THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS:
I am preparing my notes in good time this week since I will be in Sheffield for Bishop Ralph’s celebration on Friday and joining him over the weekend as he returns to his home parish of St Benet’s in Sunderland to mark the occasion of his First Mass. It is a long time since I visited Sunderland and I look forward to reviving the many happy memories of my two spells there, firstly as Vocations’ Director and Missioner and later as Rector and Parish Priest. As with every part of Britain and many other parts of the world much has changed from those seemingly halcyon days. I say ‘seemingly’ because it is easy to forget they brought their challenges and struggles and understandably and rightly we prefer to remember the good times and the blessings. And, of course, I have made no secret of my faithful support of the now City’s football team from the time I was a little boy in Clapham. So I return to a people rejoicing in the team’s outstanding first season back in the Premiership. And while we are on the subject of football, what a sensational match that was in the early hours of Monday morning in Mexico. It brought to mind of one of my earliest Freddie Freckles’ stories: Freddie and the Football Match, which duly became the illustration for the two School Leavers’ Masses this past week. Do remember to ask God’s blessing on our children and all the young people about to move on to new schools and colleges to further their education. We well know that these are not the easiest times for them as opportunities and choices appear to be narrowing in spite of – or perhaps because of – the advances in science and technology.
On my journeys to and from London on Wednesday for my friend Gavin’s funeral I completed my reading of Magnifica Humanitas, the Encyclical by Pope Leo. It really is the most remarkable document: a commentary on the challenges which beset the world but offering a practical Christian vision of how we can respond. I do urge you to read it and I am sure, like so many who are not of our faith, you will find it a stimulating and heartening document.
