COPING WITH TIMES OF TRANSITION:

You may recall that recently I drew attention to the new emphasis in football on those phases of the game which are described as transition: the speed with which a team is able to turn defence into attack. As we approach the end of the school year, I have been reflecting that in our lives we are constantly having to learn to cope with transition. Our children and young people have to learn to move on and it can be very challenging, especially when the transition involves moving to a new school or finishing school altogether. Parents and guardians are called upon to be sensitive in handling all this, at times offering their loving support but at other times having to insist that their children cope with the stresses and strains of having to stand on their own two feet. I suggest the same is true for us all through life. We have been reflecting a lot on the speed with which the technological revolution is affecting our lives and, accordingly, the constant need to adapt and support one another. We do not need to revisit again all the challenges facing society and the Church at this particular time, but it is good to reflect that in the midst of it all we need the sensitive support of one another as we seek to cope, and I think this brings us back to the vision of a synodal way that the teaching Church is calling us to embrace. The coming months are going to provide us with plenty of opportunities to respond in this way as the structural changes in our deanery take effect.

Having said all that, it remains important that in spite of all the grand plans, we also learn to live day by day and keep everything in perspective. And, if I may return to the football world, we see that perfectly illustrated by the outpouring of grief and sadness at the news of the deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother on Thursday. Immediately all the importance and rivalries that surround our love of sport pale into insignificance in the face of such a tragic event.

ARCHBISHOP JOHN RECEIVES THE PALLIUM:

This Sunday Archbishop John Sherrington will receive from Pope Leo XIV the pallium. What could be more fitting than this on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, for this is an ancient tradition, dating back to the 6^th century and becoming a requirement for Archbishops in the 9^th century. It is a special vestment – a band of wool worn over the shoulders – a reminder that Christ used the image of the shepherd caring for his flock to explain his redeeming mission to the world. St Peter and the Apostles were entrusted with spreading the mission to the ends of the earth and originally the pallium was reserved for the Pope, but this was extended to Archbishops and Metropolitans, who have oversight not just of their own diocese but of a whole province. I think for us it is a timely reminder that we are all called to be united in Christ’s mission – links in a chain to the reach the ends of the earth. Sometimes we struggle to work out where we fit in: perhaps Saint John Henry Newman’s prayer (which I used as one of my Ordination Cards) will help:

God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good. I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him; whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may service Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SYNOD, LET’S KEEP GOING TOGETHER ON THE PILGRIMAGE OF LIFE IN THIS JUBILEE YEAR OF AND IN HOPE.

CONFIRMATION:

This is a final call to anyone wishing to register for the Sacrament of Confirmation. In response to the fact that some failed successfully to register for this year’s programme, I am offering an opportunity for anyone in Year 8 or above who wishes to be confirmed this year to contact the parish offices before the end of the day this coming Monday, 23 June, and I will arrange to meet you before the summer holidays and work out a simple timetable in the hope that we can arrange a Confirmation Service in the autumn.

JUGGLING WITH A SUCCESSION OF FEASTS.

OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR: Last weekend I reminded you of the upcoming feasts, but I had not adverted to the fact that the Feast of our Mother of Perpetual Succour clashes this year with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Therefore, we will transfer the celebration of our treasured icon, until the following day, Saturday. There will also be a Mass at St Mary’s for the Feast of the Sacred Heart on the Friday evening. So, please note the additional timetable of Masses:

FRIDAY 27^th: Sacred Heart: Masses: Bishop Eton: Noon; St Mary’s: 7.00pm

SATURDAY 28^th: Our Mother of Perpetual Succour: Bishop Eton: Noon

To honour our Mother of Perpetual Succour this week, you may also wish to join us for the regular Novena Devotions at Bishop Eton on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm. We are indebted to John E for faithfully guiding us through the prayers each week.

CONFIRMATION:

Since my message in last week’s bulletin I have discovered there have also been problems with people failing to get their applications registered, so once again I am asking that anyone who wishes to be confirmed contact the parish offices so that we can assess the situation and respond accordingly. I would ask that you do this by Monday 23 June, at the latest.

THE SACRAMENTS OF HOLY COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION:

Of course, the Feast of Corpus Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ) is a reminder of how precious the celebrations of First Holy Communion are with our children. The last 36 of the 144 children for this year will receive their First Holy Communion at Masses on Saturday and Sunday in St Mary’s this weekend. Please continue to pray for all the children and their families. I have made a big effort this year to stress the links between all the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, the Eucharist and Confirmation and the part that the Holy Spirit plays in all of them.

A SUCCESSION OF FEAST DAYS

HOLY TRINITY:

This weekend we celebrate the Mystery of our Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The reading from Proverbs paints a beautiful picture, even of a playful God. The one described as present from the very beginning is always understood to be God the Son and the Jerusalem translation puts it this way: “I was by his side, a master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere in his world, delighting to be with the sons of men.” (You will note that, sadly, the new translation simply repeats the words ‘rejoicing’ and ‘delighting’!)

Oh, that we could feel confident enough to have a playful relationship with God.

CORPUS CHRISTI AND SAINTS PETER AND PAUL:

Next Sunday we have the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, transferred from the previous Thursday, and the Sunday after that happens to be Saints Peter and Paul (29 June), so we do not get back into Ordinary Time on the Sundays until July. We have much to celebrate in all these feasts.

END OF LIFE BILL:

With this controversial bill to be discussed again in the coming days, Archbishop John Sherrington is encouraging us to do all we can to express our concern to our Members of Parliament about the possible dangerous consequences for society as a whole but also for the Catholic community. For example, I gather there is concern that some of our Catholic nursing homes may consider that their ministry could be hopelessly compromised.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION:

My thoughts above lead me to reflect with you again about the Sacrament of Confirmation. I remain concerned that so few of those who receive Holy Communion in Year 4, fail to come forward for Confirmation in Year 8 or above. Somehow, in spite of the best efforts of so many, the programme of preparation seems to have run into trouble again this year with the date being offered proving unsuitable for at least one or two of the few candidates we have. The fact that this situation has been referred back to me by the Diocese seems to suggest that I am expected to find a solution. Accordingly, once again I am taking the bit between the teeth and inviting anyone of any age from Year 8 upwards in both our parishes who wants to be confirmed and for whom the present arrangements are not satisfactory, to come and see me and we will work out a simple programme of preparation and find a date in the autumn convenient for you and one of the Bishops. I will do some consulting in the next few days and give you a date and a time when we can have a short meeting before the end of term.

PENTECOST:

WE REJOICE in the Gift of the Holy Spirit as we celebrate Pentecost this weekend. I REJOICE that I have lived to realise that the Holy Spirit is not an added extra whom we receive at Confirmation, but the one who makes everything happen. When I was confirmed at the age of about 12, I was under the impression that this completed the set: Jesus had come to me in Holy Communion and now the Holy Spirit was coming as well. I had little or no awareness that it was the Holy Spirit who had made it possible for Jesus and his Father to come and make their home with me, firstly at my Baptism and then when I received my Communion; little or no awareness that it was because the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary that Jesus was born into our world and that now it is the Holy Spirit who makes Christ present in all the Sacraments, so that the LORD can unite us with His Father in Heaven; little or no awareness that Jesus and the Father are One and that we are called to be one with them.

Perhaps this will help you to understand why I keep returning to this theme and stressing that it is the Holy Spirit who make things happen for us. Just reflect on how we prayed that the Cardinals would be INSPIRED by the Holy Spirit to elect the Pope God wants for us at this time. And, of course, those of you attending the First Communion Masses in both parishes are aware of how I repeatedly stress that it is the presence of the Holy Spirit overshadowing the assembly and the gifts of bread and wine who makes it possible for Christ to feed us with his very self.