Latest News

Deacon John Writes:

The Scripture readings for this Sunday have one common, encouraging theme: No matter what happens in our lives, the risen Jesus is always with us. God is always near to those who seek Him and who want to live in His presence, doing His will. 

Dr. J. Wallace Hamilton, in his book Horns and Halos in Human Nature, tells of one of the weirdest auctions in history. It was held in the city of Washington, D.C. It was an auction of designs, actually patent models of old inventions that did not make it in the world at large. These 150,000 old inventions were declared obsolete and put up for auction. Prospective buyers and on-lookers chuckled as item after item was put up for bid, such as a bed-bug buster or an illuminated cat that was designed to scare away mice. Then there was a device to prevent snoring. It consisted of a trumpet that reached from the mouth to the ear and was designed to awaken the snorer and not the neighbours. One person designed a tube to reach from his mouth to his feet so that his breath would keep his feet warm as he slept. There was an adjustable pulpit which could be raised or lowered. You could hit a button and make the pulpit descend or ascend to illustrate a point dramatically. Obviously, at one time somebody had high hopes for each of those designs which did not make it. Some died in poverty, having spent all of their money trying to sell their dream. They represented a mountain of disappointments. One hundred fifty thousand broken dreams! Is there anything sadder? Today’s Gospel describes the shattered dreams of two of Jesus’ disciples at the tragic and unexpected death of their Master whom they trusted as their promised Messiah. 

As Jesus met them on the road to Emmaus so he meets us on our Emmaus Road, both in the ordinary experiences of our lives, and in the places to which we retreat when life is too much for us.  We, too, have hopes and dreams about better health, healing, financial security and better family relationships.  These often shatter.  The story promises us, however, that Jesus will come to us in unfamiliar ways to support and strengthen us when we least expect the risen Lord.  Emmaus moments come to us when we meet the risen Christ on our life’s journey through rough times like the present lockdown due to the virus.

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……….

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Phyllis Diller, the American actress, said: Cleaning your house while the kids are still growing, is like shovelling the walk before it stops snowing.

Deacon John Writes:

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday and the readings for this Sunday are about God’s Divine Mercy given to us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, our need for trusting faith, and our need for the forgiveness of our sins. The opening prayer for today’s Mass addresses the Father as “God of everlasting Mercy.” 

There is a short story in Reader’s Digest told by Jim Williams of Montana, who wrote: “I was driving too fast late one night when I saw the flashing lights of a police car in my rear-view mirror. As I pulled over and rolled down my window of my station wagon, I tried to dream up an excuse for my haste. But when the patrolman reached the car, he said nothing. Instead, he merely shined his flashlight in my face, then on my seven-month-old in his car seat, then on our three other children, who were asleep, and lastly on the two dogs in the very back of the car. Returning the beam of light to my face, he then uttered the only words of the encounter. ‘Son,’ he said, ‘you can’t afford a ticket. Slow down.’ And with that, he returned to his car and drove away.” Sometimes mercy triumphs over law. So it is for sinners who call out to Jesus.” 

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.

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Charlie Chaplin, an English comic actor, helped to write a song called “Smile”.
Among the lines are these: You’ll find that life is still worthwhile if you just smile.

Churches Together in Cornwall have asked that all Christians join together in praying the Lord’s Prayer at 11.00 am each Sunday throughout the crisis.  I think it is a lovely thing to do, and somehow enhances and deepens the clapping for the NHS every Thursday.  Please do join the prayer chain if you can.

Thank you:  to everyone who is continuing to contribute to the church, this is very much appreciated at this difficult time.  All monies received will be banked when we are able to resume life.

EASTER GREETINGS TO YOU ALL.

The Triduum- three of the most Holy days- Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Holy Thursday is a glorious Feast Day on which we celebrate the Eucharist, express our gratitude for our ministries and is the day for foot washing. Of course foot washing is only the start. There are other similar examples in the scriptures: how Jesus cried on hearing of the death of his friend Lazarus, how he blessed children when tired, how he witnessed forgiveness in everyday life. in the Gospel for today Jesus said “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should do also.” Let us remember this as we manage our lives in this present time of our struggle with our daily lives and try to become a living Eucharist so as to be like him, making our lives a gift, grace and blessing.

Why do we call Good Friday Good, after all it is the day Jesus was treated as a criminal and tortured and crucified. It has been called Good Friday for centuries. Possibly it was originally called God’s Friday implying that it was a very sacred day. It may have been given the name Good as the crucifixion led to the resurrection and salvation of the world. A Scripture professor said “When we look at Jesus hanging on the cross we should say not only ‘Look how much he suffered’, but, more importantly, ‘Look how much he loved.’” We should surely be asking ourselves every day, not just on Good Friday, how we can make this day good through my Christ-like love for others?

On Holy Saturday we hear that those who followed Jesus became fearful after the loss of their friend and teacher through the crucifixion. Much of that fear is surrounding us today as we think about the virus that is in our world at present. It is a negative influence on our lives as we forget that we have the risen Christ to help us endure whatever comes our way. He is “hiding in plain sight”, waiting for us to look for him. He is always there. We have only to turn our heads to find him standing next to us, bringing peace to all who seek him. The next day, Easter Sunday, we know that Jesus is risen and he has conquered sin and death for ever. So my message for Easter is that whatever trial may be afflicting you, be assured Jesus is risen! It is not fake news, it is the real news, and it is Good News!

May God give you gladness by his blessing. May he make you heirs to an eternal inheritance. May the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit come down on you all and remain with you for ever.

Fr Rory and Deacon John

Deacon John Writes:                                                                                 

Well, Easter has arrived. We should remember that Easter is not a one day wonder! Easter is a whole season and we are an Easter people! Alleluia. Alleluia. In these disturbing times we may well have some extra time on our hands but they need not be idle hands. We may feel the weight of the world upon us but we have Scripture to help us and there are a variety of resources on offer through radio, television and the internet. This last week, for instance, Tessa and I enjoyed watching Joseph and his Technicolour Dream Coat on the internet. This was put on as a special due to the virus and there are many other ‘specials’ there for us. I know there are daily masses on the internet from Sacred Heart Church, Hove and from St. Mary of the Angels in Worthing. Various radio stations carry Sunday Mass from Ireland. We can all remember that, no matter what the trials of this virus bring to us, Jesus secured victory for us and we must live our lives with Easter joy in our hearts and deepen our relationship with God and with one another. Alleluia! Happy Eastertide to you all.