Stephen Sunday 7 September 2025 Our Lady Immaculate A slight change to Mass this week for the anniversary of the consecration of Our Lady Immaculate church in Whitstable back in 1908. Actually it had been a few days earlier, on Wednesday. But it was moved to Sunday “so we could have more people here.” As part … Read more
Sunday 31 August 2025 Our Lady Immaculate First mass back after a week in France. I thought a lot about that trip as Canon P gave his homily. Not about all the cakes, the treats, the indulgences, or the blissful countryside. But how lucky we’d been. Not just to visit places like Provence, or the … Read more
Sunday 24 August 2025 Notre Dames des Anges, Isle sur la sorgue The church of Notre Dames des Anges sits in the middle of the town square of Isle sur la Sorgue. Getting in requires a fight. The fight is not because of the Mass, but the busy Sunday market, which fills every street and … Read more
Sunday 17 August 2025 Our Lady Immaculate Today’s homily was one of those which made me wonder if I understood anything. One of those Gospel passages that contradicts everything I thought I knew. It came from Luke 12: 49-53. On the surface this was Jesus announcing his plans to mess things up. To divide families, … Read more
Friday 15 August 2025 Our Lady Immaculate There’s a different feeling to church in the evening. For Sunday morning Mass the day feels fresh. And while I might not be as fresh, surpressing a few yawns, the day feels new and bright. In the evening, like today, when it’s warmer and the working day is … Read more
Sunday 10 August 2025 Our Lady Immaculate There was news from the roof at the end of Mass today. The repairs were now half finished, but a few nights ago there had been a robbery. Typical for trendy Whitstable the crime had a distinctive retro theme, with the lead piping being taken, to the surprise … Read more
Sunday 3 August 2025 St Thomas’s, Canterbury I like to think that the Anglican bells of Canterbury Cathedral apply even to Catholics on a Sunday morning. Including me, walking past the gatehouse and along Burgate, to St Thomas’s Church. This was my first Mass in Canterbury since I was received into the faith. At Easter … Read more
Sunday 27 July 2025 Our Lady Immaculate Something had happened to the pews this morning. I took my usual spot, with the restricted view, and knelt to pray, only to notice I was almost jammed into the space between the seat and the kneeler. I’m no stranger to backache while kneeling, but this was a … Read more
Sunday 20 July 2025 Basilica della Santissma Annunziata, Florence This was my first foreign Mass, so I arrived early. A city center service in the middle of Florence. Very different to what I’m used to back home. There was no air in the church, which brought on a sweat. I also didn’t see any signs … Read more
Sunday 13 July 2025 Our Lady Immaculate It was Sea Sunday today. There will be the Blessing of the Waters on Thursday, a town tradition dating back over one hundred years. It’s partly timed to coincide with the Feast of Saint James, and partly to suit a convenient tide. If you were to nail down what makes … Read more