Category: Fr Rory Writes

“Stripped Bare”

While sitting in the church at St George’s to say my prayers, I could not help but admire this years Advent and     Christmas decorations.  They were really great.  Sincere thanks to those who work so hard to get this done.  This is also so true for St Wilfrid’s.  Then suddenly the churches are stripped bare; and all their work is gone.  As this is a    reality in the life of the church, so it is in life.  We are always in need of renewal, and be a fresh work in progress.

With the help of God we begin a new year in our life of faith.  We join others who continue to develop and grow the work that has begun.  This week we have received a very good report from St George’s and last week from St Wilfrid’s.  The work that is done for the children’s liturgies, and the work in progress in response to the Synod provide a good framework.  As in nature; the seasons of the year, Spring will follow winter, so for us Lent will follow the Christmas  season.  So please God, we will develop and grow.

For many the institution of the church receives most attention, with the death of Pope Benedict there is a focus upon the politics of power, and who will be the next one to replace Pope Francis.  While this is understandable, it is often very far from the life of Christ, and the reality of the cross.  The words of Christ to His disciples is to encourage them to take up their cross every day in order to follow him.  In following him there are key moments; like on the night he was betrayed, he took bread, blessed and broke it and said, “do this in remembrance of me”.

To repeat a little bit from what I said last year, with emphasis on the season of Advent.  The seed has been sown and a focus given to that most special moment of baptism when the new baptism candle is entrusted to the parents and godparents with the words “this light has been entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly, this child of yours will be enlightened by Christ as he grows in faith on his journey of life”.

This seed has been sown for us, and as we sincerely strive to grow as a community of faith, it has been refreshed by the work that is being done as we try to be involved in the synod process.  A greater awareness of ministry in different moments of service, welcomers, readers, ministries of the eucharist, ministry of prayer, and the great openings that are developing from our children’s liturgy.   The ministry of hospitality after mass allows various windows to begin to open.  A parish council can really develop as one of our services to the greater community than just being an instrument of authority.    So to all a Happy Christmas.

Last Sundays Carol Service

Just a very joyful occasion, most appropriate to Gaudete Sunday

Rejoice in the Lord indeed.  I am sure the weather had its effect in reducing the numbers, and by the end of the carol service the snow was falling very, very heavy.  A bit of a spectacle in itself.  In the hall the mulled wine, the very best of fayre and a tombola stall that consisted of  winners and winners.  Really great and a great lady (she won’t like me saying that), Joan, a real treasure.  Needless to say the children stole the show, there is something about carol singing to lift the spirits.  We can continue to build on this.  What a world it would be if there is no Saviour, no salvation.  The light of Christ shines through all our obstacles, and I say thanks be to God for that.

From the prophet Isaiah 40:10 “Here is the Lord coming with power”.

As we celebrate the weeks of Advent; we begin by lighting the first candle “the candle of hope”.  Quickly followed by the “the candle of peace”.  The prophet Isaiah proclaims “Here is the Lord coming with power….”.  Yet when we    gather to celebrate Christmas with the birth of the child Jesus, then the true focus of that power is love.  The Christ child presents us with our greatest model of love.

As he matures from being a baby, He is like a Shepherd feeding His flock, gathering lambs in his arms.  In our lives it highlights the love that is closest to His heart with a challenge, “as long as you do this to be least of my brethren, you do it to me”.  We have to acknowledge with sorrow, that all too often we in the church are not seen to be like this.

The work that continues to take place at the heart of our parish are steps in this direction to become a living community.  As we focus upon the parish council that will work to develop our parish communities for the future, the briefings that are given as we focus upon this with a parish council that works as part of the instrument, is a good work in progress.  Our parish celebrations at this time are essential to creating an environment that allows us to strengthen our faith.  The sacrament of reconciliation, Tue 13th Dec, the parish Christmas Carol Service, the Christmas Eve Nativity Mime and the celebration of our Masses will provide the nourishment that is essential.

Through the ministry of the church, God brings to you His pardon and His peace and I absolve you of all your sins

in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

When I was growing up this was a great focus to our lives and a regular feature, when at least once a month we were all gathered up into the car for our regular journey.  After I was first ordained, I spent hours in the confessional box leading up to Christmas and Easter.  And yes, I experienced great moments of pardon and peace; a truly great gift.

Now services of reconciliation can play a vital part in our lives of faith.  A special great event in your preparation for this Christmas will be offered to you on Tuesday 13th December at 6.30pm, when Fr Barry will lead us in the             sacrament of reconciliation.  He is excellent and we are grateful to have him.  I will be available for confessions on  request at any time, particularly before and after masses.

Back on the road again; we begin a new year in our lives of faith and we look forward to the end of our life’s journey when we will come into our true home in heaven. 

As we make this journey of life to share our faith with others, this is the life of the church.  As we begin each new year with the season of Advent we light the First Advent Candle “The Candle of Hope”.  Hope springs eternal.  When     everything else is taken from us we can always hold on to hope.  The last few years have been a great challenge, preparing the mass intentions for the newsletter, I had to appreciate that it is the 4th Anniversary since Edmund Ginn died.  The number of losses that we have experienced during this time take its toll, so it is important to appreciate the new and positive events that continue to happen.

Thanks be to God, and this year will be no different.  I am always grateful for the help I get (even though I may not be good at expressing it) with God’s help we will have a great opportunity to support one another.  Joan Covey and company have got us off to a great start with events for the oldies, and real progress is being made as we prepare our church for a new generation.  Let us be as positive as we can and “Full of Hope”.

Jesus, Mary & Joseph

Father, Son & Holy Spirit   

As we prepare to celebrate The Great Feast of Christ Our King.  Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God our Father.  I have prayed this prayer ten thousand times and please God, for another ten thousand times.  Indeed until he comes again in Great Glory.  This Sunday will have a very special moment of grace when we celebrate Harvey’s baptism, and as we will continue our journey of faith in the new year some very good work is being done.

One of the suggestions made by parishioners during the SYNOD consultation process earlier this year was that a Parish Council should be introduced in our Parish.  Our Parish Priest, Fr Rory, has agreed that this should now happen.  He says “our desire is to bring Leadership to our parish communities because we have a solid belief that communities are made up of bodies which always consist of many parts working together.  

Key to our future is the realisation that a body is made up of many parts and how well the parts can work together, the eye is not the ear, but each part has its own good purpose.

“Enough Said”

As we draw even closer to the end of the church’s year and with it; The Great Feast of Christ Our King when all our attention is on “His coming again in Great Glory”.  Appropriately our focus this Sunday is on Remembrance Sunday, when we remember all those who shared in His experience of the shame of the Cross of Christ.  In every age so many lose their lives to what must be the mystery of the cross.        

As this year draws quickly to a close, it is time for a quick and timely review.  Two funeral celebrations; one for Margaret and one yet to come for Sue.  In these circumstances they give us a good context to make this review as we celebrated the Feast of all the Saints and Holy Souls.  Life has great difficulties or challenges.  I have to acknowledge that in my life I have been very fortunate, well provided for, and tend to make mountains out of mole hills.  But in my ministry I am very aware that this is not the case for many, and life can have great suffering and loss.  My best response remains “these are the trials through we triumph, by the power of Him who loves us”.  Margaret Piegrome’s funeral service was a very good expression of this.  Remembrance of all her contributions to our lives, her willingness to use all her talents and to embrace every occasion to the best of her ability, enriching her and our lives, was her great achievement.

As we draw so close to the end of our year in faith, it is inevitable that we are going to die.   We should look forward to the glory of God. For me, I settled for meeting my mum, Maura, that I was so privileged to have as my mum, with my dad who provided for eight children, sent some off to boarding school and lived with great pain and affliction, supported by his faith, and as mentioned his special devotions to the Stations of the Cross.

I am sure that they share the glory of heaven.

“Gone before us, marked with the sign of faith”

The time gives way from October the month of the Rosary; to November when we remember the Holy Souls. Each year this has been a source of graces strengthening our faith.  It offers a fresh source from which we can renew and strengthen our faith.  My dad who suffered a great amount of constant pain, had great devotion to the Stations of the Cross.  Always for Lent and Easter, but also through the year, especially during the month of November when devotions allied to indulgencies are great incentives to the admonition “pray constantly and never loose heart”.

The temptation to loose heart at this time is very real.  I have been greatly helped by the endeavours of our two communities to try to renew and build up our parish after the pandemic.  Those who have gone before us still play a real part.  We have two funerals at this time for those who have died, Margaret and Sue have really strengthened and enriched my faith and they have left a tangible legacy.  When caring for them I felt a sense of real tragedy of death  giving way to the bright promise of eternal life.  The gift of life is now real to them and they were well prepared for eternal life, yes we walk through this valley of darkness and at this time it is very real.  With so many persons like Margaret and Sue gone before us, let us lift up our hearts and continue on our journey with great hope.