ASCENSION DAY:

This Thursday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension and accordingly we offer you the extra Masses now that the bishops have returned the celebration from the following Sunday to the day itself.

MISSIO (THE POPE’S OFFICIAL CHARITY FOR THE MISSIONS OVER SEAS):

We owe a great debt of gratitude to Ann Monaghan, who has supervised the red mission boxes for Bishop Eton for the last 25 years. However, she is now resident in Spain and is unable to continue this work. Accordingly, I am appealing to someone to volunteer to take on this role. It maybe that a group of you could share the work. Hayley has all the necessary information to share with those who may be willing to offer their services. You may recall that not long ago we had a visiting preacher congratulating our parishes on their commitment to this work.

 BACK IN HARNESS:

I am happy to report that I received a further encouraging assessment at Aintree Hospital on Monday and have been given the go-ahead to drive again. Accordingly, I am easing myself back into celebrating public Masses and fulfilling my responsibilities as parish priest. At the same time, I promise that I will continue to address the implications of all that has happened and try to plan a more manageable programme over the coming months.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION:

We have made some adjustments to the programme in an attempt to support the Deanery and the Families of Parishes in our area. I will try and ensure that we “walk with” our candidates this year. Accordingly, we will continue to keep a close eye on how the process unfolds and try to ensure the best for everyone.

FR TIM  28.4.24

For many of us, sport plays a significant role in our lives. We support our football, cricket or rugby teams and our interests often expand when there are significant events like the Olympics, or the big golfing and tennis events when we pin our hopes on our fellow country men and women to do well. I have always been fascinated at the way St Paul occasionally uses sport when writing about the spiritual life. Most notably in his first letter to the Corinthians (9.24ff) he compares our spiritual lives to the runners at the stadium and the fighters at the games, all going into “strict training… to win a wreath that will wither away”. And he reminds us that if we are equally as single-minded about our spiritual welfare, we can all win the prize that Jesus has in store for us.  I realise everyone is not sport orientated, but St Paul’s message is clear, and I realise that I, for one, need to take heed once again. It is all very well chasing the 10,000 steps each day, but there is more to our well-being than physical exercise. For example, we all need time to retreat and reflect and indeed for those of us who have committed our lives to the Redemptorists we are expected to make an annual retreat: something I have not found time for recently. Sometimes I have thought that this is a kind of luxury and I wonder how busy mums and dads are expected to nurture their spiritual lives.

St Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, was a wonderfully practical saint from the late Middle Ages (1567–1623) and wrote a powerful reflection reminding everyone that our devotional life depends on our circumstances: “The practice of devotion must differ for the gentleman and the artisan, the servant and the prince, for the widow, the young girl or wife. Further, it must be adapted to their particular strength, circumstances and duties. Is the solitary life of the Carthusian suited to a bishop? Should those who are married practise the poverty of a Capuchin?” So over to you to work out what is best for you. And I will try to work out how to lead a more balanced and fruitful life as well.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: 

While thinking of the power of God’s Spirit in our lives, I can report that we had an excellent meeting with nearly all of this year’s candidates and their parents last Monday evening. Now I am trying to engage the local clergy in a conversation about how best to prepare our young people, so that they truly experience the love and support of their local communities in the celebrating this Sacrament. We will remain in touch.

TURNING EVERYTHING TO GOOD:

I think we all have those favourite passages of Scripture, to which we can turn for hope and consolation and I think you know that one of mine is the eighth chapter of St Paul’s letter to the Romans, where you hear Paul wrestling with the problem of evil; seeing the whole of creation “groaning in one great act of giving birth” and recognising that “we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free”. Yet he goes on to recognise that the Spirit “comes to help us in our weakness” and will express “our plea in a way that could never be put into words”. I find this utterly consoling, namely that, if I can let go, the Spirit is already praying in me and through me. And then Paul crowns it with this telling reminder: “We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those that he has called according to his purpose.” These past couple of weeks have challenged me to think again about the wondrous gift of faith, which does acknowledge that we are in the hands of God, that we are not in control and that it is only when we truly co-operate with God that we allow the Spirit free reign in our lives. I reiterate what I have already shared with you: namely, that my recent health problems surely provide a wonderful opportunity for all of us to take stock and seek to discern how to turn everything to good.

And speaking of the good, I did share on my recorded message that yesterday morning (Thursday) one of the specialists at the Stroke Unit phoned me and began the conversation by assuring me that they only phone when they have ‘good news’! It seems that while there may be some evidence that I did experience a TIA, they cannot be certain, and it is better to err on the side of caution. Accordingly, we will see through this month of treatment and, all things being equal, I may resume driving on the last day of the month. We will also complete the remaining checks next month and have a further discussion at the clinic in due course. So, thank you for all the messages of good will and encouragement: they have been overwhelming, but remind me of how blessed I am to be in the midst of such a loving and caring community.

FR TIM - WARNING SIGNS TAKEN TO HEART:

In recent times there are two refrains that have been repeated to me over and over and over again. The first is a little seductive: “I don’t know how you keep going!” The second is more challenging: “You simply cannot keep going like this!” Both came home to roost on Easter Monday. I think most of you are aware that I do have a somewhat onerous workload. As well as the care of the two parishes, I am a member of our two Redemptorist Provincial Councils with all their commitments to the wider Redemptorist family and the restructuring called for by our General Government. By any standards, the last few months have brought their fair share of challenges and crises, some of which have left me especially anxious and preoccupied, leading to not a little sleep deprivation. Again, most of you know that for well over seven years I have tried faithfully to keep fit, my Fitbit monitoring my exercise and my sleep.

Read more: Fr Tim - Warning Signs taken to heart.

A SHORT REFLECTION:

You will appreciate that I am preparing this message in the middle of Holy Week as we prepare to celebrate the liturgies of the Sacred Triduum: the three days which lead us into Easter. We begin with the Mass of Chrism in the Cathedral this evening (Wednesday). As the Archbishop blesses the oils, we are reminded that Jesus, having promised that he would be with us always, left us the great signs of his presence: the Seven Sacraments. It will be a privilege to use those oils on Saturday evening at the Vigil, when Andrew, Caroline and Zishan will be baptised and Lauren, Thomas, Andrew, Michelle and Petar will join them in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please remember them in your prayers.

Prior to the Easter Vigil, we will have recalled the events of Maundy Thursday by celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and reflecting on the events that followed culminating in Christ’s crucifixion as we gather at 3:00pm on Good Friday for the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord. I always find the time between the end of that ceremony and the Easter Vigil deeply significant. The struggle is over – even perhaps our struggle to get through Lent! Now we can wait in hope as we prepare to rejoice in the Resurrection. You know that I never tire of reminding myself and you that this is the defining mystery of our faith. Without the Resurrection nothing makes sense. I pray that this Easter we will all experience a profound sense of peace, hope and joy. As we enthrone the Paschal (Easter) Candle in our churches, may it inspire us to continue to strive to spread that light amidst the darkness of all that threatens to weigh us down. Accordingly, Fr Andrew and all the Redemptorist Community join me in wishing you and your families:

EVERY BLESSING AND JOY OF EASTER

I approach these few days calm in the knowledge that everything will go smoothly because of the enormous effort that so many of you make to ensure that our churches are resplendent and that the liturgies are celebrated with due reverence. So, thank you to the sacristans, the musicians and singers, those who decorate the churches, the servers and readers and all of you for your constant encouragement and your generosity.  Timothy Buckley, CSsR (Parish Priest)

ALTAR SERVING:

I am conscious that we now have quite a number of altar servers who have not been enrolled in the Guild of St Stephen and we will rectify that in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, if any servers from either parish would like to attend the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral this Wednesday evening, they would be welcome. It would mean collecting your robes and being at the Cathedral in good time to join servers from all over the Archdiocese who will process in front of the clergy. Please let the offices know if you are planning to go.