Category: Fr Rory Writes

Fr Rory Writes:

Eternal Father, Loving God

Who made us from the dust of earth

Transform us by the spirit’s grace

Give value to our little worth   

                                                                                   Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal

“By His wounds we have been healed”, has been a traditional focus for our spirituality and is a great help to me at this time.  On my way to bed recently, having switched off the TV, from which the only consolation came through Spring Watch and Gardeners’ World.  The almost unescapable, unavoidable news media is an affliction of the highest order.  In its unending search for the worst news that it can get, and with the twist that it constantly brings to the coronavirus is trying to take hold of me.

The stress that we are living with, the implication of the lockdown means that the days and weeks are simply disappearing.  While this, for me, helps the passing of time, its loss to our lives is very real and needs the best and most positive attention that we can give.  We are now passing the longest day, and the excellent weather a solid bonus.  If it were not for the virus, 2020 might have been a very special year.

Having acknowledged the difficulties and damage that is being done, it is more important to be aware of God’s help and His promise to turn all things to good.  Truly appreciate moments of grace – spring walks, with people’s generosity and kindness.  With shops, businesses and works opening, there is a need to try to get on with life.  The churches’ opening has brought home to me, “easier said than done”.  We have received all the requirements and the directions for opening our churches, and with our age profile (as indeed with most churches), it presents us with a great challenge as we cannot ask for help from those willing persons who are over seventy.

During the night I was filled with great apprehension for our situation.  As deep awareness of my faults and failings, a powerful thought came to me that I should go home.  A fear was upon me.  Then about 3am I had a great sense of consolation, a deep, deep awareness of God’s grace, and that through the help of God’s grace, Jesus would prepare the way for our churches to be open.  Our need for help in every way, stewarding, cleaning, encouraging our parishioners to come back to church, initially for private prayer, bringing with them an atmosphere of togetherness.  A new generation and a new church need to be in our planning for the future.

Again, thanks to those who are developing our website.   We will be using it with our newsletter to re-establish our parish, please God, bigger and better.  There is a lovely scene with the lambs on our website.  We will now develop into God’s flock flourishing in His Kingdom.

Fr Rory Writes

With the help of God: 

Thanks be to God, as we move on from the Great Feasts of Holy Week and Easter. Having celebrated the new life of Pentecost, help us now to respond to the challenges of life that comes from the coronavirus with its problems and afflictions in our lives.  As many return to work and face the need to provide for the necessities of life; increase our confidence in trusting in your divine providence, and our responsibility to protect and safeguard our lives.

The Diocesan authorities have sent the directions they received from our government to open our churches for private prayer.  At the deanery meeting of priests and deacons we had some discussion about our situations in the various parishes, and certainly the future brings challenges for our churches throughout the diocese.  Information regarding hand sanitizer and protective wear was limited and supplies received by the deanery very inadequate.  A central depot for these supplies has now been established at St Philip Howard Centre in Crawley. 

It will take some time to get the required items for our protection in place, but we have an immediate need to get ourselves ready and to be willing to offer help for stewardship, but above all to be prepared to make a greater commitment to our community of faith.  The window for prayer, and with it the actions required to live out faith more fully, will be the greatest fruits of this epidemic.  Already we are aware of some of its fruits.  This springtime nature was particularly alive and refreshing.  Alongside of this are the benefits of reducing pollution, with cleaner, clearer streams, rivers, seas, and skies.  There have also been signs of a greater concern for the needs of others, particularly for those who may have been taken for granted, with the weaker and more vulnerable members of our human family receiving better attention.

But the challenge for the future may be a lot grimmer, and certainly when the financial implications become clearer, difficult decisions will be made.  Now the concern for children’s education and wellbeing raises serious questions, as well as emerging mental health issues and other casualties from the lockdown emerges.  For the greater part, as churches, we have been fortunate enough.  This year was very promising, and we had a very good group of young children for First Holy Communion, and with the lovely weather we enjoyed this could have been a very outstanding year 2020.

Better to say, so far so good, and for most of us who had to isolate, and to adjust to very different and difficult circumstances, have done so remarkably well.   Modern means of communication have helped, skyping and other developments, hearing more regularly from family and friends, receiving acts of great generosity and kindness, having access to online masses and other spiritual nurture created a foundation to rely on, and with God’s help we must do better in the future.

Fr Rory Writes

It felt so, so strange with so much time spent in lockdown the consolation had been the Holy Seasons, especially Easter and Pentecost.  Then the directory instructs a return to the ordinary; in fact, the ninth week in ordinary time, not lighting the Pascal Candle seemed to reflect this forcefully.

Then I came to the word of God, and a reading from the 2^nd Letter of St Peter, “May you have more and more grace and peace, as you come to know our Lord more and more”.

By His divine power, he has given us all the things that we need for life and true devotion, bringing us to know God himself, who has called us by his own glory and goodness.  In making these gifts, he has given us the guarantee of something very great and wonderful to come… Peter 1:2-5

So, hope goes on and with it our responsibility to respond: to grow in faith and faithfulness.  Please God, the way ahead will develop and grow.  We have not received any guidance or instruction yet for the opening of churches, the next deanery meeting of the priests should shed some light on the way ahead.

As suggested last week, we may have a gentle introduction to return to pray together via planned and appointed visits to the memorial garden, with prayer and fellowship.  Risk assessment and procedures are now in place for such events.   It may make sense to bring appropriate refreshments with you.  With an amount of preparation for what we may call the “new normal”, caution is important, but a sense of confidence and trust in Our Lord will be really helpful.  His promise, “I am with you always”, and with the help of this we can have our lives and strengthen our faith.

Jesus goes on to say if anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him take up the cross every day, and in doing so learn from Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden light.

My sister Mary has also produced a daily prayer journal, which is food for the journey when the cross is heavy.  She titles it “Love Speaks”.   Relinquish all thoughts that would bring obstacles on your path.  Focus instead on the light that leads you forward.  The artisan leaves down the tools that no longer serve a purpose, to pick up those that best serve the next stage, open up your heart in faith and trust and I will show the way to new pastures.

The one who plants and the one who waters, work to the same end and the Lord will repay each accordingly to their work: 1 Corinthians 3: 8-9

The day of Pentecost has come, and with it the opportunity for us to really rely on the power of God, to redeem and save, but above all to live lives of faith and faithfulness.  At the beginning of lockdown my mind was focused upon this year’s Feast of Pentecost.  From the beginning of Lent I was becoming more used to the human condition I found myself in and having to adapt by giving greater attention to my prayers and mass.

It was very much a shock to me, (but “shock” is not really the right word);  I was landed in hospital and adapting to the label “acute psychotic state”, called upon to rely upon providence and to re-evaluate my ministry.  Above all to reconsider my journey of faith.  My sister Mary’s well-timed book “A Mother’s Love” gave me important insight; and the realisation of one constant; the gift of faith we had received as children. 

The Second Vatican Council was my “theme song” with the charismatic renewal, marriage encounter, prayer groups, Taizé in France, life in the church appeared to be very promising.  My personal limitations, alongside parish ministry found me more and more at odds between my expectation and realities in the life of the parish.  Ten years on an ecumenical project was maybe a haven, but now I am hoping and praying that the Lord will renew, direct, and support me.  The loss of my driver’s licence will please God, come to an end, and will be helpful to my work and ministry.

The challenge and please God, the opportunity that will be provided “post coronavirus” will truly need all the blessings of a new Pentecost.  From screening masses different expectations have received moments of grace and blessing, much appreciated and may go on to influence our options and choices.  But the central need is for a community of faith, with a real decision to belong.  One of my faults and failings is being poor at remembering names and establishing relationships in the community.

With the help of God this can be addressed.  The new normal is a word that we hear quite frequently from the Media.  Our need in the church to develop a fresh response as opportunities arise is essential.  We are currently waiting for guidance concerning the re-opening of churches, and at this time there are no clear instructions.  Following on from the Governments guidelines, as from Monday 1^st June, I am encouraging visits to our prayer garden in appropriate groups, including families, for prayer (confession/reconciliation) and fellowship.  Unfortunately, I do not have my driver’s licence so I cannot avail of St George’s Memorial Garden.  Please ring me as I will be delighted to hear from you.

The Feast of the Ascension

There is simply great reward in giving this Feast all the care and attention that is possible for us.  During these troubled times due to the coronavirus implications, it well rewards our great attention and that bit of extra effort.  Visualise what it was like for those disciples, as this takes place.  In prayer we say,

“Let us lift up our hearts.  Let us raise them up to the Lord our God”

As the disciples looked on, their hearts were drawn up towards Heaven.  The seasons of Lent and Easter, especially for me this year, concentrated my attention through the mass, the divine office, the rosary, and the other prayers.  Today the office of readings, a long discourse on the Psalms by St Augustine Bishop is really worthwhile so please give it your care and attention.  I highlighted this because it can be a great foundation for our lives of faith in the church as we move forward, and please God, overcome the virus.  To continue with the words of St Augustine: –

Our thoughts in this present life should turn on the promise of God, because it is in praising Him that we shall rejoice forever in the life of God, and no one can be ready for the next life unless he trains himself for it now.  So, we praise God during our earthly life, and in the same time we make our petitions to him.  Our praise is expressed with joy, our petitions with yearning.  We have been promised something we do not yet possess, and because the promise was made by one who keeps his word, we trust in Him and are glad, but in so far as possession is delayed, we can only long and yearn for it.  It is good for us to persevere in longing until we receive what is promised, and yeaning is over; then praise alone will remain.

Lent                                                                                                   Easter

Because there are these two periods of time, in the one that is now, beset with the trials and troubles of this life, and the other yet to come.  A life of everlasting serenity and joy, we are given two liturgical seasons.  One before Easter and the other after.  The season before Easter signifies the troubles in which we live here and now, while the time after Easter, which we are celebrating at present, signifies the happiness that will be ours in the future. 

Both these periods are expressed and demonstrated for us in Christ Our Lord.  The Lord’s passion depicts for us our present life and trial – shows how we must suffer and be afflicted and finally die.  The Lord’s resurrection and glorification show us the life that will be given to us in the future.

Now (therefore) brethren, we urge you to praise God.  That is what we are all telling each other, when we sing Alleluia.  You say to your neighbour “Praise the Lord” and he says the same to you.  We are all urging one another to praise the Lord, and all thereby doing what each urges the other to do.  But see that your praise comes from your whole being in other words, see that you praise God not with your lips and voices alone, but with your minds, your lives and all your actions.

We are pleasing God now, assembled as we are her in the church, but when we go on our various ways it seems as if we cease to Praise God.  But provided we do not cease to live a good life; we shall always be praising God.

You cease to praise God only when you swerve from justice, and from what is pleasing to God.  If you never turn aside from the good life, your tongue may be silent but your actions will cry aloud, and God will perceive your intentions; for as your ears hear each other’s voices, so God’s ears hear our thoughts.

Fr Rory Writes:

Once again from the Standbrook Abbey Hymnal, a line stands out that expresses

“The seed of Glory sown in man, will flower when we see your face”

After the early events following the crucifixion, the disciples were at a great loss.  An awareness that He has Risen from the dead begins to spread, that He has gone before them into Galilee; and that it is from there that He will ascend into heaven.  The situation is very difficult, and the forces that had Him crucified have not gone away.  The words we read from the scriptures, in the divine office and our daily mass, highlight the issues; “He calls us out of darkness into His true light”.

Our present circumstances highlighted by the closed churches, the great importance of the need to isolate and establish social distancing, in a strange way helps to draw us together.  This was admirable, expressed in the Queen’s address to the nation, as a most important part of the celebration of “Victory in Europe Day”.  Her words were memorable and will inspire for a long time to come.  She captured what is best in the human spirit and that those who died, all that long time ago, would echo the sentiment that give value to their sacrifice the loss of so much life in the war.

Please God, a greater focus upon the family, and the local community may be one of the great fruits of this very difficult time.  Times of trial capture what is best in the human spirit and may become a great blessing.  For our parishes, when we are left to choose between partaking on screen or being present at our parish mass, may help us to establish the commitment to be involved and to truly belong within our parish community.  At the same time there are always two sides to a coin.  The options that will be available because of the advance in technology could benefit and enhance our world.  It may reduce some of the necessity to travel and thereby help with global warming and allow different choices within the world of work.

In the meantime, because we have our website this can become a way of beginning.  We are very blessed with Jackie and Sophie, because of their willingness to do their best.  We can improve that best, though I accept it is not easy.  I have to admit to a lot of limitations, but I do hold a great belief, that a body of many parts working together, is best.  As we acknowledge the age profile of the clergy, there is a great need for a new generation, in the life of the church.

Several persons (though not a large number) have offered to help communicate with those who are isolated.  It highlighted for me the number of persons immediately known to me, whom I should be ringing in order to keep in touch.  As time goes on it becomes more difficult, so it would be very helpful if we could establish a couple more core groups to support this, which would be a great blessing.

We have some very sad losses of lives, and because the bereaved could not be properly supported, it is a very painful time.  At the beginning of my priesthood the sacrament of extreme unction at the time of death was greatly important.  It remains so for the elderly generation, and I particularly call to mind, Evelyn South, Margaret Malone, Douglas Booth and pray that their loss and affliction will be turned into great joy in heaven.

Next Thursday is the Feast of the Ascension, and next Sunday would have been the celebration of First Holy Communion at St Wilfrid’s.  We have a very good group, so I commend them to you for lots of prayers.  Currently, because I am over seventy, and being without my car, is a great loss to my priestly ministry. 

Over the next couple of weeks, we will celebrate the joyous events at the heart of our faith – the Ascension of Christ into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, and so will be a source of great graces and blessings that will shine out in this time of great trial.

I have just read an extract from Pope Francis work, Evangelium Gaudium: – ‘The joy of the Gospels’.  It says, “Realities are more important than ideas”.  It certainly confronts me as I unfold my journey of faith, or lack of faith.

As we return, to a post coronavirus world, it will be changed in many ways. Social media will remain a large part of life, travel, especially by aircraft will take a long time to recover.  Family and hopefully community-based lifestyle may be enhanced.

For us as a church, I believe we will have an incredibly challenging time.  From experiencing screening, you may have found a site that suits, and sustains your faith.  For centuries, the mass was in Latin, pews the normal furnishing, and the spiritual experience a priority.  America which has a higher percentage of practice in recent times, experienced people doing a lot of “shopping around” for the church that best suited them.

The Second Vatican Council was a hugely important occasion in the life of the church, a privileged and blessed time.  The prospects for the future, but now a full sense of sadness in contrast with the promise that it offered.  I was very aware of the situation when in Ireland; and could foresee the great challenge and difficulties that the churches would have with mass attendance.  I believe that this was especially true for the seminaries and in the present time most are closed. 

Now as we focus upon the present moments in the life of the church – the Feast of the Ascension, and please God, we may have great preparation for Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit greatly empowered the early church.

The foundation of our faith is so important.  Returning to its source for me; the home and family I grew up in.  As mentioned before my Sister Mary’s book “A Mother’s Love” catches many moments of the crosses and trials but also the great moments of grace and here is one extract from her book.

My guardian angel’s description of love, placed upon my heart, reads:

God’s love is without end.  Love is bountiful, forgiving, enduring.  It is never self-seeking, but reaches out its tender shoots to embrace all on their spiritual journey.  Love seeks to lighten the load of others.  Love knows that all are brothers and sisters in Christ.  Love knows that all can be forgiven.  It bears no grudges, but is unconditional.  Speak of this God of Love.  He seeks to be part of each pilgrim’s life on this earthly journey.  God’s love heals and supports, nourishes, and suffuses the spirit.

There are also testaments from persons experiencing the dark side of life, and the accounts of their experiences of evil, deserve our attention and the sure response that we make.  This is working for God, belief in the one He has sent, Jesus.  Through the coming days and weeks all our attention must be with the first disciples as we will listen to their story……..

Fr Rory Writes:  

Last year my sister Mary Harrington had her book ‘A Mother’s Love’ published.  I believe her book brings us great re-assurance, hope and comfort that God personally knows us and turns all things to our good.  He is the divine author of life, so we can truly place our trust in Him.  As her book reveals, it was from a place of great anguish, because of our mother’s death, that she received a great grace.

As she expressed it, one month after Mam’s death I was feeling pretty low.  I had begun to come away to my own room for a quiet time to pray, now including praying to my guardian angel with more care and conviction.  Then I would breathe in slowly and peacefully asking for heavens help in dealing with my grief.  On one such evening feeling rather bereft, I expressed a great desire to communicate with my guardian angel.  What took place next was quite extraordinary, a really great grace.  I had hoped that Mary would come and speak for herself, but the Coronavirus has prevented that.  Please God, her visit will happen sooner rather than later.  For all of us a great focus for all our prayer during this time of confinement, must be for a vaccine that will overcome this virus.

I often recall our family home where the Catholic faith was very much part of life and the daily Rosary and Sunday Mass were an essential part of this.  This was also reflected in daily life.   A visitor on entering the house with the words “God Bless the House” and with the response “God save all here” were normal greetings in life.  Another particular expression coming with my maiden Auntie Mai coming with sad news ended “no cross, no crown”, if she turned up with good new “wasn’t that providence, Maura”.

As a result of her experience with her angel guardian, Mary developed a prayer group on a Thursday evening through the Autumn, Winter and Spring of each year.  I shared in the prayer group many times, and it was a deep well of faith and trust, that prayers were answered.   Before having her book published, she produced a daily diary of prayer, which she has documented.  She presents it as a prayer journal “Love Speaks”.

Speak, Lord, your servant listens.  Samuel 3.9, I add – food for the journey when the cross is heavy.

One example for the day:

 April 4th

To behold My cross anew each day, with love and affection, is to reciprocate My love, return My embrace.  All who acknowledge My cross by Me before the Father.  Within the cross is contained the Mystery of Redemption, the power of love, the power of forgiveness.

‘For he surrendered Himself to death, and was even counted among the wicked, bearing the sins of the multitude, and interceding for sinners.’ Isaiah 53:12

With the help of God, as we continue with the daily rhythm of life.  Our Catholic faith while deprived of what we greatly appreciate, our Sunday Mass through screening and more attentive to our journey of faith through this coming year.  Next stop, the Great Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost, may provide us with great blessings and strength.  In the meantime, pray for our website, that it will develop and respond to all our needs in this time of isolation and or social distancing.

Fr Rory Writes:                                                   

Screening the Masses: Thanks be to God

Fr Michael Jackson at the Sacred Heart Church in Hove has provided many moments of grace and strength, through this screening of the Mass.

From the early days in the life of the church, beginning with St Anthony in the desert. spirituality has provided inspiration, life and hope to encourage and inspire faith through the ages.  After the eucharist; the divine office has a special importance, as it evolved through the early ages of the church.  The vast majority of the people were illiterate, and the monasteries and religious houses, were the centres of learning.  The hymns, psalm and prayers provided a distilled focus to express in a clear way, special moments of truth at the heart of faith.  For me this Hymn from Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal is a good example:

Eternal Father, Loving God, Who made us from the dust of earth,Transform us by the Spirits Grace, Give value to our little worth

Prepare us for the day of days, When Christ from heaven will come with might, To call us out of dust again, Our bodies glorified in light.

O God head, here untouched, unseen, All things created bear your trace, The seed of glory sown in man, Will flower when we see your face.

The fact that there is no congregation at this time of screening, in a way is in keeping with the church, when for centuries the Mass was celebrated in Latin.  There were moments of interjection with responses, but most were happy to participate in silence.  When I was growing up and indeed before, the majority wanted to be at the back of the church.  Indeed, some preferred to stay in the porch or just outside.

To help us in our thinking, there is always two sides to a coin.  In life there is often a reflection to this, both in religion and politics.  This may be termed, right wing or left wing.  Pope Frances has been confronted by this, to an extreme degree, but tries to avoid responding, as he strives to progress the church through synods and dialogue.

When I entered the seminary at the end of the sixties, just after the end of the 2nd Vatican Council, this was in full swing.  I would have been considered part of the left wing trendies and would live with the label.  In my life time, I consider the two most outstanding popes to be, John 23rd and Pope Francis – in fact outstanding persons.  After a very fruitful, inspired time in the seminary, much influenced by Fr Seamus Ryan, my ordination was a special moment of grace.  For my first Mass, I was very privileged, as it also involved the celebration of the marriage of my brother John and his wife Helen.  From the words of the priest over from England, it had a great sense of life and youth, and please God, after this time of testing – The Lord will renew our youth and strengthen our faith .  To be continued……….

Fr Rory Writes:                                                                               

After the passion and death of Jesus; there was a time of great apprehension, anxiety and fear.  The first words concerning the Resurrection were unclear and very fragmented.  This too is a time of great apprehension; what will happen next to get us out of our situation, is for the time being very unclear.

Returning to scriptures, the early account of the resurrection can be very helpful to us for the coming weeks.  The word has gone from the tomb; Jesus is Risen from the dead.  Peter gives an example at a time of crisis.  He has returned to the day job of fishing         (maybe not open to us at the moment). 

In fact, they fished all night and caught nothing.  Then they were truly blessed – it must be appropriate that at this time we ask a blessing that our faith be revitalised.  Jesus appears to them and instructs them to go out again.  They make a great catch of fish.

The church gives forty days to this truly important time when we celebrate the Ascension.  Please God, these days will be valuable to us, leading us and preparing us for the most powerful and necessary event of all – The Feast of Pentecost.  Up until this time the apostles and the other disciples were very much at odds with life and getting nowhere.  But after Pentecost they are a new force.

Over forty years ago I had; maybe as now, a short sabbatical.  At that time the charismatic movement, role of the laity, ministries, marriage encounter, Taizé etc. were promising opportunities.  But unfortunately, beginning with a real desire for a new Pentecost, and being prepared to be more committed to a life of faith; was not a sufficient priority and so the opportunity was lost.

More than anything we must desire and pray for a new Pentecost.  Hopefully the coronavirus will sow fresh seeds.  The depth of love that is expressed for those who serve, please God, will go on in a church that serves.  Let us cry out to high heavens for a new generation.  For a while now we have been blessed in our parish by having a nucleus giving this their attention.

Please God, that it may grow out to be a fresh stream of life.  It is only through a new Pentecost that this can happen, and now is the time for prayer, for hope and for trust, that like the early disciples we may be prepared by the Holy Spirit to begin again.  Let us continue to pray for a new Pentecost, this may happen.