Chrism Mass at St George's Cathedral

For the first time Southwark had its Chrism Mass on a day other than Maundy Thursday, i.e. today. Being the year of priesthood, a special sit-down lunch was organised for the priests after Mass in the newly refurbished Amigo Hall.

Bishop John Hine, our Diocesan Administrator, asked the congregation to forgive him for turning his back on them as he wanted to speak to the priests gathered behind and to the sides of the altar. As it happens, from where I and a number of other priests were, we couldn't see him or anything of the Mass, but what we heard was most encouraging.

Bishop John placed his comments in the context of the current crisis of scandals affecting the Church that might have left priests feeling confused, undermined, lost. He affirmed us in the sacrificial nature of the priesthood. We must acknowledge and embrace the life of sacrifice that priesthood entails. As it is the daily celebration of the Eucharist that identifies us as who we are and gives true meaning to our lives, how can we not see sacrifice as an essential aspect of our lives since we daily commemorate and make present sacramentaly the Sacrfice of Christ on the Cross?

I do not know if Bishop John was speaking from a script, from notes, or without these and he said other things which were very much worth hearing at this time. If the homily is published it will no doubt be on the diocesan website.

UPDATE: Bishop John's homily here.

The Chrism Mass was also an occasion to thank Archbishop-emeritus Kevin McDonald for his service to the diocese. A small envelope with a large cheque was presented to him and he reminisced over his 6 years at the helm of Southwark. We continue to keep him in our prayers as he continues to undergo treatment.

Sisters of the Gospel of Life Blog

Thanks to a comment left on a previous post, it has come to my notice that I have not linked to the Sisters of Gospel of Life. Well, I have now! It is well worth reading regularly as the Sisters have plenty of experience of dealing with women who might be considering abortion, and also those who are suffering after one. Here they are seen in a more light hearted mood.

Henryk Gorecki and Arvo Part

Have just taken a bit of time out to watch this most beautiful programme from the BBC's Sacred Music series. To hear two men from a modern yet past era speak about their faith in God and the inner dialogue that produces such beautiful music was truly moving, as is the music they composed.

There is much to learn for the Church. Part says words to the effect that: "I don't want to offend my listeners but I have nothing to say to them. My music is a fruit of a dialogue I have with myself." I would like to think that what he means is that he is listening to the inspiration of God within him. And the sacred music he produces is something transcendent, that is outwith this world, draws you out of this world and to a higher plane.

This is what the Sacred Liturgy should do too, and what our preaching must be the fruit of. The Church has tried for too long to be 'relevant.' The more it stays true to its timeless nature, the more it will respond to the yearning of modern man who despairs if he places his trust in this world but who soars if he places his hope in the transcendent, i.e. the Divine.

The progamme makes clear the link between religion, culture and the freedom that Poland and Estonia won from the Soviet Union.

The programme is available to watch on the BBC iplayer until 9.29pm Friday 9th April or you can download it to watch it later.

Caption Competition

Remember I promised some photos of me in boxing gloves following the Baptism of Carris Clarke? So here's one. Submit your captions!

Petition Against Government-Led Sex Education in Schools Permanent Website

The organisers of this petition, Amanda and Mark Lewin, have created a website to house permanently the over 2,000 signatories to this petition which closed on 25th March, Solemnity of the Annunication.

Here's a reminder of what it said:

We, the undersigned, call upon the Bishops of England and Wales and the Catholic Education Service to fulfil their duty as guardians of our Catholic Faith and unequivocally reject recent Government measures forcing Catholic schools to teach what is explicitly condemned by the Church, viz: presenting active homosexuality as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, and providing information on the nature - and provision - of contraception and abortion services. Compliance on the part of the Bishops and the CES in such measures would effectively render our schools no longer Catholic in any meaningful sense, and would place the faith and moral life of our children in jeopardy. As Catholic parents, teachers and pastors, we earnestly beg of you, our Shepherds in Christ, that you do not allow this to happen.

The plan now is to send a letter, briefing and result of the petition to Rome, and to all the Bishops of England and Wales.

Amanda and Mark write:

Please keep this in your prayers as even if this evil Bill is not passed we still have Catholic schools teaching abhorrent and blatant sex education to our children.

May the Holy Family and St Margaret Clitherow continue to pray for us all.

Amen!

Sunday Telegraph letter calls for rejection of Children, Schools and Families Bill

I am grateful to two priest friends of mine, Fathers Marcus Holden and Mark Swires, for bringing this news to my attention. Here is what they tell us.

In today's Sunday Telegraph there is an amazing letter calling for the rejection of the CFS bill and it is signed by three English Catholic bishops. It seems the silence has been broken. Dozens of leading Catholics have also attacked government plans to restrict the role of parents in education and to introduce invasive sex education into schools throughout England and Wales. More than 2000 signatories have called for parliament to reject the proposed Children, Schools and Families Bill. Three bishops, several leaders of monasteries and religious congregations, philosophers and theologians, over 100 Catholic headteachers and governors and more than 200 priests and deacons have signed a letter written to the editor of the Telegraph by Mr Norman Wells, director of Family Education Trust. They join a long list of prominent non-Catholic signatories including a huge number of distressed heads, governors and teachers, ministers from many different Christian denominations, Muslim leaders and even concerned atheists. Their concern is specifically for the common good of the country which they believe will be undermined if the bill becomes law. The proposed legislation they say, 'seeks to impose a particular ideology' on children, families and schools and unjustly denies parents and guardians the right to raise children according to their own culture and values.

This is the letter which can be found together with another letter in the Comment section of The Telegraph website under the heading "The religious rights of Christians are treated with disrespect":

Parents and guardians have the primary responsibility for bringing up their children in accordance with their own values and culture. They may entrust the task of formal education to a school of their choice, but the overall responsibility for the upbringing of their children remains theirs.
The Children, Schools and Families Bill undermines this principle and seeks to impose a particular ideology by means of statutory sex and relationships education. We would therefore urge members of the House of Lords decisively to oppose it.
A state which seeks to centralise responsibilities which are properly fulfilled by families is acting in an unjust manner and undermines the basis of a free society.

Here is a list of some of the Catholics who have signed:

Bishop Brian Noble – Shrewsbury Diocese
Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue
Bishop Mark Davies (Co-Adjutor of Shrewsbury)
Fr Aidan Nichols OP Theologian Blackfriars Cambridge
Rt Rev Francis Baird OSB – Abbot Prinknash Abbey
Rev Dr Louis Caruana SJ - Philosopher Heathrop College
Rev Matthew Burns Parish Priest Ampleforth Abbey
Fr Leo Chamberlain – Former Headmaster of Ampleforth Abbey
Monsignor G M Dasey – Vicar General Middlesborough
Rev P Dillon OMI Director of Missionary Association of Mary
Fr Tom Finigan – Chairmen of APGL
Rev John Fordham – Vice Provost of the London Oratory
Mgr. Timothy Galligan (formerly of the Council for Christian Unity at the Vatican)
Canon Jeremy Garrett – Rector of St John’s Seminary Wonersh
Canon A T Hayes – Diocesan Safeguarding Officer
Maureen Hurst – School Governor/President of Union of Mothers – Salford Diocese
Neville Kyrke-Smith - National Director Aid to the Church in Need
Tim Matthews - Editor National Association of Catholic Families
Canon T A McBride Episcopal Vicar for Formation and Cathedral Dean – Salford Diocese
Professor David Paton – Governor and Professor of Industrial Economics - Nottingham University Business School
Dr Andrew Pinsent Senior Research Fellow, Theology Faculty, Oxford University
Fr John Saward - Theologian Oxford University
Rev Dom Antony Sutch (former headmaster of Downside)
Fr Luis Tomas Superior Consolata Fathers
Dr Petroc Willey Dean of Graduate Research Maryvale Institute (Deputy Director of Institute)


Another article in today's Sunday Telegraph, entitled 'Senior bishops call for end to persecution of Christians in Britain' by Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs correspondent, which as well as mentioning objections to general anti-Christian feeling, refers to the letter by Norman Wells, director of the Family Education Trust, on the CFS bill:

Christians are also increasingly concerned that the Government is ignoring their views on issues such as sex education and homosexuality when introducing new legislation.
A group of 640 head teachers, school governors and faith leaders have signed a separate letter to this newspaper warning that compulsory sex education in primary schools will erode moral standards and encourage sexual experimentation.
They call for the dropping of legislation that will see children as young as seven taught about sex and relationships.

Today's Sunday Telegraph also carries an excellent article on page 2 which does not appear to be available on the Telegraph website:

and a further article on the same page about school outings to sexual health clinics aimed at "demystifying" the consequences of unprotected sex and preparing children!!! for visits later in life (so we anticipate that the children of this generation will need these services - of course, because they are being groomed for promiscuity):

(Just click on these articles and then magnify them in your picture viewer. Both pictures supplied to me by Father Mark Swires.)

Let's hope people take note of this weekend's publicity and that this horrible tide of corruption of our young people be stemmed.

Palm Sunday Syro-Malabar Style

It being the last Saturday of the month, the Syro Malabar community have their monthly Holy Qurbana (Mass) in the Syro Malabar Rite. The Mass included the traditional Palm Sunday procession with children singing 'Hosanna'.

The children prepare for the procession.

Clearly enjoying themselves...

As in the pre-1962 Latin rite Mass, the priest knocks three times on the church door.

The door is opened.

The congregation waiting to follow the priest into the Church.

Mass continues with the Offertory.