Category: Fr Rory Writes

Fr Rory Writes:                                                                               

Psalm 91 continued….. On Our Way

              He will cover you with his feathers,

              and under his wings you will find refuge;

              His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

              You will not fear the terror of night,

              nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Recently we hear a lot about signs and disturbances.  Some churches give them a lot of attention and with lots of events, plagues of locusts in Africa, our own Corona Virus,  with oceans of evidence of global warming, it is important to stay focused. 

God is my safe place; God is our safe place.

Yes, it is important that we take care of our health.  To this end, trips to the gym and any array of medicine and other activities can be conducive to good health.  So many other activities add to the cares of our lives, that we can lose sight of what is most important.  In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24, even with all the signs Jesus councils us:  the end is not so soon and that no one knows, only The Father in heaven, when this will come to pass.  It is for us to remain focused upon Jesus.  The more we come to rely upon Him this will influence our response to this crisis.    

Isolation will bring a lot of suffering, and a very special place in our prayers must be for those in very difficult situations, with mental health, and other social issues.  Prayers also for families with small children, confined to very small and inadequate space for homes. 

Pray constantly and never lose heart, and because I am speaking to the converted, grace and peace be with you at this time:

But the last words belong to the distressed and those greatly afflicted, Jesus be with them in their hour of need.  As you were consoled in the Garden of Gethsemane, send your Holy Angels to watch over them that none may be lost and all will be saved.

Fr Rory Writes:                                                                                The Bigger Picture

See and Read Psalm 91

At our last Hailsham Minister Fraternal, David Bourne led our time of prayer.  It was a true Godsend, at a time in an hour of need.  It was a real tonic for me, a grace and a blessing.  Above all a source of inspiration for us all, through the trials that are about to afflict us.  He based it on Psalm 91, and I am hoping to draw inspiration from it throughout the weeks to come.

“whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.”

As David expressed ….  it’s a really beautiful Psalm and is full of re-assurance, promises of safety and victory pour out verse after verse. 

But the really big question, “To whom are these promises given?” .  The obvious first answer may appear to be to everyone, but that really misses the mark by a mile.  

Yes, the promises remain and are genuine.  But in order to avail of the fruits, then something very different is required.

Our more normal selves can be much more resistant to these promises than we would like to think.  It is easier to see other people’s faults, at this time when the church is in lockdown and many of the means that we thought were guarantees to God’s favour and most acceptable to him are not open to us.

Please God, that time of prayer and teaching was a very genuine moment for me.  Why was it? and why do I remain so apprehensive, so anxious, and as I have come to recognise, so vulnerable.  It may be a good time for us all to address your human situation at the moment.

Fr Rory Writes:

At the end of this month, on Sunday 29th March, England will be re-dedicated as the Dowry of Mary.  This is an important celebration for this land, dedicated to Our Blessed Lady by King Richard II in 1381 following an older tradition going back to the time of Edward the Confessor.

The re-dedication will take place in all our Cathedrals on the 29th and I would ask you to ensure that your parish community shares in this celebration through the praying of the Angelus and an Intercession for this country and the praying of the “Hail Mary” in the Prayers of the Faithful on that day.

It is the intention to produce a booklet to provide a novena leading up to the 29th and copies will be made available when received.

Fr Rory Writes:

Continuing our return to Deacon John’s message for Lent last year………

One person who did said that it taught him where to find God in this unpredictable and often discouraging world. He said it taught him that God is the Power that replenishes, that renews our strength when we have none left. He relates that he learned that God works miracles today by enabling ordinary people to do extraordinary things. He has seen weak people become strong, timid people become brave, selfish people become generous. He has seen people care for their elderly parents, for brain-damaged children, for wives and husbands in wheelchairs, for years, even decades, and he asked himself, where do people get the strength to keep doing that for so long? Where do they get the resources of love and loyalty to keep going?

His answer was based on that T-shirt: That when we are weary and out of strength, we turn to God and He renews our strength, so that we can walk and not feel faint, so that we can run and not grow weary. It taught him where to find God in this unpredictable and often discouraging world.

Today, may we pray that we, and those whose lives have been shattered by what has happened to them, will be able to do the same. May they have their strength renewed, so that they will live their lives with wings as eagles, that they will run and not grow weary.

Please God, we too will find words from scripture that will strengthen and support our faith day by day.

Fr Rory Writes:

Lent returns to us again, and time to say Lent means Spring.   This season in the church is so important to all of us.  Returning from Ireland after a break of 10 days with my family gives much food for thought and prayer.  The shortage of priests and indeed the attendance at Mass is very much the plight of the church in Ireland.  A priest friend from the past publicly expressed it “the engine is still running, but the wheels are going nowhere”.  For us and our parish it is most important that we become communities of faith.  We have lost some great people, and so our response must be to follow their example with more of us working together to build upon the legacy they have left us.  We are very blessed by our churches.

Returning to Deacon John’s message during Lent last year is a very good step in the right direction.  It is really excellent.

As we listen to the message of Jesus each week may all we do during Lent prepare us to celebrate Easter. May we grow more like him every day, and show everybody that our faith is about good news of joy and light and life. May he strengthen our faith, and help us grow in our love and care for one another. It has been said that the experience, of Peter, James and John in last Sunday’s Gospel helped the apostles to cope with the troubles of life.
How would you feel if you were given a T-shirt with this verse from Isaiah 40 printed on the back?

Those who trust in the Lord will have their strength renewed.

They will mount up with wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary.”

To be continued next week so that we can seek the fruits of God’s spirit and that they may work within us.

Fr Rory Writes:

Racial Justice Sunday 2020

This weekend Sunday 9th February 2020 the Catholic Church in England and Wales will celebrate Racial Justice – the theme is: “You are at the heart of the Church”.  It will celebrate the contribution travelling communities make to the church in England and Wales.  It is an opportunity for all Catholics to pray for, reflect on and respond to racial justice matters within the church and wider society.  Racial Justice Sunday should encourage proactive discussions on overt and covert forms of racism experienced by fellow Catholics from the travelling communities.  To support the church in its work with travellers, a second collection will be taken this weekend.  Your contributions, however great or small will help to make a difference.

Fr Rory Writes:

With the new year well on its way; we are very aware of our members of what I call the “A Team”, or “Ace Team”, which I inherited, that we have lost through bereavement.  We were blessed by them, and eternal rest and reward grant unto them, O’Lord.

Thanks be to God, we are finding new people to help.  The Parish Finance Committee had its first meeting, and it was a great help to me.  Please God, there is light at the end of the tunnel, with the hope that my driving license will return and this will be a great help also.  It will take some more time, so I remain very grateful for all the offers of transport.

Of great importance are our Children’s Liturgies and I am very grateful to those who give their time and effort.  The Reconciliation and First Holy Communion Group at St Wilfrid’s has got off to a very good start.  There is a large group this year; and with the lead that we have received by St George’s with their many different activities through the year, hopefully developing a stronger sense of community.

All ready attention has to be given to the great seasons of Lent, Easter and Pentecost, particularly to have music in place for these events.  We have had a request here at St Wilfrid’s to host the special ecumenical service which is a very important new initiative.  Recently ecumenical events had declined, which is a pity.  Also, this coming Friday we have our Special Devotions Mass and Healing Service at St George’s Church.

Fr Rory Writes:

This week we have important messages from two Bishop’s.  The first one being the Pastoral Message (copies can be found in the church porch, for you to take away and read). 

Secondly, the Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), 27th January 2020.  This year’s HMD has a particular significance for two reasons.  One is the fact that this year we mark the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.  The other is, of course, the increase in the incidents of antisemitism.  The reasons Vatican II gives for condemning antisemitism are specifically theological (CF Nostra Aetate, 4) and feel that is our particular contribution to the whole issue.

It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standin’ in the need of pray’r.

Not my brother or my sister, but it’s me, O Lord.  Standin’ in the need of prayer.  Not my brother or my sister, but it’s me, O Lord, standin’ in the need of pray’r.

This time last year I suffered an Acute Psychotic Episode, and with the help of the hospital and all others involved, I made a very good recovery, thank God.  This recovery is well established and I am feeling very well about that.  Unfortunately it also gave me a problem that at this time I do not have my driving license, but am engaged in the process of getting it back as quickly as possible.  In the meantime, I rely upon your prayers and support.  I am very grateful to all who have provided transport for me and I continue to need your prayers.

A Prayer for Peace

Draw near us Lord, source of all peace and wisdom,  Let your rays of peace circle the globe,Lighting all paths in their wake.  Let the power of your peace radiate through the darkness Illuminating the minds and hearts of your faithful.  May your Peace inspire acts of unconditional love, Unfettering the chain of selfishness, greed and pain.  Release the dove of peace into all homes, Inspiring love, joy and serenity, This we pray through Christ Our Lord. Amen

Fr Rory Writes:

This time last year we received from Bishop Richard a leaflet titled “The Word Who is Life”.  This was given to be our focus for preparation for life in our diocese in 2030.

Many parishes have been very effected by the structures for ministry because of the reduced number of masses and priests, with the expectation of more to come.  We have not experienced this as something that has come about because of the situation in the diocese, but because of the state of my health during the past year.  Please God, my health is on the mend, and hopefully with the return of my driving license we may have new opportunities. 

A big and sincere thank you to the persons who help with our Children’s Liturgy.   They deserve all the support that we can give them.  We have lost some great people who contributed so much, and so they are a great loss to us.  With God’s help; through our prayer and  commitment, we will receive God’s grace to be active witnesses to what God’s help can do in our weaknesses.  May almighty God turn all things to good, may we be willing to forgive, to love and support one another.  May God bless you all through this year of Our Devine Lord 2020.