Stephen Christmas Day I’ve always liked repeats. If they stopped making films and television shows I’d be happy with what has already been made. Perhaps that explains why I turned up for a repeat service. No, it was purely down to freshman ignorance. They teach you a lot in RCIA but not the mechanics of Christmas … Read more
Christmas Eve A Mass with Carols. More Massy than carolly. My wife came with me, which meant the world to me. She was really good about it, even though carols came with all our Catholic stuff. The church was packed, as I’d been told, which was why we arrived early. We sat a few rows … Read more
Ahaz got that awkward question in the gospel today. Invited to test God he had refused. But I couldn’t help thinking he’d given the correct answer. After all, we are not supposed to test God. Then I discovered it was the wrong answer. On this occasion God did want to be tested. Well, I would have been a mess. … Read more
I’d been feeling glum as I got to church. But then the parish secretary approached me and asked for my help. She needed four strong men to carry the Crib from the social center at the back of the church, all the way around the main road to the front door. It was an immediate … Read more
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception Today was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and that lovely gospel passage in which the Blessed Virgin Mary encounters the Angel Gabriel. There were 15 of us in all. Although I thought they’d be only two of us when I arrived, slightly early, to an empty church. These … Read more
Neston I was running late and it was cold in church when I arrived. It was a while before someone was asked to close the door. This was one of those days I found it hard to focus. It wasn’t made easier being in an unfamiliar church. I felt in need of some familiarity while … Read more
The first Sunday of Advent I was distracted during Mass today because I’d won the Christmas quiz. Our Parish secretary had come to find me before Mass, smiling, telling me that I’d won first prize. I was delighted. Even though the laughs and comments from well wishers suggested nobody else had considered entering, or that … Read more
I couldn’t stop thinking that the reader this morning set off too quickly. There was no hint of them slowing down. And frankly, I was struggling to keep up. Am I a King like Christ? Was that it? Or am I a Prophet? Someone who talks of the things of God when things need to … Read more
The 33rd Sunday in ordinary time, or the last “green” mass as Canon P described it. There will be no more green vestments until 18 January, as we make way to Christ the King and then Advent. That means we’re coming up on a year since my first Mass, which I attended as a non-Catholic. … Read more
Remembrance Sunday and the Dedication of the Lataran Basilica There were poppies everywhere in church for Remembrance Day. Each knitted and assembled in wreaths, or hung separately on the end of each pew. Bright blobs of red against the white walls. The Dedication of the Lataran Basilica meant we heard about Jesus turning over tables … Read more