Category: Fr Rory Writes

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb

Jesus

As we walk through this valley of darkness, at this time it is very hard to see light at the end of the tunnel.  Having read; and I will read again and again “THE SUGGESTION PUT FORWARD FOR THE DEVELPMENT OF THE PARISH” as an outcome to the synodal process.  It brings me back to the very beginning of this year when we lit the first Advent Candle “the candle of hope”.  I remember then the value of that candle, “hope is the one thing we can always cling on to”.

Right now as times are so grim, it is something good to have to hold on to.  I have to come to terms with a deep sense of hopelessness, because of the number of times I have failed to improve.  Re-reading the suggestions brings hope.  One of the important suggestions is core groups and the sense of working together and empowering ministries.  So let us continue to try again.  The Queen’s Jubilee and the Centenary of the church are promising events.

Light at the end of the tunnel always helps us with hope.  So again, (with the help of God) two things: 1) Easter and 2) The very promising words from the early development of the church “The day of Pentecost came”.  Yes, more than anything else “when the day of Pentecost came”, my great hope is that this year we will have a real experience of Pentecost. 

So far our masses, our prayers and all our efforts are flowing in the right direction. Let us look forward to Easter.

The Great Season of Lent

Hopefully we have got off to a good start to our Lenten Season this year.  One event in particular, which happened at St George’s Church on Sunday afternoon, was the opening meeting of our young persons preparation for their confirmation, this was very good “tus maith leath na hoibre” a good start is half the work.  It was a very good opportunity to share some food, to share their faith, to experience our faith, and to have it strengthened, nourished and nurtured.  There was a very good presentation upon the life of faith and in keeping with the Synod.  Jesus was not a religious figure like a Priest, a Pharisee, or a Sadducees.  He was a human person, but also the Son of God, and as such he had great power and authority.  People were drawn to him, particularly for forgiveness and healing. The phrase “He worked many miracles”.  We in our time want to get to know more about Him who loves us.

The tragedy that is Ukraine, and sadly one that is not going to disappear,  really calls for oceans of prayer, because it is indeed Putin’s war.  So it is also tragedy for the Russian people.  Pope Francis clearly called for fasting and prayer.  As Alan Jozwik expressed it in the announcement last Sunday “well we just eat less food”.  If we can establish and clarify that intent and purpose it will be a real help to achieve fasting.  In the age that we live in, food is so readily available; so different from the time when I was growing up when an ice cream was more of a yearly event than a weekly one, but then I lived out in the country.

There are many requests to ask what are we doing in response to the events in the Ukraine.  There are many engaged in responding to this and I believe there is a lorry going from Eastbourne, but because of the situation it is very difficult to get materials to the right place, and so I believe to collect money for the cause would be most helpful.  Anyone wishing to help to co-ordinate donations please get in touch.

“For the Love of God”

For the love of God.  These five words provide a great focus for this moment.  At this time the word “dreadful” so often fits the scene; people battling with bad health, loss of loved ones, the constant crisis that has been the coronavirus, and now the crisis in the Ukraine.

Last week’s focus was on six words.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  The life of God in heaven and the light of God’s family life on earth, the family home in Nazareth.  It is only light that can dispel darkness, and because there is no magic in God, one of the most frequent signs that I turn to is the crucifixion ……. and to be honest, still remains for me a great mystery… hope remains in the words “no cross, no crown”.

Rightly there is a great outpouring of sympathy for the victims with a constant cry for help for the people from Ukraine.  Pope Francis leads the appeal from our church with requests for novenas, fasting and prayer.  Please God, we will make a good response.

Following up on last weeks expression “Lent means Spring”, at the core of our parish there is a great need for our response for Spring.  As the contingences that were put in place for the pandemic are being lifted, a return to life is now very possible ….. but it is a very different situation.  Age has certainly taken its toll, so unless we have a new generation, there is no magic, we will be at a great loss.  I return to something important that I will continue to say.  The only thing that we can rely upon for the future from the fruits of the harvest, is the seeds that we sow.  A great thanks to those who are sowing new seeds.  I am truly grateful, particularly those at work with our children’s liturgy. 

Also a great significance is the work that is being done for the Synod, and the hope that new core groups will begin to take shape.  To develop and grow must become a real desire.  The great emphasis on convenience and being able to go to mass has had its day.  The realization that all the seminaries were closing , the amount of Catholic teachers that are available from our Catholic schools are very few, with the amount of children making First Holy Communion, but it is also their last time.  We have a great ray of sunshine from St George’s church with a very good programme of preparation for confirmation getting underway, a ray of hope, with the return of our communities to our Sunday Mass.

First and foremost, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

I am profoundly grateful to our parish team for leading our response to Pope Francis request for a Synod.  In life there are occasional moments of great grace.  For me, number one was Pope John 23rd and his call for the Second Vatican Council, and now Pope Francis with his call for a Synod.

As the team presents us with the response from our parish, we are presented with two most important opportunities.  Lent; this special season which always brings back to my thoughts one of my first parish priests, Mgr Tim Rice, with his statement “Lent means Spring”, and because he was a great enthusiast for the 2nd Vatican Council, he always used it as a focus for a particular theme from this Vatican Council with the awareness that Spring is a time of new life “lambs in the field” and growth.

Because Lent has sprung upon us, and the implications of where we are in response to the virus, we have no great plan in place.   The other side is “it is a window of opportunity” and because our team has offered to spring into this window, I am confident that this is what is best for us.  I will also consult with Deacon John on how to make the best use of this great season.

I am very pleased with St George’s Church and St Wilfrid’s with the care and attention that has been given to this most important event “Synod 23”.  While I was away I was very grateful to know that such important work was being done in our parish.  When I returned I found a letter waiting from one of the most inspiring persons that  I have met in my life, and the challenge that it brings.  His name is Deacon Dominic Dring, His brother is our Dean and Parish Priest of Our Lady of Ransom in Eastbourne.  So I am bringing it to our attention alongside other important needs, building core groups, preparing to progress again; leaven groups, and also ecumenical dialogue, through building up our liturgies; our mass on Sundays.

‘Going Home’

I am expecting to go home next week and I am looking forward to it.   Like everything during this coronavirus pandemic, apprehensive about it.  From our days in the seminary, a very helpful idea that has stayed with me.   These things are a) life is a journey; b) telling our story on this journey.  As in any journey life has its beginning and an ending.  A very important emphasis in the seminary was preparation for the end of that journey.  I know there is very much more to life than can be captured by these two images, as highlighted by the virus for the last two years, with life really stalled.

At St George’s church on Tuesday we had a very memorable Requiem Mass for Edna Andrews RIP.  She was 98 years old, so close to her 100th birthday.  It would have been lovely to celebrate this, but it would be second to the celebration of her Requiem Mass.  The celebration of this mass brings home to us profoundly “Our true home is in heaven and that is where we are going”.  Thanks be to God.  Growing up in Ireland, this felt very real to us, and with the wake house made a huge contribution to a life of faith. 

Please God, faith will continue to contribute greatly to our lives in the future.

‘God Knows’

That we are a work in progress; but to make that progress we rely upon His help.  The coronavirus is a constant reminder that there is a Kingdom of darkness.  It is constantly (indeed relentlessly) at work.  Seeking to destroy, particularly families and family life.  I recently heard from a priest, who was called to help one such family and it really is scary.  Even much more scary than the virus which is bad enough.  I have often heard of ‘the dark web’ but it was the first time I really realised how dangerous it is.

So returning to that constant need for prayer.  When I was young I heard it said “it is the mass that matters”.  Our celebration of this in our lives, deserves to be a high priority.  As part of this it is very important that we do our very best to progress ‘for a Synodal Church’, communion, participation and mission, Participants’ Guide.

We made an excellent start when a ‘core group’ met in the presbytery on Tuesday evening.  This important work calls for our best efforts and prayer.  Again two thing; where to begin? And how to do this.   After that we continue to develop our response as the seasons and years go on.  We have got off to a good start by giving the input this week your best attention, and also to bring it to the attention of anyone you know who would like to respond.

“The Lord is our Rock and our Salvation”.  A good place to begin a new year. 

Better still, Renaldo, our very helpful resident has come into the office and he adds his bit.

“He is always present at our side.  He may not be visible but He is to be experienced in others.  In Gaelic “tús maith is ea leath na hoibre”.  A good start is half the work.

So please God, for the coming year.  Reality is that the virus continues to play a big part in our lives at the present.  At the beginning of last Advent as we lit the first candle I was in a bad place, but the light of “Hope” became very important to me.  Now that we have celebrated to the best of our ability the light of Christ coming into our world, it is a time to refocus, to trust where Christ finds us at this time which is a real test; and to start reaching out with a sense of great hope as we begin our journey into the New Year.

For me the best point of reference is the synod that Pope Francis highlights and has his confidence and trust.  Having begun my journey with great confidence in the 2nd Vatican Council, and during my years in the Seminary, was a great challenge and real hope.  I have some great events to recall from this time, in fact my first mass and celebrating my brother John and his wife Helen’s Wedding, was part of a great occasion.  Early experiences left a sense of adventure.  More and more I came to realize the forces that are against it, that’s life.

Leading and organising remains one of my many weaknesses.  Conviction that a body made up of many parts working together has always been a strength.  The new church is an expression of this, but the church as a community of the faithful has always been my great hope.  Leaven Groups promised to play a great part in this.  So it is time to begin again and to heed the promptings of our very helpful resident, Renaldo.

The diocese has provided us with material to facilitate this (For a Synodal Church – Communion, Participation, Mission), this can be downloaded at  https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/synod.   As stated earlier there are two additional items that are crucial.  A) Why do we need it?  and B) like our new church – what would be the best outcome?

With a very grateful heart, a great thanks to all who contribute so much to the life of our parish.  Our two churches look great with all the  work, care and attention including the decorations, they are second to none.  This has been a very difficult time, with an unavoidable sense of stress, so special thanks are in order for those who help so much.  Nothing easy, and with health issues, please God, we can look forward to a fresh new year (and because) this newsletter covers the New Year, best wishes for that. 

Many, many thanks for your cards, gifts and donations, I am truly grateful.  It is very important that we focus our attention upon the Feast that is celebrated, “A Saviour is Born” and though first celebrated over 2000 years ago it remains for each year and for each generation a great joy, especially in times of trials and afflictions, we have our saviours promise “these are the trials through which we now triumph by the power of Him who love us”. 

Deacon John and Tessa have asked to join with me as we offer you our Christmas Greetings and wishing you a Holy Happy and enjoyable Christmas, in the safety of your families.

Merry Christmas

And A Happy New Year

Last Sunday was Gaudete Sunday – “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice”.  So to repeat from last Sunday “thanks be to God”.  Returning to the first Sunday of Advent with its focus upon hope.  There is an expression “hope springs eternally” and even when times are very difficult “hope” is something we can always try to hold on to, and we are all the better for it.  For these difficult times I have found this very helpful.

I have even found it remarkable for myself.  At the beginning of each Sunday morning masses I really feel the affects of these times.  By the time I have finished saying the masses I  am in a much better place, so thanks be to God; and thank you all for being so helpful to me.  Yes, you are two very helpful parishes.

This brings me back to what I have been sharing through Advent.   From the fruits of last year, we must find the best seeds available.  At the Deanery Meeting of the priests and deacons, which was by zoom, some would say doom!  The recognition of a seed of hope, a window of opportunity offered by the Synod.

We need to begin with small groups that can share together and inspire together.  Also for families, and for individual persons with particular interests.   Truth to say I have not found much in the church that is inspiring and hold up my hand to say I have not managed to do anything very inspiring myself.  This is so important that we must all turn to the Holy Spirit with heartfelt prayer and devotion.  I just cannot get over that there is no real thought being given to the shortage of clergy, and with the seminaries closing what comes next?

The word of God, the scriptures and the eucharist are the food of life.  These are gifts that will never be taken from us.  We must return to baptism which is the key to the life of grace.  A powerful moment in the celebration of the sacrament is when Parents and Godparents  are given the child’s baptismal candle with the words  “This light is entrusted to you to be kept burning bright, this child of yours will be enlightened by Christ.   The seed is sown, the seed is established. 

To be continued …………