Fr Tim

Weekly messages from Fr Tim.   When Fr Tim is away Fr Maurice's message will be added to this section.

 THE CHILDREN’S FEAST:

Over the years you have heard me speak of Christmas as the children’s feast and as I watched the three nativity pageants of our younger children in school this week I reflected on the wonderful gift we are able to share with them. At the same time I was praying that their precious memories of Christmas as children would not be swamped by other narratives that leave them doubting the presence of God in our world and in their lives. 

On my recorded message this week again I share a little of my own recent experience. I have now completed my reading of Fr Teilhard de Chardin’s The Human Phenomenon.

His vision has long captivated me and I thank God that he has offered me a way of coping with all the scientific advances without losing my faith in the bewildering mystery that God so loved the world that he sent his only SON. Fascinatingly, those who read his original thesis had challenged him that he had not dealt with the problem of evil. He admits that he does not have all the answers, but offers, in my opinion, more than a satisfactory way forward as he shows how Christianity has transformed so many people’s lives. I had another perfect illustration of that in my own prayer life during this past week. I can only beg all of you to search for those moments when you have experienced the Lord touching your lives and suggest you encourage your children to do the same, beginning with their experiences of Christmas.

adorationEXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT:

Saint Alphonsus had many important devotions that shaped his spiritual life and he will always be associated with his profound reverence for the Blessed Sacrament and the gift of the Eucharist. Our beautiful monstrance had been badly damaged, but we have had it repaired and I propose that in our preparations for Christmas we have a period of Exposition prior to the midday Mass during the final full week prior to Christmas.

This will take place from Tuesday 16th until Saturday 20th from 11.30am until the Mass. There will also be a confessor available during that time.l.

 FATHERS SABINUS, CSSR AND FR GÉRALD SMM

Fathers Sabinus, CSsR and Fr Gérald SMM have been with us for the past three months but are due to return to Rome later this week where they will continue their studies at the Gregorian University. It has been a joy to have them in the community and we will miss their gracious presence and their help around the house. We wish them well, confident that they will have fruitful ministries in the service of the Lord in Nigeria and Madagascar respectively. Please note that, if needed, they have kindly agreed to be available as extra confessors for our Reconciliation Services on Monday.

our lady of the rosaryTHE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION:

On Monday we are celebrating this great Feast and it is in fact the patronal feast of the Redemptorists. In 1732 when he founded the Congregation Saint Alphonsus firmly believed in this mystery and wanted us to focus on it as the ultimate illustration of what Christ’s redeeming presence could achieve.

It is worth noting that the mystery was not formally defined until 1854 and, of course, it was four years later in Lourdes that Mary defined herself to Saint Bernadette under this title. I suggest that in this Jubilee Year of HOPE we deepen our faith in Christ’s redeeming presence in our lives. He is among us to heal the hurt and forgive us our sins and so I think it is fitting that we should have our RECONCILATION SERVICES on this day.

As usual they will be at 11.00AM AND 7.00PM, following the simple but well-tried format of some quiet reflection on the word of God, followed by the opportunity to ask forgiveness for our sins, allowing you to use whatever formula you find most helpful. For those who wish to spend more time with a priest, we will have Fr Henesy in the confessional and Fr Andrew and I will also be available after those who simply wish to receive absolution have come forward.

 RE-OPENING THE CHURCH:

I want to congratulate everyone associated with the remarkable work that has been undertaken over the past three months to repair our precious stained-glass window and the stonework at the back of the church. They have completed the job on time as planned and the church will be re-opened for prayer all day as from this Monday. A special word of thanks and congratulations to John Byrne, who has masterminded the project from start to finish.

 CULTIVATING A SENSE OF WONDER:

I suggest that one way of dealing with what I have written above is to concentrate on cultivating a sense of wonder surrounding the whole mystery life. In 1982 a remarkable hour-long documentary was produced. With some remarkable camera work it traced the birth of a child from the moment of conception. It was a stunning piece of work and made a great impression on me at the time. I recall the commentary acknowledging that while we know what happens, at times we can only stand back and observe in awe how it happens. Indeed, the documentary was entitled: The Miracle of Life.

As with almost anything, if you wish to view it you need only go online and it will immediately appear. As our children prepare for Christmas this year with their Nativity Pageants and Carol Services, I suggest that we try to help them cultivate this sense of wonder, not only around what a miracle each one of us happen to be, but also about the miracle of a God who actually chose to become a little child, so that we could get to know him. HAVE A GOOD ADVENT.

adventADVENT – A BALANCING ACT:

As we enter the Advent season, I feel once more that I am engaged in a balancing act, trying to find time quietly to prepare for the Feast, while being invited to celebrate it over and over again, so that by the time we reach the day itself, the celebration becomes almost an anticlimax. For those of you who listen to Classic FM you have a perfect illustration of what I mean. The presenters began playing Christmas carols this week and will continue to do so until the 25 December and that will be it. There may be a carol or two on Boxing Day, but, if my memory serves me correctly the 12 Days of Christmas until the Feast of the Epiphany will not be on their radar.

PRAYERS PLEASE

PLEASE PRAY for the repose of the soul of Sara Ecclestone, who died in the early hours of Thursday morning. She was a great servant of the parish and of our Redemptorist community. Our condolences to all the family

 WORKING TOGETHER:

Last Saturday’s meeting at Widnes was a delightful experience. It was a positive reminder of how much goodwill there is as we try to live the synodal experience, appreciating one another’s gifts and seeking to walk and work together with the Lord. The homily of Pope Leo which was used as a prayer to set the scene reminded us that the Church must be humble, open to all and not imagining that we have all the answers. Most of the Deanery parishes were represented and that gives me a chance to congratulate Fr Colin and the parishioners of Christ the King as they celebrate their centenary.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE:

I think it is worth reminding ourselves of the origin and history of today’s Feast. In 1925, to counter growing secularism and nationalism, Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast, and it was originally celebrated on the last Sunday of October. Pope Paul VI, in 1969, decided to give it greater prominence by having it bring the liturgical year to an end. Well, if secularism and nationalism were concerns one hundred years ago, they certainly are today. You know how fascinated I am by the life and writings of Fr Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and I have finally decided that I must read his defining work, The Human Phenomenon. I don’t pretend to understand all the scientific terminology, but I am totally absorbed by the wonderful way in which he explores the origins of our planet and of life itself. I know he is working his way towards a vision of the culmination of everything, The Omega Point. His faith in Jesus of Nazareth was unshaken and his death on Easter Sunday 1955 provides me with the perfect connection, for he did see Christ as the focus which gives meaning to everything. In his book, The Hymn of the Universe, the first chapter is the remarkable poem, The Mass on the World. It provides us with the most wonderful meditation on how we should approach the Eucharist. All our efforts, all our suffering are caught up in Christ, who, in turn, through his cross and resurrection, transforms us and assimilates us to himself. HAPPY FEAST DAY.

 COMINGS AND GOINGS:

Once again, Fr Andrew and I will be in London for Provincial Council meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please pray for us. I must admit that I am beginning to feel my age when it comes to all these meetings and the expectations that go with them. Dare I say: there seem to be so many intractable problems, to which there is no obvious solution, and they seem to keep recurring. On these occasions,

I can only go back to Mother Julian of Norwich and remind myself of her wonderful adage: “All will be well, and all manner of thing will be well.” Have a good week!