STANDING IN AWE:

It seems to me that there is only one focus that encapsulates the experience and the mood of everyone this week and that is the wonder of the almost total eclipse of the sun which took place on Wednesday evening. Fr Joe Musendami took some wonderful photographs and videos on his phone, which are even more dramatic because of the partial cloud cover we had here in Liverpool. I must say I was moved by the remarkable media coverage and the excitement and wonder expressed by all those who were interviewed. Sometimes the last gift of the Holy Spirit is referred to as the “fear of the Lord”, but “wonder and awe” express much more accurately the nature of the gift and it seems to me that this week’s event provided a much-needed reminder of the enormity and mystery of the universe and the remarkable giftedness of human beings. Yet while in every generation we learn more and more about ourselves and the world in which we live as well as the entire universe, we also realise that there is so much that we do not know and cannot explain. I am amazed that astrologers can predict to the last second where and when eclipses will take place as well as look back and tell us when they have taken place in the past. Indeed, we even have a dramatic reference to an eclipse in the Scriptures and Archbishop Patrick Kelly, whom Fr Joseph, Bishop Ralph and I visited the day afterwards pointed us to Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 24, verse 29. It speaks to us of the Second Coming of the Lord and Fr Nicholas King, translating from the Greek, puts it this way: “The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” When we look at a moon and starlight night again, may we renew our sense of awe and wonder and beg the Lord to help us and the whole of humanity to look after one another and his amazing creation a little better than we seem to be doing at the moment.

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION:

The great feast of Our Blessed Lady being assumed into heaven is transferred to the Sunday this year, making it easier for us all to give thanks again to the Lord for the gift of Mary as Mother of the Church, who has achieved what is promised to all of us. At the cemetery or the crematorium I sometimes comment on the mystery of how and when we will enjoy the fulness of the resurrection. Some of the prayers speak of our bodies being restored on the last day and others speak of us going straight to the Lord. Purgatory is a place and concept we don’t often speak about these days and, of course, the papal blessing carries with it a plenary indulgence, which frees us “from any punishment due to sin”. I am happy to leave it with the Lord, reminding everyone that while we live in time and space, for God everything is in the present!

 FOOTBALL:

When we had our Leavers’ Masses, England had just beaten Mexico in that titanic struggle and the story of ‘Freddie Freckles and the football match’ seemed an apt focus for my reflection. The moral of the story was the importance of honesty and truth: a lesson Freddie learnt when in his desperation to win, he finally admitted that he had lied, claiming the opposition’s shot had not gone in. When his conscience got the better of him and peace was restored among his friends he realised that fake news is not a good idea. Moving on to last Wednesday night, I can only suggest that the old adage came to mind: “attack is the best form of defence”.

For those of us who were alive in 1966, we cling to our treasured memory.

FR CASEY’S MEMORIAL PLANTS:

The response to provide the boxes in our garden with another dazzling flower display has been brilliantly fulfilled. A huge vote of thanks to Joan R and Sister Margaret McP for preparing the way and Kathy B, Christine R and Jo H for bringing it to fulfilment.

 THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR:

Bishop Eton School finished on Friday and now all our children and young people are on holiday. Hopefully, everyone will be able to enjoy a good summer break. As always we thank the teachers and governors of our schools for their commitment, ensuring that our pupils not only receive an excellent education in all the various disciplines, but also in an environment, imbued with Gospel values. May they too enjoy a time to relax and recharge their batteries.

 WELCOME TO BISHOP RALPH HESKETT, CSsR:

As you know, Bishop Ralph celebrated his Golden Jubilee of Priesthood on July 10^th, and the celebrations in Sheffield Cathedral and his own parish of St Benet’s, Sunderland, were wonderfully joyful occasions, in which I was privileged to take part. Now retired from the onerous responsibility as Diocesan Bishop of Hallam we hope that he will be able to enjoy some well-deserved rest and recover his health and strength both here in Bishop Eton and in due course in his beloved Gibraltar!

 THE SPECIAL FEAST DAY OF THE REDEMPTORISTS:

Today, the third Sunday of July, we keep the titular Feast of our Congregation. I am delighted to welcome back Father Joseph Musendami who spent a few weeks with us last summer and has joined us again for the coming six weeks. He has graciously agreed to preach at all the Masses. Having been part of the remarkable development of our Region in Zimbabwe in recent years and now working towards the completion of his doctorate at the Alphonsian Academy (our university in Rome which specialises in moral theology), he has a real insight into the international dimension of the Redemptorists and the Universal Church. You will recall that he is a gifted preacher and we look forward to his sharing with us again this year.

 FEAST OF ST ALPHONSUS

PLEASE NOTE: ST ALPHONSUS FEAST NEXT SATURDAY 

 ANNIVERSARIES:

In recent times we have been thanking God for the blessings that are recalled when we celebrate significant anniversaries. Bishop Ralph’s Golden Jubilee of Ordination is the most recent but in April we gave thanks for St Gerard Majella as it marked the 300^th anniversary of his birth. As I look into the future there are a couple of very significant anniversaries that are already being planned. On the 9 November 2032 we will celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica and the 300^th anniversary of Alphonsus founding the Redemptorist Congregation. And the following year the whole Church is preparing to celebrate the 2,000^th anniversary of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. When you get to a certain age – l had my 56^th anniversary of Ordination last Tuesday – you begin to wonder whether you will be around for these occasions in the coming years, and that is not being morbid, just realistic. We are living in this rapidly changing world and, as you know, I am trying to work with you as we look into the immediate future and strive to lay plans which will ensure that our community of faith continues to grow and flourish.

Imaginative ideas are being discussed about how we can re-establish a Parish Council, which will be able to embrace all aspects of parish life. The hope is that we can find a structure which is less formal and more fluid, enabling a regular exchange of ideas and insights and therefore be as effective as possible. Watch this space and, in the meantime, have a really good holiday.

I have a few commitments with weddings and funerals in the coming weeks but hope to get away for a couple of breaks before the autumn brings not just the start of a new academic year, but an official visit from the Redemptorist General Council during the last two weeks of September.

 PLANNING AHEAD:

With Hayley and the family about to go on holiday, this will be my last input for the next three weeks; the subsequent bulletins will have been prepared and printed in advance. Therefore, any breaking news during that time will need to be brought by you to our attention and announced at the Sunday Masses.