Stephen 
I was distracted during Mass by work, football, sorting myself out, being better, getting things done and stopping my mind from operating at 100mph. I stumbled on prayers. I even fluffed the Apostles’ Creed, which I consider an easy one. Overall, I had a feeling of needing to try harder. The gospel was one of … Read more
It had seemed like a long time since I last went to Mass. With four church trips in a row the week before, this regular Sunday morning mass seemed like I’d missed something somehow. As Mass ended, Canon P announced there was a collection of old statues, books, and religious items available for free to … Read more
Today marked my first full year as a Catholic. Sort of. If you count Easter to Easter. It was one Easter ago that I walked out of Mass to a lovely “Congratulations!” from Canon P, and walked home chuffed. It was the culmination of several months of RCIA and a lot of contemplation. How things … Read more
The best part of Holy Saturday is those glorious moments when the church, smelling of incense and with the weather battering the windows, is in darkness except for candlelight. I can’t help thinking how wonderful it would be for the entire service to be done this way. Only the glow of the candles, the light … Read more
Friday 3 April 2026 After I year I have the routines down quite well. I know where I’m supposed to sit, stand, and kneel. Then comes Good Friday. Suddenly, I’m back to watching everyone else and doing what they do on a slight 1-2 second lag. It started early. A friend from SVP asked if … Read more
Maundy Thursday 2 April 2026 The church was full of incense and smoke, like having smudged glasses. The smell was lovely. M arrived a few minutes later with her husband C, and took a seat behind me. C “ooohed” with perfect comic timing when M explained I was from Chester. Which is posh to those … Read more
Sunday 29 March 2026 I was late to my seat for Mass. Jan in the row in front turned to look at me with a smile. “You’re late”, she grinned. We’ve both become accustomed to arriving at church at the same moment. I said it was nice to be missed. I had a good reason. … Read more
Friday 27 March 2026 I arrived at the early Mass grumbling about a splinter. Not the one in my neighbour’s eye, but the one in my hand. One of seven I’d inflicted on myself while throwing logs on the fire. I’d pulled out six. The seventh, sore and starting to glow red, was staying put. … Read more
Wednesday 25 March 2026 I haven’t missed Mass this past year. And even though the Feast of the Annunciation is not a Holy Day of Obligation, I wasn’t going to start now. Except as I started walking to church, I felt like I wanted to head back to the sofa I’d just left. I had … Read more
Sunday 22 March 2026 We were halfway through the Nicene Creed when it occurred to me I still didn’t know the Creed by heart. A few weeks ago, I tried to say it without holding the Mass book in front of me, but tripped up a few times, and my voice jarred incorrectly against the … Read more