Sunday 6 July 2025 Our Lady Immaculate The reading today was from Luke 10. We hear of the disciples, sent off in pairs to spread the gospel, heading in all directions. Not only that but they were told to take no money, no bag, not even extra sandals. They would just set off and see … Read more
Sunday 29 June 2025 Our Lady Immaculate My Universalis routine has changed lately. Rather than listening to the podcast in the car, I listen while tending vegetables in the garden. I’ve deliberately made that sound more idyllic than it is. It would be more accurate to say I stare at the tomatoes wondering exactly what … Read more
Sunday 22 June 2025 Our Lady Immaculate The 6am thunderstorm did little to ease the muggy weather. Canon P was standing outside the church when I arrived, waiting for the temperature inside to drop. I sympathised, but my usual spot beneath the spinning fan, albeit with limited visibility, was pleasant, peaceful and cool. Midway through … Read more
Sunday 15 June 2025Our Lady Immaculate A gloriously bright sunny morning. It was warm in church. Then cold. With the doors left open and the overhead fans spinning, the breeze was pleasant at first, then chilly. Some people, who had been sitting in t-shirts, put their coats back on. I came away wondering if I … Read more
Thursday 12 June 2025 St Thomas’s Church. Canterbury I got up early, threw on some clothes, got into the car, and drove to Canterbury for the early service. It was a beautiful morning. It was sunny enough for sunglasses and warm enough to skip the jacket. The city was quiet. There were a few people … Read more
Tuesday 10 June 2025 Our Lady Immaculate Canon P began the Allelulia and made his way to the lectern. “The first reading is from the book of Kings…. No it isn’t. Wrong year.” There was a pause as he flipped through pages, moved ribbons about, and finally settled on a page. “It’s from Matthew chapter 5… Does … Read more
Sunday 8 June 2025 Our Lady Immaculate Archbishop John was in Canterbury this morning for Mass. I thought about going but opted instead for the usual 8.30am service at home. It was cold and breezy, but bright as I entered church. It seemed a little busier than normal, and I nodded at the people I … Read more
Tuesday 3 June 2025 St Thomas’s This was a special mass, in several ways. Firstly it marked the end of our RCIA meetings. We’re all Catholics now. All released into the world to live by example. Secondly, it was a small gathering of those of us who completed the course. And thirdly was the approach … Read more
Sunday 1 June 2025 Our Lady Immaculate I’ve been trying to understand the Gospel reading all day. I read it. I listened to it. Then I listened to an explanation of it. And I still failed. So thinking more about Communications Day – awareness of church efforts to spread the word, and for which there … Read more
Thursday 29 May 2025 Our Lady Immaculate Carnage at the start of The Day of Ascension service. Nobody knew the tune to Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour. With no organist to lead the way, Canon P had, by his own admission, started the first verse “too high”. We did our best as a congregation to keep … Read more