quickly became a big favourite among students, with every song speaking to us. Very unusually, I don't think there's a single dud on the whole album. 

This morning I've been leading a "Service of Love and Commitment" for our diocesan Family Life Commission, particularly aimed at couples whose marriage arrangements have been disrupted by the pandemic, but open to all wishing to celebrate marriage and family life. In my homily I used one of the songs from "Tapestry" as my way into the subject. "Will you still love me tomorrow?" speaks of the end of a day when love has been shared, but also of the fear that it may not last until the next day. Does the love shared reflect a commitment shared too?

 Here Carole King sings it some years later in a beautiful pared down version with James Taylor, another great name from those days. 

 

Bringing Lourdes home

 

I'm taking part in this series of Zoom evenings 7 - 8pm leading up to the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Thursday.  My talk is on Monday, the first day of the series. In case you can't read the above flyer, it is 7pm Monday-Wednesday   Zoom 868 571 1627 / cathedral, and Thursday live-stream from the Cathedral via www.cardiff cathedral.org.uk   Why not join in?

Another favourite - Darius Rucker

Time for some more music from my favourites.  Back in 1994 a band emerged in America called Hootie and the Blowfish (I know, what kind of name is that).  Leader was Darius Rucker, who is black when the rest of the band were white - unusual combination, and also unusual was the kind of country sound with a black singer. Anyway the album - and the band - were huge in the US though not so big here in the UK, and have never been far off my listening list. 

Seems they went their own way for a few years in more recent times, and here is Darius in 2010 singing one of the best known songs from the album 'Let Her Cry', in a more aoustic version. I love his voice, gritty but also a finely tuned instrument I think as this performance shows. 

I'll include the words as I did recently for Hotel California, because they manage to be moving yet mysterious at the same time, open to different interpretations, but basically about handling messes in relationships.

           

         She sits alone by a lamp post Tryin' to find the thought that's escaped her mind

She says, "Dad's the one I love the most   But Michael Stipe's not far behind"

She never lets me in, only tells me where she's been
When she's had too much to drink
I say that I don't care, I just run my hands through her dark hair
Then I pray to God you gotta help me fly away

He said: Let her cry if the tears fall down like rain
Let her sing if it eases all her pain
Let her go, let her walk right out on me
And if the sun comes up tomorrow, let her be, let her be

This morning I woke up alone, found a note standing by the phone
Sayin', "Maybe, maybe I'll be back someday"
Like a fool I wanted to look for you  You walked in, I didn't know just what I should do
So I sat back down and had a beer and felt sorry for myself

Sayin' let her cry if the tears fall down like rain
Let her sing if it eases all her pain
Let her go, let her walk right out on me
And if the sun comes up tomorrow, let her be, let her be

Last night I tried to leave, she cried so much I could not believe
She was the same girl I fell in love with long ago
She went in the back to get high  I sat down on my couch and started to cry

for my momma, I said "Oh, mama, please help me
Won't you hold my hand, get me outta here", and

She said:  Boy let her cry if the tears fall down like rain
Let her sing if it eases all her pain
Let her go, I walked out on her,

And if the sun comes up tomorrow, let her be

Local news

 

And now for some local posts...

First one of our local icons, to use that over-used word - the Scott Memorial lighthouse in Roath Park Lake. It's had an overhaul, partly funded by local resident Mike Temple. 

Erected in memory of Captain Scott who sailed out of Cardiff, this is one of my earliest memories on walks "down the Lake". We're so blessed to have Roath Park on our doorstep. I always thought all towns had such lovely places in them - but sadly not...  Never take Roath Park and its lake for granted

 Looking good!

 

Next, and not far away from the Scott memorial, the shops "on Lakeside" ie in Clearwater Way. These have been there since the Lakeside housing was built (in the 60s?). A few hours have been passed by Fr M in the Disc(overy) opposite the shops, especially in my student days.  Now it seems the shops are going to be redeveloped. They do look a bit tired at the moment, though a lot of work was done not long ago on Tesco at the top end.  The branch of Waterloo Tea at the other end is popular too. From the pictures it looks like it will go from 2 storeys to four if you look closely...

Lastly, one of Fr M's highly sought after recommendations - and it goes to Fintans Fish & Chip Co, specifically to the Llanishen branch (coz I haven't sampled the others in Whitchurch etc). Basically all I have to say is  - yummy!  Once a week Fr A and I usually get something in and I must say Fintans never fails.  To be fair I haven't wandered far from cod n chips on the menu, but why would you when the food and the service are so good!  As I say - yum!

The Summons goes on

Need a little calm? Here is parishioner Max Davies improvising on the modern hymn tune "The Summons" (Will you come and follow me).