Sevenoaks, St John the Baptist

Follow this blog!

2011-02-18T07:14:00.000Z

Statement and final post

2011-02-13T11:15:00.007Z

Christ is the human face of God; the fullness of Revelation. He lives in his church and operates through the baptised who are his hands, his feet and his merciful face. What the Church believes across all nations, by everyone and down the centuries is his unmistakable voice.

With the recent developments in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion I have increasingly found myself in a situation where I cannot preach the Gospel of Christ and celebrate his sacraments with any integrity. It is the generous offer of Pope Benedict XVI in the form of the Ordinariate that gives me the joy of continuing this faithfulness to this Gospel. The move to the Ordinariate also gives me the opportunity to offer to you the greatest witness I can possibly give you.

For this reason I have written to the Bishop of Rochester notifying him that I intend to resign from this Parish in order to become a Roman Catholic in the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Fr James has notified the same bishop that he intends to resign for the same noble reason.

God willing, our last Sunday with you will be the 6th of March. On Ash Wednesday, a group from this parish will start the journey to be in full communion with Pope Benedict and received in the Catholic Church during Holy Week.

Now that the time of reflection is over, the time of the parting of friends has come. Parting is sad, but it will be healed by love. We need to make sure that this is truly a parting of friends with generosity from all sides.

This is not the time to say goodbye. I am sure we will have the opportunity for that during the next few weeks. Today is the time to hold each other in prayer and give thanks to what we have received and given to each other.

I will always hold you in my prayers and will always be available for you from within the Catholic Church in the Sevenoaks Ordinariate Personal Parish.

Fr Ivan D Aquilina
13th February 2011

Following on from the above statement which was read in church this morning, this blog comes to the end of its life. When it started some three years ago, I never thought that it would have the following it has. I am truly grateful for your support and prayers. In the first ever post I spoke about this blog in these words: "I launch my blog, with trepidation. A small raft in a huge ocean. But I want to sing God's praises too and maybe encourage you to join me." I would like to conclude it in the same words. We launch into the Ordinariate with great joy. Our Sevenoaks group is a small raft in a huge ocean. But we want to sing God's praises too and maybe encourage you to join us."

What a journey it has been. Thank you for being such great companions. What a wonderful journey it promises to be. Follow it on the Sevenoaks Ordinariate blog.

A visit from Anna Arco

2011-02-12T21:11:00.000Z

An extremely good turn out for the Walsingham Cell meeting today. We started with Mass which was followed by an engaging talk from Anna Arco of the Catholic Herald. We are truly grateful for her gracious yet committed enthusiasm for the Faith Catholic and witness to the truth.
The talk was followed by a delicious supper lovingly prepared by Janice and her team.
An enjoyable evening indeed!

Congratulations Fr Barnes!

2011-02-11T18:55:00.001Z

New deacon for the Ordinariate!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Our Lady of Lourdes

2011-02-11T12:16:00.002Z

Today we celebrate the memoria of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The echo of forgotten laughter

2011-02-05T21:37:00.000Z

You need to walk briskly down the hill shrouded in a cassock as the rest of Yorkshire is in turn shrouded in mist and drizzle. I quickly got used to the workers crammed in steamy busses staring out of the windows looking at me. What did they make of me? I felt uncomfortable but then I knew I would get used to this. Today Mirfield does not use cassocks any more, ordinands are the poorer; and those they shall care for too.

You had to walk down in silence, joining the dots with the silence around and searching for the silence within. Silence broken by unoiled gates and heavy doors. The welcome warmth of a corridor after the cold outside and then back to the sharp cold of a short walk to a silent underground church, for more silence, and prayer and Mass, and then a silent breakfast – I loved those mornings, they still live within.

You need to live with other ordinands and study and work and pray and talk to monks. Acquaintances shaped, joys and sadnesses shared, aspirations analysed. Two years that set the pace for ten and more; experiences that forged the handling of experiences yet to come. Two years in Mirfield that upheld the many years one lived before and paved the way for those yet to come.

Two years of prayer, and study, and laughter; forgotten laughter that still echoes brightly at the threshold of the Ordinariate.

Sky report...

2011-01-30T19:37:00.001Z

...can be found here. Watch the video.

In all weather...

2011-01-25T15:46:00.001Z

We can always rely on David and Greg to keep the church grounds looking splendid - even in this grim January drizzle!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Homily in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

2011-01-23T12:58:00.002Z

I appeal to you […] that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

Father and I have a little standing joke. Each Sunday we stand in the sacristy a little before the Mass and ask “Is this an ordinary Sunday?” Inevitably the answer is always ‘no’. There’s either a baptism, or a feast, or a window to bless, or a new shrine to dedicate: the list goes on. It’s never very ordinary.

Well today there’s no baptism, we’re in simplest green, and there’s nothing to bless or dedicate. But fear not, pedestrian mediocrity is not quite upon us, because, in fact, this Sunday falls during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has its’ origins in what was called the Octave of Christian Unity. This was established at the turn of the last century in order to promote prayer for the visible unity of the Church. Between two influential priests and a Sardinian nun, Blessed Maria Gabriella, the devotion spread and became popular across the denominations.

Amongst the great Anglo-Catholics of the early twentieth century, the Chair of Unity Octave, as it became known, had a very special meaning and intention and was to be championed by the likes of Dom Gregory Dix, the great Anglican Papalist liturgical scholar, and Fr Fynnes-Clinton, sometime Vicar of S. Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge, and a significant figure in the refounding of the Shrine at Walsingham. It was their prayer, and the prayer of many, that the great wounds of the Protestant Reformation would be healed, bringing all Western Christians together in one body in union with the Holy See.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, these days, is somewhat less prominent. It’s less popular amongst those Anglicans of a catholic flavour, not least because it usually consists of some feeble hand-holding liturgy in which some vague reference is made to ‘unity in diversity’, followed by a lunch comprising bad cheddar, tinned soup and a stale bread roll.

A few years ago I was at a roundtable discussion about Christian Unity. At it, a very nice gentleman stood up and stated that his Anglican parish had very good relations with the local Roman Catholic church, and that all the big debates in the Church of England were, in fact, meaningless at a local level. When asked what ‘good relations’ meant, it turned out that they shared a community meals-on-wheels rota.

I believe the phrase is ‘Close, but no cigar’.

That example—one of many—is neither the unity we seek nor the unity we need, it’s just being Christian and nice. The unity for which we long is something a great deal more.

During his General Audience address this week, Pope Benedict made reference to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and, I think, pointed us back towards the true sense of unity, which brought about by this week of prayer. The Holy Father referred explicitly to ‘four pillars of unity’: fidelity to the gospel, fraternal communion, communion through prayer, and Eucharistic communion.

In other words, true unity—more than being nice and doing things together—requires a common faith in the gospel of Christ, a common sense of being united to Christ through the Church, a common purpose in prayer, and the ability to receive Holy Communion from each other. Like a chair with four legs, if one of these is broken, the whole chair is weakened and undermined.

In this morning’s reading from S. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, we are reminded that, in some sense, such a unity already exists within the Church through our baptism. S. Paul insists that it is Christ into which we are baptized, a fact that is true of all those who share the sign of faith through the waters of rebirth.

Our baptism into Christ is, literally, our incorporation into his body, the Church. Christian baptism ‘constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians’. It is the ‘sacramental bond of unity’ which links all who are reborn through it. In other words, it’s the bottom line, the thing which undergirds everything else.

But whilst baptism is, indeed, deep and integral to the overall picture, the unity which it brings about is still marred by our sinfulness: that which keeps us distant from our brother and sister Christians.

How, then, are we to achieve that elusive fullness of communion, that true sense of unity, which brings us into the fullness of human relationship with the Church, and with Christ himself?

Well, unity has to be based on commonality. In other words, everyone around the table has to have a common understanding of Christian teaching, and the ability to share that belief unhindered. We have to be in ‘communion’ over what the Church believes, and in ‘communion’ with the ways in which those truths are communicated, namely the sacraments.

For many years parishes such as ours hoped that the Church of England would become convinced of her Catholic roots, and be drawn closer to sharing that common faith and practice with the rest of the western Church. That hope was, and is, expressed through our common liturgy, teaching, and faith.

Despite such hopes and efforts, in more recent times such progress has been drastically and indefinitely halted. Seemingly endless innovations within Anglicanism have rendered the work to achieve full, visible unity—that kernel at the heart of everything that our Movement has stood for—as worthless. For that fullness of unity to come about now, requires some 'magnanimous gestures' on all sides, and a genuine, urgent desire for reconciliation.

It is more difficult than ever to imagine a visibly unified Church, but that should not stop us from doing everything within our power—both as individuals and a community—to furthering its cause, and bringing that day closer, however far off it might seem. It is a gospel imperative to do so.

This bringing about of unity, despite the current impasse, is the purpose of the newly formed Ordinariate—it would have seemed petty not to mention it at this stage. This new body—appropriately under the title of Our Lady of Walsingham; a place where disunity seems wonderfully distant—should be seen, first and foremost, as a ‘prophetic gesture’ which seeks to fulfil the unity of the Church, in some discrete but significant way—‘a small bridge on the long road to unity’.

Because what was once hoped for at a denominational level is now impossible, the Ordinariate will seek to achieve it in smaller groups. That this project may bring about a more urgent sense of the need for unity, at the very least, is indeed a great blessing.

As we come here today, then, we do so in penitence and sorrow for the divisions of the Church. As we approach the altar to receive the very body and blood of Christ, we have an opportunity, here and now, to pledge ourselves afresh to the cause of unity with Christ, and to the fulfilment of that unity between all who profess his truth.

The call which brought us to the font, where we were shown a glimpse of the fullness of unity with Christ, is the same call which brings us here today to recommit ourselves to the fulfilment of that unity in the visible unity of the Church. Let us pray God for the strength to do it.

A letter from Darlington

2011-01-22T14:41:00.000Z

Fr Ian Grieves is the legendary priest at St James the Great in Darlington. He has served there for 22 years. When Claudia and I came to England for the first time many years ago with two very small children he was a good friend and support.
On his website he has posted this letter to his congregation which I would like to share with you. Let us keep him and his congregation in our prayers.

From The Vicar,

S. James' Vicarage,

Vicarage Road,

Darlington,

DL1 1JW.

February 2011

Dear people of S. James,

I have served you as your parish priest for 22 years, and I now find myself in an impossible and difficult situation because of what the General Synod has done to the Church of England. Very soon, we as a parish and congregation will no longer have an honoured, respected and permanent place within the C of E - as solemnly promised in 1992 to Parliament - when women were first ordained to the priesthood. Not only is this Synod unwilling to listen to the leadership of its two Archbishops, it is now not prepared to make any meaningful provision whatsoever for those who oppose the ordination of women on grounds of conscience or theological principal. Resolutions A & B - which provide the basis in law on which the ordination of women can be opposed - are to be removed. So too, the Provincial Episcopal Visitors (Flying Bishops like Bishop John Gaisford and Bishop Martyn Jarrett), are to be abolished! This leaves parishes like ours in an intolerable position. Nearer to home, our Deanery wishes to take more and more of our annual income (between 70% and 60%) and leave us eventually with a half-time priest and paying a parish share of £62,215 in 2011! This means that for every £1,000 we give or work for at S. James, the Deanery expects between £700 to £600! Your Church Council has decided for another year to cap the quota and pay £35,000 as being a fair and adequate sum to pay for a full-time priest here at S. James, and to cover all other expenses associated with the post of vicar. One thing is very clear - WE CANNOT STAY AS WE ARE - INTEGRITY and our CHRISTIAN FAITH demands a response from us all.

S. James the Great has always been about the proclamation of the orthodox, Catholic Faith, grounded, at first, in the principals of the Catholic Movement in the Church of England - sound theological thinking and a serious call to holiness of life. Worship and life at S. James has never been more concerned about what we wear than what we believe - sound belief in the teaching of the Catholic Church has always come first. If we are more concerned about the fashions in the sanctuary than what we believe as Christians, then we are lost indeed. Perhaps that is why there are so many, even in our own constituency, who think you can be a Catholic, without seeking visible unity with the Holy Father and the See of Peter! We, as Catholic Christians in the Church of England, have prayed for this and worked for this unity - this is the unity for which Christ prayed so that the world might believe.

Yes, it would be so easy to stay as we are, as many of my clergy brethren are; not to rock the boat and pretend all is well! It would be so easy for me personally to live at The Vicarage protected by the freehold, drawing my stipend and then my full pension at 65! And in ten years time, what would happen then? - no priest, or at best a half-time priest ordained by a women bishop of Durham or a quarter-time priest ordained by a male bishop who has been consecrated by a woman bishop! There is no future in staying where we are. In this matter we must not just think of ourselves, the here and the now, and of our own comfortable position. The C of E has changed beyond recognition - we all know that - it is dying - churches are closing, congregations are dwindling, vocations are few and money is short - 'and by their fruits you shall know them!' We, however, must lay aside pettiness, private judgement and a false loyalty to a Church of England which has turned its back on us, rejected what the majority of Christians believe and practice, and now publicly going back on a solemn promise to allow us our conscience and honoured place in the church. We must think of the future and future generations who will come and worship at S. James. We must think of others before ourselves and the larger picture - Christian unity in our own land, and this for us at S. James the Great means responding to the Holy Father's generous and considered initiative - THE ORDINARIATE.

The Ordinariate provides us with an opportunity to stay together as priests and people, worshipping, loving and serving our Lord Jesus Christ through the Catholic tradition and our liturgical and musical heritage and enter into full communion with the See of Peter. We pray that the Church of England will be as generous as the Holy Father and allow us our buildings; buildings we have restored and refurbished at great cost to ourselves (we have raised over £150,000 to restore the church hall & almost £600,000 to restore the church). We have indeed come a long way in the last twenty odd years and we have much to give God thanks for - not least the renewal of our parish and congregation which now needs a secure future.

I hope you all will join me at Mass on Sunday 13th February 2011 at 10am, and afterwards in the Church Hall for a meeting to consider the Ordinariate. The principal speaker will be Father Keith Newton, formerly the Bishop of Richborough, who has given up everything to enter the Ordinariate, and who will give us: information, explanations, answer questions, and address concerns on the Holy Father's historic and generous offer to Anglicans.

Finally, in this matter, we must pray that God's will is done and not ours. It can be so very difficult to let go of our own will, to give up what we want, what we desire, what we find comfortable and nice, and embrace God's will for our lives. Yet, when we do, it is like opening a door into a new world - a world of freedom, of peace and truth. We must make the words of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane our own, 'Not my will but your will be done'.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME AS I PRAY FOR YOU, AND FIND GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS TO RESPOND TO THIS INITIATIVE WITH GENEROSITY AND VISION.

Your priest of 22 years,

Father Grieves

Pastoral Letter from the Bishop of Rochester concerning the Ordinariate

2011-01-21T10:35:00.003Z

A Pastoral Letter to the Clergy and People of the Diocese of Rochester
21 January 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters

The Ordinariate and related issues

The establishment within the Roman Catholic Church of the Ordinariate for former Anglicans moved forward significantly last weekend with the ordination as priests of three former Church of England bishops, and with the nomination of one of those former bishops, Father Keith Newton, to be the Ordinary of the Ordinariate. With the Ordinariate thus beginning to become a reality, this seems the right time to write to you about this and related issues.

I want to underline first of all that this takes place within the setting of rich and strong relationships between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church at national, diocesan and local levels. We work together closely in many places, as we do with Christians of other denominations and traditions. We have also become used in recent generations to a fairly constant pattern of people moving between different denominations for a variety of reasons.

As the Ordinariate becomes a reality, some clergy and lay people in congregations within the Diocese of Rochester are considering seriously whether to join it. Equally there are those from the same congregations who have clearly indicated their intention to remain within the Church of England, and their desire to maintain the life of their parish churches. Our diocese of course includes many who greet the prospect of women being ordained as bishops with joy. We also have those who, while having serious reservations about the proposed legislation, are waiting to see how the national discussions go forward.

That draft legislation for the ordination of women as bishops has now formally been referred to dioceses, and will be considered through our deanery and diocesan synods later this year. This process will be introduced at our Diocesan Synod meeting on 5th February. At the same time, Bishop Brian, the Archdeacons and I continue to meet individuals and groups who have differing views and perspectives.

Some specific questions have been aired through the media and elsewhere concerning some of the legal and pastoral arrangements if and when a priest and/or groups of lay people decide to move into the Ordinariate. National guidance from both the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church is being made available as things move forward, and the following points may be helpful.

Stipends. Where a stipendiary priest moves to the Ordinariate, there will be a stage in the process when that priest (whether at the point of becoming a Roman Catholic or by earlier resignation) ceases to hold office in the Church of England. At that point payment of a stipend would automatically cease. I understand that the Roman Catholic authorities are in discussion about the support of priests (and where relevant their families) after that point. National level contact between the House of Bishops and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference will seek to facilitate that move.

Housing. For a priest living in a house provided by the Church of England a similar pattern would apply. While the formal right to housing would come to an end when the priest ceases to hold office, we would be in discussion with the individual and the Ordinariate authorities about the timing and other practicalities of a move of home.

Pensions. There have been press reports that priests moving to the Ordinariate would lose their pensions. This is not true. Pensions earned in respect of the years of stipendiary service within the Church of England would still be payable at the appropriate time, as is the case for any priest who moves out of stipendiary ministry before retirement age.

Parish Churches. A Church of England parish church is owned neither by its congregation nor by the diocese; it exists for the whole parish community and population and would remain a Church of England parish church even if all of its present congregation were to join the Ordinariate. The PCC also continues to exist as a legal corporate entity even if many or all of its individual members depart.

Congregations who remain. It is in fact very unlikely that whole congregations will leave and we will, therefore, need to make arrangements for the continuing worship, support and pastoral care of the remaining congregation. It is possible that a neighbouring or retired priest would be asked to provide this care on an interim basis, working with the Rural or Area Dean. By virtue of the priest becoming a Roman Catholic, the benefice would of course have become vacant and so the normal vacancy discussions would soon begin under the guidance of the Archdeacon. The nature and outcome of those discussions would, as for any vacancy, depend on the particular circumstances in each parish, the mission opportunities and so forth.

Ordinariate Congregations. The Archbishop of Westminster has on several occasions made public his view that Ordinariate congregations should worship in Roman Catholic parish churches. While the sharing of a parish church by two congregations is perfectly possible under the Sharing of Church Buildings Act, such an arrangement would require the consent of the (continuing) Church of England PCC, the Bishop and the relevant Roman Catholic authorities. It is, therefore, not expected that many new Sharing Agreements will arise as a result of the Ordinariate.

Church Schools. A Church of England school (whether aided or controlled) is of course Anglican by virtue of its foundation. This status is, therefore, not affected by the decisions of particular priests or lay people to join the Ordinariate. Decisions will have to be made case-by-case in relation to individuals who are Foundation Governors. That said, our schools of course seek to be inclusive rather than exclusive and welcome children from many different faith communities.

I hope that these comments may clarify some of the issues that have been raised, especially where media reporting has been less than clear. If a personal conversation about any of these matters would be helpful, please do not hesitate to be in touch with me, Bishop Brian or your Archdeacon - for those needing fuller guidance, more detailed advice is available particularly on the legal aspects.

Please also hold in your prayers those for whom these issues are particularly personal and focussed. For any who move to the Ordinariate, we would wish that to be with grace on all sides; for those of us who remain within the family of the Church of England in this diocese, our desire should be for continued fellowship and shared mission alongside the Roman Catholic community in all its forms.

With my prayers and good wishes,

+ James Roffen:

Pope Benedict calls for unity of Christians

2011-01-19T14:24:00.002Z

To mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Holy Father has made some remarks about the importance of, and difference between, fraternal communion and full eucharistic communion. These are particularly important concepts to consider at this time - we are called to full, eucharistic communion: how can we respond?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

During this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, all the Lord’s followers are asked to implore the gift of full communion. This year’s theme – “They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42) – invites us to reflect on four pillars of unity found in the life of the early Church. The first is fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed by the Apostles. The second is fraternal communion, a contemporary expression of which is seen in the growing ecumenical friendship among Christians. The third is the breaking of the bread; although the inability of separated Christians to share the same Eucharistic table is a reminder that we are still far from the unity which Christ wills for his disciples, it is also an incentive to greater efforts to remove every obstacle to that unity. Finally, prayer itself helps us realize that we are children of the one heavenly Father, called to forgiveness and reconciliation. During this Week, let us pray that all Christians will grow in fidelity to the Gospel, in fraternal unity and in missionary zeal, in order to draw all men and women into the saving unity of Christ’s Church.

Ordinariate: Getting the ball rolling

2011-01-17T16:47:00.001Z

Fr Keith Newton, the Ordinary of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham (I'll never get bored of saying that!), gave a Press Conference this morning. Audio is available here.

Sunday, 16 January 2011

2011-01-17T14:26:00.000Z

Yesterday we celebrated the baptism of Theo Benedict with great joy followed by a delicious cake in the hall. Here are some pics of the Mass with Baptism and also some of the new door.

Parish group attends historic ordinations

2011-01-16T08:10:00.003Z

Here is a photo of some of the group that were in Westminster Cathedral for yesterday's wonderful ordinations - the keen eyed will notice they're standing with Our Lady of Walsingham, who gives her name to the new Ordinariate:

Video from today's Ordinariate Ordinations

2011-01-16T00:56:00.002Z

Two short and not terribly good videos from today:

The Litany of the Saints:

O bread of heaven sung during Holy Communion:

The Homily...

2011-01-15T15:13:00.000Z

...by Archbishop Vincent Nichols delivered at the Ordination of the first three priests of the Ordinariate can be found here. Read it!

Statement by the first Ordinary

2011-01-15T15:09:00.001Z

“I am humbled to have been appointed by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, as the first Ordinary for the Personal Ordinariate to be erected in Great Britain under the provisions set out in the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus. This is not an honour I have sought or expected but I pray that God will give me the wisdom and grace to live up to the trust the Holy Father has placed in me.

“My wife and family have been a great support to me throughout my ministry and I know they will continue to do so. I am delighted that Gill was received with me into the full communion of the Catholic Church at Westminster Cathedral on 1 January 2011.

“I can look back at over 35 years of ordained ministry with tremendous gratitude. The Church of England nourished me in the Christian Faith and it was within her that I discovered, as a teenager, my vocation to the ordained ministry which has involved service both in England and Africa. I do not see my reception into the Catholic Church as a radical break but part of the on‐going pilgrimage of faith which began at my baptism. Since my teenage years I have longed and prayed for corporate unity with the Catholic Church and the publication of the Apostolic Constitution has offered the possibility of realising that dream.

“I am particularly grateful to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, for his patience and graciousness with those of us who have been exploring our way forward over the last few months.

“The Catholic Church, both here and in Rome, have given me warm encouragement in making this step and I am grateful for the countless words and signs of welcome I have received from many members of the Catholic Church over recent days. I hope the Ordinariate will be a gift to the Catholic Church and that I, together with those priests and people who join the Ordinariate, will be of service to the whole Church.”

Keith Newton

Ite missa est

2011-01-15T12:44:00.001Z

The historic mass is over and to the words of Praise to the holiest, the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham starts life. Te Deum Laudamus!

Priests for ever

2011-01-15T12:06:00.000Z

The new priests are now sharing the peace. The silence and devotion of those gathered is very moving indeed broken by one long applause as soon as the prayer of consecration ended.
The homily needs to be read again by those of us present and those not I am sure it will appear somewhere soon.
And now the offertory

Adsum: we are here!

2011-01-15T11:08:00.001Z

The candidates are presented

Done

2011-01-15T10:47:00.000Z

The ordinariate of our lady of Walsingham has just been established with Keith Newton as Ordinary

2011-01-15T10:27:00.001Z

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Great day indeed

2011-01-15T10:21:00.001Z

With more than 10 minutes to go a packed cathedral awaits this historic moment.

Best wishes and prayers...

2011-01-14T16:55:00.000Z

...from St John the Baptist in Sevenoaks to these three deacons as they await their ordination to the Sacred Priesthood tomorrow. The 0859 hrs train from Sevenoaks should take us there in time. Rumour has it that the place is going to be too small!

photo: photographers of the Archdiocese of Westminster

Video of Ordinariate Ordinations

2011-01-14T08:21:00.001Z

Here is a short video of the Litany of the Saints at last evening's ordinations:

Ordinariate Ordinations in London

2011-01-13T23:09:00.008Z

Where were you when JFK was shot? Where were you when the white smoke came from the Sistine Chapel that elected Pope Benedict? Where were you when the Ordinariate began?

Tonight, quietly and calmly - but with the beauty and splendour of the Mass - the face of English Christianity changed. Tonight the first three men were ordained for the Ordinariate in these isles and another step towards the fulfilment of Christ's prayer - that all may be one - was made.

John Broadhurst, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton are brave men of great integrity who, only a few days ago, left their old lives behind to follow Christ's call and to take up the great challenge laid out by the Holy Father in Anglicanorum coetibus. These three, now in the full communion of the Catholic Church, gave up all they had been given and this evening submitted humbly to 'the quiet rectification', in Aidan Nichols' words, of their orders.

It was moving beyond words to be present at this momentous occasion.

The seminarians and staff at Allen Hall made us all very welcome indeed, and they pulled out all the stops both in the church and refectory.

The Mass began with Newman's Firmly I believe as lines of concelebrants followed the candidates into the chapel, followed by the Episcopal Delegate, Bishop Alan Hopes. The altar was simply arranged but with the so-called Benedictine arrangement with the cross at centre. The Ordinary of the Mass was sung to Missa de Angelis aided by a very competent Allen Hall schola. The gospel was read by the young deacon who proclaimed the gospel at the Papal Mass in Westminster Cathedral (I think), and this was followed by the ad sum - the calling of the candidates, their presentation and election and consent.

A good homily was preached by Fr Tony Philpott (I think), and then the candidates were examined by the bishop, and made their promises to respect and obey the Ordinary (with no reference to who that might be at present...).

The litany of the saints was then beautifully sung (as beautifully as Fr Trundle did at my deaconing in fact!) as the candidates prostrated down the nave of the church. After the laying of hands and the prayer of consecration, the new deacons were vested as the Veni creator was sung (in Latin to chant).

Each deacon was then presented with the book of the gospels and they shared the Kiss of Peace with their fellow deacons. Deacon Keith Newton then prepared the altar as Deacon Andrew Burnham and Deacon John Broadhurst helped Bishop Alan Hopes to receive the gifts from their wives.

Eucharistic Prayer I, the Roman Canon, was prayed over the oblation - with Fr Peter Geldard, Fr Mark Woodruff, Fr Daniel Seward Cong. Orat., Fr Marcus Stock, Fr Stephen Wang and others concelebrating. Deacon Burnham elevated the chalice and then he and Deacon Broadhurst distributed the Lord's body to the assembled concelebrants. During Holy Communion we sang Soul of my Saviour and heard the schola sing Franck's Panis Angelicus.

Before the end of the Mass, Cathy Burnham, Judy Broadhurst and Gill Newton came forward for a special blessing to aid them in their ministry to and with their husbands. The Pontifical Blessing was then given and Deacon Burnham sang the Orbis Factor dismissal in Latin - very well indeed! The procession left to Christ is made the sure foundation.

It really was a splendid and moving occasion. The Vice-Rector of the seminary, Fr Roger Taylor, then presented the new deacons with cufflinks from Allen Hall, and led a rousing rendition of the seminary song - with some fine tenors in Roman collars.

It's begun. Let's pray very, very hard.

More photos are available here, but they will take time upload so keep checking back. PLEASE do not use the photos without seeking permission first - you can always drop me a message by email.

First edition of Ordinariate Magazine...

2011-01-13T10:49:00.001Z

...can be found here.

Evangelium

2011-01-12T19:36:00.002Z

We're back to our catecheses and study of the Catholic faith this evening, with Evangelium.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Establishment of Personal Ordinariate

2011-01-11T12:51:00.002Z

A very important read can be found here.

A Statement from Archbishop Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

2011-01-11T12:37:00.000Z

The Ordination to the Priesthood of Three Former Anglican Bishops and the Establishment in England and Wales of a Personal Ordinariate

On Saturday 15th January, it will be my privilege to ordain John Broadhurst, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton to priesthood in the Catholic Church. This ceremony will take place in Westminster Cathedral.

On or before this date, I expect the Holy See to announce the establishment of the first Ordinariate for groups of former Anglicans and their clergy who seek full communion in the Catholic Church. The three men ordained on Saturday will be the first priests of this Ordinariate.

This is a unique moment and the Catholic community in England and Wales is privileged to be playing its part in this historic development in the life of the Universal Church.

We offer a warm welcome to these three former bishops of the Church of England. We welcome those who wish to join them in full communion with the Pope in the visible unity of the Catholic Church. We recognise the journey they are making with its painful departures and its uncertainties. We salute their depth of searching prayer and the desire which leads them to seek to live within the community of the Catholic Church under the ministry of the Bishop of Rome. This is the faith we share.

We are deeply grateful for the depth of the relationship which exists here between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. This firm, positive and on-going relationship is the context for Saturday’s important initiative. We are grateful, too, for the sensitive leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He graciously acknowledges the integrity of those seeking to join the Ordinariate and has assured them of his prayers. This is the noble spirit of true ecumenism between the followers of Christ.

Pope Benedict has made clear his own intentions: that the Ordinariate can serve the wider cause of visible unity between our two churches by demonstrating in practice the extent to which we have so much to give to each other in our common service of the Lord. With this in mind he describes this step as ‘a prophetic gesture.’

With great trust in the Lord, we look forward to Saturday, to the new phase of Church life it brings and we ask God’s blessing on its future development.

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols

President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

?!

2011-01-10T07:55:00.000Z

This is the Anglican bishop of Massachusetts, the Rt Revd M Thomas Shaw SSJE. He is shown presiding over the "marriage" of the Very Reverend Katherine Hancock Ragsdale and Mally Lloyd, Canon to the Ordinary. One of them is divorced. This took place at the Anglican Cathedral of St Paul in Boston on Saturday 1 January 2011.

How does one square this with the Bible?

How does one square this with the practice and teaching of the Universal Church in the last 2000 years?

How does one understand the complete silence about this event?

When will this happen in the CofE?

We should never judge persons, thankfully that is in the hands of the Almighty. The event is another matter. The fact that it happened does not make it right. The fact that the Universal Church says that this is not right carries a lot of weight. On seeing this the first question that came to my mind was: What next?

Kyrie eleison!

Panto 2011

2011-01-08T21:55:00.000Z

Lovely evening had by all! Well done to the organisers and all the actors!

To all members of the Parish of St John

2011-01-05T17:12:00.000Z

I have just been approached by a journalist asking me for contact details of members of this Parish to be interviewed about the Ordinariate.
I have given no such information, so if you are approached it will be on his own steam.
I asked that the space for prayer and reflection among members of this Parish be respected, but it seems difficult for journalists to take no for an answer, well it is their job to do that, I suppose. If you are approached and want to speak to him, that is up to you, but I counsel silence and prayer. Let us continue to support one another in love and hold each other in prayer.
I am sorry for this public posting but the journalist wants to print this Sunday.

A school to be proud of!

2011-01-05T14:01:00.000Z

Yes I am constantly thanking God for the miracle that is our school. By His grace and the hard work of Margaret, Sally and her team we have a school to celebrate and uphold.
Today we had an open morning for prospective parents. The attendance was great and the atmosphere and work going on in school was a true reflection of what happens on a daily basis. I was very much moved. Here are some pics thanks to Carol.

Ruth Gledhill speaks with John Broadhurst

2011-01-03T22:49:00.000Z

Epiphany AD 2011

2011-01-02T20:15:00.000Z

After the chanting of the Gospel today, we had the proclamation of the day of Easter and other moveable feasts (text below). This proclamation had a practical purpose, to let people know significant days of the New Year in a time when calendars were not widely available. The proclamation also has a catechetical purpose to celebrate in liturgy the profound link between the feasts of Christmas and those of Easter: the crib and the cross are integral to the Easter story.

After Mass chalk was blessed for people to bless their homes.

In the hall there was a celebration of Monica's significant birthday: Ad Multos Annos!

Catholic Graffiti: Yes, it is that day of the year when we are called to write next to our doors the Epiphany inscription. Why?

It is a sign of Christian witness. Neighbours and friends will ask you about it when they see it, and there you have an opportunity for Mission and Witness.

It invokes God’s blessing upon your home.

It is a symbol of the hospitality you are ready to give as a Christian. These graffiti originated to show that if the wise men were passing your way then there was room for them in your house.

It is a declaration that Christ has dominion over all ages and to him you dedicate this New Year.

The inscription goes thus:

20 + C + M + B + 11
Remember to take a piece of chalk with you after Mass. (CMB stand for the three wise men: Casper, Melchior and Balthazar but is also interpreted as Christus Massionem Benedicat—May Christ bless this house.)

The Proclamation of Easter

Let it be duly and solemnly noted, dearest brothers and sisters, that just as we through the bounteous mercy of God, have rejoiced in the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, likewise should we proclaim the joy of the glorious Resurrection of this same Saviour.

Ash Wednesday is to be observed on the ninth day of March, marking the beginning of the most holy Lenten fast. With great rejoicing, we will celebrate the Easter Feast of our Lord Jesus Christ on the twenty-fourth day of April. The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ is to be celebrated on the fifth day of June, while the Solemn Feast of Pentecost is to be celebrated on the twelfth day of the month of June. The Feast of the Most Sacred Body and Blood of Christ is to be celebrated on the twenty-sixth day of June. The twenty-seventh day of November shall be the First Sunday of the Advent of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T18:35:00.000Z

We celebrated joyfully the solemnity of Mary the Mother of God and the beginning of AD 2011. We had the honour of having Fr & Mrs Lloyd joining us for the day. During Mass I made a special intention for John, Keith and Andrew who today, together with members of their family and the three sisters from the Walsingham Priory, have been received in the Roman Catholic Church. There is a moving eye witness account here.

After Mass we went to the Hall for delicious bacon rolls and soup. This was followed by the traditional New Year walk in Knole. A good time was had by all.

Three brave and wise men

2010-12-31T09:45:00.001Z

Today is the last day of three much loved and respected men as bishops in the Church of England. I do not know where to start to thank these bishops for their amazing witness, leadership, dedication and love. Although all three are equal of my respect and thanksgiving one I must honour in particular. John Broadhurst has been my bishop for the last three years and my leader for more. Bishop John has inducted me as Parish Priest at St John’s. This is a parish he knows, he knows people by name. He prays for this Parish and he really cares. In three years he came several times to celebrate Mass, to baptise and Confirm, to encourage us in the faith. He has been bishop here since his elevation to the See of Fulham, he has ordained our deacons and our priests. His last ordination was that of our present curate as deacon.

I will never forget his pastoral dedication especially in the two Pastoral Visits where he visited the school, the nursing homes, the hospital and some parishioners. He and Judy have been a blessing. It was heart breaking to name him in the Canon of the Mass for the very last time as John our Bishop.

His example is of immense proportions. He is leading his people by showing them the way forward. The way forward that he is showing as our Bishop is that there is no future Catholic life in the Church of England with any meaning or integrity. The way he is showing is the Catholic Ordinariate in the UK. A brave wave of men and women are getting ready for this exciting journey, the journey of a true unity with the Universal Church under the leadership of Peter. We have all experienced the blessings that the Pope has brought in his recent visit to our country, and it is to that joy of faith that many are being called. Let us keep these joyful people in our prayers.

Bishop John, as I can call you for the last time, thanks for your leadership, your shepherding, your total and selfless dedication. God is with you as are our feeble prayers.

2011 is going to be a wonderful year of opportunities! Blessed be God for ever!

Holy Land Christmas Greetings

2010-12-30T18:36:00.001Z

The Custos of the Holy Land has offered hospitality to the Orthodox Church leaders that share with him the holy sites. It is great to see these Christians coming together in affection and relax together; it goes a long way against the negative reports of constant conflict between Christians.

Be part of the joys of the Holy Land, support this vision of unity and truth! Support the Franciscan presence in the Holy Land.

Worth a visit

2010-12-30T12:10:00.001Z

A very moving post over at the Sevenoaks Ordinariate website. Worth a visit. Click here.

on the night of the martyrdom...

2010-12-29T22:51:00.002Z

If it concerns Sevenoaks and Jim doesn’t know it, well it is not worth knowing.

Today he shared with us a local legend connected with the Martyrdom of St Thomas a Becket.

The legend goes that one of the Knights that committed the abomination rode on his horse back to his home at Eynsford Castle.
On his way he realised the magnitude of his crime. Captured by remorse he stopped at the Church in Kemsing and demanded to see the priest to make his confession. The priest seeing that this crime was reserved, refused absolution and the Knight, ever more distressed, continued on his way to Eynsford Castle where he lived the rest of his days shrouded in mystery. Eynsford Castle is a haunting ruin maybe a reminder of the restless soul of the Knight.

Eynsford Castle

The local legend says that on this night the ghost of the Knight riding his horse is heard speeding through Kemsing, stopping for a while at the Parish Church, and continuing towards Eynsford soon afterwards.

Would any readers from our neighbouring Kemsing let us know if they hear but not see equine activity in their picturesque village?

Kemsing

To receive the crown, one must have truly fought - St Thomas Becket

2010-12-29T11:26:00.000Z

Today we keep St Thomas Becket, Archbishop and Martyr. we remember his shrine in Canterbury and that not far from St John's there is the pilgrims way that took countless to pray on his shrine. This year a group from our church took to the same way and went to pray at the shrine of St Thomas.

Today we shall keep his memory in the evening Mass and for your reflection and prayers I put here an extract from a letter that he himself wrote.

If we who are called bishops desire to understand the meaning of our calling and to be worthy of it, we must strive to keep our eyes on him whom God appointed high priest for ever, and to follow in his footsteps. For our sake he offered himself to the Father upon the altar of the cross. He now looks down from heaven on our actions and secret thoughts, and one day he will give each of us the reward his deeds deserve.

As successors of the apostles, we hold the highest rank in our churches; we have accepted the responsibility of acting as Christ’s representatives on earth; we receive the honour belonging to that office, and enjoy the temporal benefits of our spiritual labours. It must therefore be our endeavour to destroy the reign of sin and death, and by nurturing faith and uprightness of life, to build up the Church of Christ into a holy temple in the Lord.

There are a great many bishops in the Church, but would to God we were the zealous teachers and pastors that we promised to be at our consecration, and still make profession of being. The harvest is good and one reaper or even several would not suffice to gather all of it into the granary of the Lord. Yet the Roman Church remains the head of all the churches and the source of Catholic teaching. Of this there can be no doubt. Everyone knows that the keys of the kingdom of heaven were given to Peter. Upon his faith and teaching the whole fabric of the Church will continue to be built until we all reach full maturity in Christ and attain to unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God.

Of course many are needed to plant and many to water now that the faith has spread so far and the population become so great...Nevertheless, no matter who plants or waters, God gives no harvest unless what he plants is the faith of Peter, and unless he himself assents to Peter’s teaching. All important questions that arise among God’s people are referred to the judgement of Peter in the person of the Roman Pontiff. Under him the ministers of Mother Church exercise the powers committed to them, each in his own sphere of responsibility.

Remember then how our fathers worked out their salvation; remember the sufferings through which the Church has grown, and the storms the ship of Peter has weathered because it has Christ on board. Remember how the crown was attained by those whose sufferings gave new radiance to their faith. The whole company of saints bears witness to the unfailing truth that without real effort no-one wins the crown.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, you enabled

Saint Thomas Becket

to lay down his life with undaunted spirit for the rights of the Church.

Let his prayer help us to deny ourselves for Christ in this life,

and so find our true life in heaven.

We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Family Sunday with Baptism of Theodore Christos

2010-12-28T20:24:00.000Z

Christmas in Bethlehem

2010-12-26T16:29:00.000Z

A good group from this Parish will go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land next August. For them and for those who generously support Christians in the Holy Land here are some pics of Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem.

It is true that in Bethlehem it is Christmas every day. Latin priests celebrating there have the privilege of praying the Mass of Christmas whichever day of the year it is.

However, the 25th day of December is kept with joy and solemnity.

The Patriarch arrives in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve and is received with all honours.

He celebrates Midnight Mass in the church of St Catherine while a few lucky priests celebrate Midnight Mass on the manger!

At around 1.30am the Patriarch takes the Infant of Bethlehem to the place of the Nativity. The Sacred Image is first placed on the star that marks the spot where Christ was born and a few minutes later it is placed in the manger where it is kept for the Octave. Masses then continue all night long.

Here are some pics from the Custodia.

Awaiting the Patriarch

Make a joyful sound...

Bethlehem girls in traditional costume.

Father Christmas Jr on his unusual sleigh

Patriarch enters Bethlehem...

...and greets those present.

The procession

First visit is to the Blessed Sacrament

followed by a visit to the place of the Nativity

Midnight Mass

Meanwhile on the manger...

two low Masses

Procession starts

and moves to the Grotto

Bambino is placed on the star that marks the birth, on the star it says: Hic Christus Natus Est!

on the manger

VENITE ADOREMUS

Mass of Christmas Day

2010-12-25T16:39:00.000Z

Midnight Mass

2010-12-25T16:35:00.000Z

The proclamation of Christmas

Christus Natus est nobis - venite adoremus.

2010-12-25T00:01:00.001Z

To you all a blessed Christmas!

May the Peace of the Christ Child fill you with all Joy!

Christingle 2010

2010-12-24T20:14:00.000Z

Getting the Christingles ready last night:

The Christingle service:

Pope Benedict on BBC 4

2010-12-24T07:56:00.000Z

The Holy Father has just given his Christmas message to the people of the UK and all the English speaking world through the programme Thought for the Day of BBC 4.
The Holy Father spoke of his fond memory of the UK Papal visit last September. He explained that God is faithful to all his promises but surprises us by the way he fulfils them.
Christ has destroyed death by his death, he now offers us freedom, hope and brings life.
The Holy Father promised us his prayers and his wish for us is that Christ the Light of the Nations will dispel all darkness,

O Virgo Virginum

2010-12-24T07:50:00.001Z

O Virgin of Virgins, how shall this be?

For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after.

Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me?

That which ye behold is a divine mystery.

Bethlehem

2010-12-23T19:59:00.000Z

As we get ready for Christmas here are some images of Bethlehem. These can aid our meditation.

An approach to Bethlehem

Manger Square

The Basilica is the oldest standing church in Christendom

Entrance to the place of the Nativity

The place of the nativity

The star marks the spot of the nativity

The Bethlehem Gate

The "walled" city of Bethlehem

O Emmanuel

2010-12-23T09:00:00.000Z

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.

O Rex Gentium

2010-12-22T09:00:00.000Z

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.

O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.

Carol Singing

2010-12-21T20:40:00.000Z

Many thanks to John and Jackie who today organised the annual childen Christmas party with Carol Singing. I was very lucky to have the singers cheer up the Vicarage with Christmas Carols. Well done!

The Vicarage Crib

O Oriens

2010-12-21T09:00:00.000Z

O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

The celebration of Christmas

2010-12-21T07:14:00.000Z

While we celebrate Christmas in the comfort of our homes and churches, we should keep in mind those Christians in Iraq who are being persecuted due to their faith and fleeing their country because of attacks on their homes and churches. This exodus increased after a church was attacked last October, where 51 people were killed, including two priests.

Half the Christian population in Iraq, which until the 2003 invasion reached almost 1.5 million, has already left the country. Over the past month, there were a number of attacks in the capital city, Baghdad, and in Mosul. The army has maintained there is “little that can be done” to protect this community.

Some families have fled to Turkey, Syria or Kurdistan. Others have had to seek safe haven within monasteries, where entire families have found themselves packed into small spaces. St Matthew’s Monastery, one of the oldest in the world, has been packed with refugees, where families of up to 15 people have been living in just one room. Last year, in the city of Kirkuk, Christmas Eve Mass could not be celebrated because the Christian communities were attacked in their churches.

When we gather to celebrate Christmas this year, let us remember those Christians who, unlike us, are unable to celebrate the nativity of Christ in the peace of their homes and churches.

Advent in Bethlehem

2010-12-20T18:51:00.000Z

As one expects there are many wonderful practices attached to the celebration of Advent in Bethlehem. These photos, biretta tip to the Custodia, show us some activities that have taken place this Advent around the solemn visitation of the Custos, Fr Pierbattista, to Bethlehem.

The gates of the wall are opened to allow the Custos to visit Bethlehem

The Custos enters Bethlehem

Waiting for the Custos

Custos is greeted by the Parish Priest of Bethlehem

The Custos processes to the place of the Nativity of the Lord

The Custos venerates the manger

Silent prayer in front of the Bambino of Bethlehem venerated
on the altar of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM in the church of St Catherine V&M

Homily for Advent IV

2010-12-20T11:51:00.004Z

There are, would you believe it, times when I just don’t know what to say. One such time, I have to admit, was as I was thinking about this morning’s homily. I read the gospel passage over and over, knowing full well what it was saying but unable to put into words something that might be of interest and, dare I say?, help to us this morning.

Well, on Thursday evening my rescue came in the shape of the latest Narnia film: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I’m sure many of you will have read the C. S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia either to yourself or to your children, and others may have either seen the wonderful BBC production in the 1980s or the newer Disney films.

Lewis was, as you will no doubt be aware, a committed Anglican—more of a High Churchman than an all-out Anglo-Catholic—but one who nonetheless found his way to the sacraments and a pretty orthodox understanding of the Christian life. He affirmed the doctrine of the Real Presence of the Eucharist, the Catholic belief in purgatory, and he used to make his way up the Cowley Road in Oxford to make his confession to one of the priests of the Society of S. John the Evangelist, whose church is now that of my former seminary, S. Stephen’s House.

With all this in mind, it should be no real surprise that The Voyage of the Dawn Treader came up trumps for a concerned curate, and I hope you won’t mind if I indulge, this morning, in a somewhat heady concoction of children’s literature and Anglican patrimony, courtesy of one of Lewis’s fictional characters.

One of the main parts in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is given to Reepicheep, a mouse-like protagonist whose bravado and courage is second-to-none, despite his size. Within the first few minutes of Thursday’s film, Reepicheep dropped this phrase directly into my lap: “We have nothing if not belief”.

We have nothing if not belief.

Advent is a season in which the various themes of the Christian religion are expounded ad infinitum. Whether it be the traditional quartet of death, judgement, heaven and hell, or something more akin to our own pattern of joy, hope and peace, it is a time in which the central truths of the Christian faith can be, once more, examined and considered.

Our own parish journey through Advent has, as I said, been one mapped out by joy, hope and peace. On this final Sunday before the great feast of Christ’s birth, it seems right to draw those strands together with a final theme, and that, I would like to propose, is faith.

The term faith comes to us from a Hebrew word meaning steadfastness. And we can talk of faith in both objective and subjective ways: in other words we can talk about The Faith as the deposit of truths revealed by God in sacred scripture and through tradition, and we can talk about faith as a concept, a virtue, which we can nurture to draw us closer to God.

Faith, then, is both something we aim for—a target, a goal—and something we have in our possession already by virtue of the grace of our baptism. We spend our lives as Christians working towards the full revelation of faith in our efforts to comprehend God, and we do this by fostering habits of faith which bring us closer and closer to him.

In our gospel this morning we hear about the faith of S. Joseph—trusting an angel of the Lord in a dream, and devoting his entire life to the service of God because of it. On this final Sunday of Advent, we usually focus on our Lady’s fiat—her ‘yes’ to God—but in S. Matthew’s account of the birth of the Lord, S. Joseph takes a more prominent place. If we think of our Lady’s ‘yes’ to God as being the act of faith par excellence, Matthew show us that Joseph is not that far behind.

S. Joseph’s faith, his willingness to lay down a comfortable and ordinary life, is an example of how we too can surrender ourselves entirely to the will of God our Father—Matthew’s point is that anyone can do it. But Joseph’s act of faith, virtuous and worthy as it was, merely points towards the fullness of faith—the fullness of truth and life—found alone in the person of Christ.

And so we return to Reepicheep: ‘We have nothing if not belief’.

What is it that faith is about? What ‘good’, if I can put it like that, does our faith do? How does having faith mean that we posses something worthwhile?

Faith is not a standalone idea. We cannot just have faith because to do so would be pointless. To have faith without substance would be like stepping out onto an icy lake without a care as to whether the ice would hold you or not. Real faith is not foolish like that, and Christian faith is real faith because it leads us to hope.

Christian hope is what ignites our faith and inspires us to deepen it, in confidence of the fulfilment of our hope. Christian hope is not, as we were reminded so eloquently by Rob the other week, based on uncertainty, but instead it is concrete, solid, and reliable. It is, to use a well known phrase, ‘sure and certain’.

Our faith as Christians points towards our hope in the resurrection, and in our eternal rest with Christ in heaven. That is the whole point of striving towards a stronger faith: it brings us closer to an understanding of our destiny—our call to see God face-to-face and enjoy his company forever.

‘We have nothing if not belief’, because without belief, without faith, we cannot hope for eternal life and that leads us, curiously, to the belief that all that we have and all that we are, will one day disappear into nothingness and it will be like we never existed.

God our Father loves us so much that he has given us the chance to change that despairing thought, and transform ourselves into temples of the Holy Spirit, living out the fullness of faith in this life, in preparation for the next.

And how does the Father show us that love? How does he confirm our faith and strengthen our hope? He sends his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law (that is fully God and fully Man), to live with us and share our lives. It is only through Christ, as S. Paul reminds us in the epistle, that we are given ‘the grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith’, in others and in ourselves.

It is, in other words, up to us to respond: to establish, confirm and deepen our faith—a real, living and vibrant faith which remains constantly fixed on the fullness of faith that we find wrapped in swaddling clothes in the wood of the crib, and naked and shamed on the wood of the cross.

As we come to the end of our Advent journey then, let us rejoice that we have faith in the incarnate Son of God, and let us continue to deepen that faith, in hope of the abundant peace and joy of eternal life with him. For ‘we have nothing if not belief’.

O Clavis David

2010-12-20T09:00:00.000Z

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;
qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
claudis, et nemo aperit:
veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Carol Service II

2010-12-19T21:51:00.001Z

Digital Nativity (for those who enjoy the latest gadgets)

2010-12-19T20:50:00.002Z

Office of Nine Lessons and Carols

2010-12-19T20:31:00.000Z

Tonight saw our Carol Service. Great shame that the weather kept people away from this annual treat. It enables us to enter into the spirit of Christmas as we reflect on the wonderful story of our salvation through hymns and readings.
A huge thank you to John and Jackie Hendry for the care of directing our choir to offer us this celebration, the same big thanks for the choir members and the readers who so diligently enabled us to reflect on our Lord and also to those who offered us welcome refreshments afterwards.
Hopefully these photos will offer you a flavour of the blessings we shared tonight.

Anglican Patrimony

Advent IV

2010-12-19T14:45:00.000Z

Thin on the ground for Advent IV, just under 70 people in church. Well done to those who braved the elements and our prayers with those who are stuck in. Fr James delivered a very good homily which we hope will be uploaded later on. Here are some photos.

The proclamation of the Gospel

Weather in Sevenoaks

Vantage viewpoint to admire the Vicarage Christmas Tree

O Radix Jesse

2010-12-19T09:00:00.000Z

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem Gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

New blog

2010-12-18T23:31:00.000Z

It has been drawn to my attention that there now exists a brand new blog called Sevenoaks Ordinariate. You can find this blog here.

O Adonai

2010-12-18T09:00:00.000Z

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

O Sapientia

2010-12-17T16:54:00.002Z

Today we begin the great O antiphons in readiness for Christmas. These are sung before and after the Magnificat at Vespers. Today's is O Sapientia:

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.

The door goes in...

2010-12-17T12:20:00.001Z

I couldn't resist dropping into church on the way back from the hospital to see how the door is coming along... Almost there!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

And the new door is in

2010-12-17T12:10:00.001Z

Sevenoaks Primary Carol Service...

2010-12-17T10:44:00.000Z

... Has just started.

Nativity

2010-12-16T22:27:00.000Z

Thanks to Carol for these photos of the early afternoon Nativity. The pupils did us proud, what an enjoyable afternoon it was!

2010-12-16T17:51:00.000Z

2010-12-16T17:37:00.000Z

Nativity take 2

2010-12-16T17:29:00.000Z

Here we go...

Nativity Play: Donkey for Sale

2010-12-16T14:15:00.001Z

The matinee performance of our school's nativity play has just begun in church.

Fr Peter Geldard on the Ordinariate

2010-12-16T12:54:00.003Z

Last night we were very fortunate to welcome Fr Peter Geldard, sometime Secretary of the Church Union and an Anglican priest near Faversham in the Diocese of Canterbury, and now Catholic Chaplain of the University of Kent. Fr Peter came to share his experience of entering the full communion of the Catholic Church and also his time spent thinking about a corporate solution to the Anglican/Roman Catholic unity question. He gave of his time generously, answering questions and making himself available for further thoughts and questions after the session. I think what struck me the most was the sense in which this offer, of an Ordinariate, is only properly understood in the context of the past thirty years (or so) of ecumenical dialogue. Full-blown corportate reunion between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church was left dead in the water by the decisions of 1992; this is, then, the only way in which the ARCIC vision can be realised. Ut unum sint... Here is Father's address to us:

If there are any problems with the audio, please let me know - there were some recording problems but I think they're sorted.

Progress on the door

2010-12-16T12:51:00.001Z

The floor is now prepared ready for the new matting and the pipes have been put under the floor. The door SHOULD arrive tomorrow...

This is the view we're aiming for when completed:

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Christmas Lunch

2010-12-15T12:23:00.001Z

St John's School Christmas lunch!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tonight: Ordinariate Exploration Meeting

2010-12-15T07:51:00.001Z

This evening we welcome Catholic Chaplain of Kent University, Fr Peter Geldard, to speak to those interested in joining the Ordinariate.

Fr Peter was an Anglican clergyman until the 1990s and the ordination of women. He's a great advocate of the ordinariate, saying it's "all we've prayed for". It should be an interesting evening.

Mass at 7.00 p.m., followed by Fr Peter's talk - all welcome.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

More carols!

2010-12-14T20:26:00.001Z

Another wonderful Walthamstow Hall Carol Service, this time at Tonbridge School. Excellent music complete with brass fanfares... do they do First Mass bookings?!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

St John of the Cross - Spiritual Master

2010-12-14T09:18:00.001Z

"God is awakened in the soul. God breathes in the soul.

Wisdom is more active than all active things.

Oh, how happy is this soul that is ever conscious of God resting and reposing within its breast!"

Living Flame of Love, Stanza IV, vv 2; 6 and 15.

St Lucy V&M, 2010

2010-12-13T23:06:00.000Z

This week is the last week of term for our schools. Most of this week will be devoted to work with pupils. Today we had the pupils of Walthamstow Hall Junior School rehearsing for the Carol Service which Fr James presided this evening.

In the afternoon the church saw the Year 6 of Sevenoaks Primary assembling for their RE lesson which today was all about the Infancy Narratives. After the lesson we had a moment of prayer and some silence to write a short prayer on a paper star. When all these were done the pupils laid their star at the feet of the child Jesus. We look forward for more special time with pupils as they reflect on the Nativity.

This morning too there was the Carol Communion Service at the Alpine Residential under the leadership of John Robinson. Well done all round!

Advent III...

2010-12-12T21:10:00.000Z

...was duly celebrated at St John's and the third Advent candle lit. Our sermon today was delivered by John Robinson and was truly helpful as we continue our Advent journey. It was strange to use the door behind the organ today as the main doors were closed due to the works on the new door.
Many congratulations to Frances and Rob as today they celebrate their first wedding anniversary!

Porta caeli... soon

2010-12-10T17:50:00.001Z

The old 1946 temporary (!!) porch is being removed and replaced with a glass door. Here are today's works...

Now you see it...

Now you don't...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

School Christmas Fair

2010-12-10T17:17:00.001Z

If I win anything on the raffle, I'll eat my saturno.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Going against the current

2010-12-09T22:02:00.001Z

This is an excerpt from Pope Benedict's prayer to Mary Immaculate yesterday, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception:

"Instil in us the strength to reject evil in all its forms, and to choose the good, even when it is costly and involves going against the current. Give us the joy of feeling loved by God, blessed by Him, and predestined to be his children".

May it be our prayer also.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Yesterday

2010-12-09T08:26:00.000Z

Yesterday, after Mass of the Immaculate Conception, saw the last session of Evangelium for this year. Fr James gave a very good presentation which was followed by a most fascinating discussion. Well done, we shall start Evangelium again in January.

A simple communion robe

2010-12-09T08:24:00.001Z

In honour of the Immaculate, this beautiful chasuble was worn yesterday.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Evangelium Follow-Up

2010-12-08T23:30:00.004Z

Here are three good books for those who came to Evangelium and want something to refer back to, or do some further reading from:

Compendium of the Catholic Church
£6.95 available here.

Apologia
by the compilers of Evangelium
£2.95 available here.

Credo
by the compilers of Evangelium

£2.95 available here.

Ave Maria Purissima - sine labe originali concepta!

2010-12-08T18:05:00.000Z

O Mary, who entered the world free from stain,

obtain for us from God to leave it free from sin!

The Immaculate Conception of the BVM

2010-12-08T11:59:00.000Z

Immaculate Mother of God,

Queen of heaven,

Mother of mercy,

Advocate and Refuge of sinners,

behold, I,

enlightened and inspired

by the graces obtained for me

abundantly from the divine treasury

through thy maternal affection,

resolve this day and always

to place my heart into thy hands

to be consecrated to Jesus.

To thee, therefore, most Blessed Virgin,

in the presence of nine choirs of Angels

and all the Saints, I now give it.

Do thou, in my name, consecrate it to Jesus;

and out of the filial confidence

which I hereby make profession of,

I am certain that now and always

thou wilt do all thou canst to bring it

to pass that my heart may ever wholly belong to Jesus,

and may imitate perfectly the example of the Saints,

and in particular that of Saint Joseph,

thy most pure Spouse. Amen.

St. Vincent Pallotti (1798-1850)

Bishop John

2010-12-08T08:20:00.001Z

From Italy:
Interview with Bishop John here.
More on the Anglican situation here.

The Immaculate Conception of the BVM

2010-12-08T00:08:00.000Z

You are all fair, O Mary;

the original stain is not in you.
You are the glory of Jerusalem,
the joy of Israel,
the honour of our people,
and the great advocate of sinners.
O Mary, Virgin most prudent,
Mother most merciful, pray for us;
intercede for us with our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Vigil of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM

2010-12-07T10:53:00.000Z

O pure and immaculate

and likewise blessed Virgin,

who art the sinless Mother of thy Son,

the mighty Lord of the universe,

thou who art inviolate and altogether holy,

the hope of the hopeless and sinful,

we sing thy praises.

We bless thee, as full of every grace,

thou who didst bear the God-Man:

we bow low before thee;

we invoke thee and implore thine aid.

Rescue us, O holy and inviolate Virgin,

from every necessity that presses upon us

and from all the temptations of the devil.

Be our intercessor and advocate

at the hour of death and judgement;

deliver us from the fire

that is not extinguished

and from the outer darkness;

make us worthy of the glory of thy Son,

O dearest and most clement Virgin Mother.

Thou indeed art our only hope most sure

and sacred in God's sight,

to Whom be honour and glory and majesty and dominion

for ever and ever world without end. Amen.

Ephrem the Syrian (306-373)

Third day of Triduum for the Immaculate Conception of the BVM

2010-12-06T10:51:00.000Z

Father,

you prepared the Virgin Mary

to be the worthy mother of your Son.

You let her share beforehand

in the salvation Christ

would bring by his death,

and kept her sinless

from the first moment of her conception.

Help us by her prayers

to live in your presence without sin.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever. Amen

Saddened but not surprised

2010-12-06T08:32:00.000Z

There are occasions when one although not surprised is still saddened by an event. This came over me when I read the entry in the blog of Fr Ed about a visitation to his parish which you can find here.

The Bishop of Tonbridge and the Archdeacon of Tonbridge have descended upon this Parish regarding the Ordinariate. It seems that the Archdeacon made it clear that he will do his utmost to ensure that St Barnabas is not ecumenically shared as happens in many CofE buildings up and down the country. On the one hand, this brings home the fact that some people, including here at St John’s, are “keen” on working with other Christians as long as they are not Roman Catholic, even though they do not say it in so many words; sad really, especially when one thinks of those prayers for Christian Unity which have been offered for years and years. On the other hand, I am not surprised as I always believed that if there is an Ordinariate bound group it is better for them, spiritually and practically, to join the local RC congregation. This does not only provide for them a clean break and a fresh start but also makes them part of a larger community of Christians. Here at St John’s we are considered to be a strong CofE parish as we have around a hundred people every Sunday. However, I am led to believe that the local RC church has over a thousand! If there is to be a group from St John’s it will be better for them, as I believed all along, to join in with the RC Church and be part of a larger community locally and internationally. What a joy it must be to be part of a large community of fellow Christians with all the pro’s and con’s that this might bring.

What I feel in conscience bound to keep on proclaiming is that those who stay and those who go need to keep focused on Jesus and sustain the bonds of charity to the utmost, anything short of this will not be worthy of the name Christian. At this time, people need space to pray and discern their future. At this difficult and painful time decisions need to be respected not tolerated and we need to help and support each other during this period of discernment and also and especially when transitions, if any, are made. If there is to be a parting of friends let it happen in love. If there is no love, then there is the absence of God and the absence of God is hell. Christians exist to model and bring about the Kingdom which is and is yet to come where God, who is love, reigns supreme. Wherever you stand or wherever you seek keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!

Advent II

2010-12-05T19:33:00.000Z

Although we were a bit low on numbers today due to the icy roads and very icy pavements we still had a full and good celebration of Advent II. Rob gave the excellent sermon this morning which is reproduced below and Fr James a wonderful meditation this evening.

If there is one word that defines Christmas for you what word would you choose? Some words that come to my mind are singing, peace, love, joy, hope, incarnation, and Jesus (not necessarily in that order though). Other words are more worldly: snow, presents, parties and the shopping rush, but I’m sure there are other words that we use in describing what we feel about Christmas. I would like us to look briefly at two words in particular: hope and peace. I know that Fr Ivan talked about hope last week but I think it’s important to look at what we mean by it again because it will help us to understand our readings this morning.

Both Advent and Christmas are often described as being ‘seasons of hope’, but sometimes I get the impression that people aren’t quite sure what this actually means. What do we really mean when we say that we hope for something? At its most basic, we can define hope as the belief that a positive event will happen to us at some stage, either in the near or distant future. At this time of year we hear it all the time: ‘I hope I get the latest game for my X-Box for Christmas’, ‘I hope I get a new I-phone’ or ‘I hope I don’t get given another dozen pairs of green socks again this year’.

This problem with kind of hope is that it is based upon uncertainty. For example, we could say ‘I hope to wash my car tomorrow: I hope it doesn’t rain’. That kind of hope is merely a wish, not a certainty. We can hope all we like for something, and sometimes we can see some indications that it may well come true, but life can be unpredictable and situations can change at any moment. We can all so easily tumble from hopefulness into hopelessness. Over the few years we have heard stories of how people have gone from incredibly well paid jobs in the city to losing their lifestyle, homes, and in some cases, their family.

The message which Isaiah gives in our first lesson today is told to a people who feel like they are in a hopeless situation such as this. Not only had Israel had been weakened by warring with other tribes but also God had told the them through the prophets that their special covenanted relationship with him cannot protect them from punishment when they went astray. They had committed idolatry, acts of injustice and cruelty, among other things. They are in a dire situation - they have opposed God’s Law - but Isaiah is also tasked by God to remind them that there is hope for their future. This is a concrete hope, one that comes directly from God and is not merely a wish: it is the immanent coming of a messiah.

Isaiah describes him as one who has a spirit of wisdom, who would be of good counsel, understanding and might. He would be be a righteous judge, uplifting the meek and removing exploitation. He would come to restore the earth to how it was before the Fall: we are told age old enemies in natural world are to be reconciled. All relationships based on fear will be ended. Tribes and factions will come together. What this tells us is that God's hope makes the seemingly impossible possible. Isaiah describes the Messiah as having the power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The lion and the lamb will come together in love. There is no fear of death by vipers. No hurt exists, and no destruction. The shoot from the stump of David grows new, green, and fresh, and brings life to a dying world. As Isaiah describes God's kingdom on earth, the cynic would see the image of the wolf and lamb, the child and snake together as absurd, even mad. Sometimes there is a fine line between madness and hope, but is it mad to believe that God had a plan for a better world?

Well, the writer of our psalm this morning certainly didn’t think so. He continues the Messianic image in his song of a king’s son who will be the one under whose rule righteousness and peace will flourish. The psalmist, who was possibly Solomon, looks forward to the endless reign of this Messiah who alone can rule with perfect justice. He is a king of peace.

In our epistle we heard St Paul linking Messianic signs directly to our Lord Jesus Christ. For him the messianic promise of hope is not abstract, but fixed firmly in Jesus’ person and actions. We could say, then, that Paul provides us with a different – a Christian – definition of hope. Christian hope is an expectation based on the promises of God. Paul tells us that everything written everything written in Scripture points to the coming of Christ. He tells us that the purpose of his teaching is that we might have hope. No matter how dark the day, no matter what disasters may befall us, God’s Word gives us peace, joy and hope. We can then be assured that God’s hand actively directs all things for the good of those who love Him.

John the Baptist, our own patron, had a different view of what the Messiah would be. He realised that the people living in the regions of Jerusalem, Judea and Jordan had once again slipped into some of the bad habits of their ancestors. They had become less concerned about their adherence to their relationship to God and consequently fallen into sin. Already having a reputation as a fiery preacher, he proclaimed that God’s wrath was coming. According to John, the one who was to come (and come soon) would arrive with the axe of judgment, to cleanse the threshing floor and divide the wheat from the chaff. John’s baptism of repentance was with water, but the Messiah would baptise with fire and the Holy Spirit. Hardly a man of peace!

As we prepare this Advent to celebrate the birth of the Messiah this Christmas, and think about Jesus’ triumphal Second Coming, we might ask ourselves which Jesus is it that we are expecting? Is it King Jesus, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, who heralds a new kingdom of hope and justice – the herald of peace – or is it Judge Jesus bearing the axe, winnowing fork and fire?

I would say that the answer is both – and neither. Throughout his earthly ministry Jesus surprised (and disappointed) some people by not doing what they expected – he did not wish to conquer with military force and seize thrones to bring absolute order. His message was one of love: to bring all peoples together into one community by virtue of his passion, death and resurrection. However, we need to remember that Jesus did say things that separated people. He gave people a choice: to carry on with life as they had been, or to stop and follow him. Some chose to follow his teaching, others went away despondent. Perhaps this is what John the Baptist was alluding to. This Advent we too have choices to make. We were reminded at the Ordinariate exploration day last month that in this season God is giving us a time in which we can prayerfully reflect on our future and see where we are called to be. We would be wise to heed this advice for as we heard in last week’s gospel, we need to be ready – the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour!

I strongly believe that alongside our Advent preparation we need to remember Christ’s presence and work amongst us here and now. By focusing on this he is able to bring us the hope and the inner peace that we need to sustain us until his return in glory. He comes to us through every aspect of our Christian life together – we are his body: we are His Church. He comes to us in the waters of baptism and in the words of the Gospel. He appears with the gentleness and power of the Mass.

As we draw closer to the celebration of His nativity we remember that He brings his peace and hope to us as a baby lying in a manger. That he came to carry our sins, to bear a heavy cross. That he will come again in all His power and glory to bring us and all believers into His heavenly kingdom. Because of this we are assured that we can place our hope in God’s promises yet to be fulfilled.

In these last two weeks of Advent let’s look forward the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ who gives us, and will continue to give us, the best gift of all this Christmas: the gift of himself, the gift of Hope and peace. Amen.

Second day of Triduum for the Immaculate Conception of the BVM

2010-12-05T10:48:00.000Z

O God

Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin

didst make her a worthy habitation for Thy Son

and didst by his foreseen death

preserve her from all stain of sin,

grant, we beseech Thee,

that through her intercession

we may be cleansed from sin

and come with pure hearts to Thee.

2010-12-04T14:22:00.002Z