Prayer...I have been praying a lot recently, for a range of things in a range of ways, some of it hasn't been easy, but at the end of the day it can only be a good thing. I remember when I was a confirmation catechist earlier in the year a young person asked me why I prayed. I came up with some waffly answer, but it did the trick - he seemed satisfied with my reasons and said that he was going to "try it out".
Anyway, I watched Shadowlands again this weekend. A poignant time to watch a film like that, when one of your friends is dying of cancer...but there was this awesome quote about prayer:
"That is not why I pray. I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I am helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God, it changes me"
Now that is the answer I should have given to my young people.
Shadowlands is a great film - very very moving. It makes me want to read C.S Lewis stuff all over again. Maybe, later in the year it may be a good time to read such things.
Please keep Fr Ben in your prayers - he needs them.
I am PhD Student...I like gin. I am getting over a tough few years, and I talk about Taize a lot.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
This weekend was a first for me...it was the first time that I have helped out at a Diocesan Youth Festival. About 5 months ago, I received a phone call..."Zosia, we are going to hold a youth festival called IGNITE, and we really want a Taize night prayer for the first evening...will you do it?" I said yes...of course. Not just because it was Luke and Hamish asking me, but because I genuinely wanted to do it...and the East Anglia Diocese have been a huge help to me over the last few years.
As the weeks got closer, I found myself also leading a workshop called "God speaks to us", and then last Wednesday, I found myself answering another phone call with the question "can you do the Sunday morning talk?".."What on" I reply..."oh, you know, the call to holiness, saints of the 3rd millennium, community, The Eucharist...".."Ok" I say...
So on Friday afternoon I arrive in a very wet Norwich, we make our way to the boarding school in Swaffham where IGNITE was to be held, and began the setting up. While I let the men sort out the sounding and the lighting in the Gym...Fr Luke and I set about transforming a french classroom into a chapel. This was more successful then I though - bed linen is brilliant! I took up various bits of material from my church, we had Bishop Michaels Taize cross, various icons that Fr Luke had painted and set about making an altar and prayer spaces. At 11:30pm, we left the school and headed back to Norwich, via ASDA to pick up more bed linen to finish up the next day and food. At 12pm/am, we put food in the oven and started to plan the openning liturgies, prayers and talks for the next 2 hours. After less than 4 hours sleep in the guest room at Cathedral House I was up again finishing up and making our way back to the school to finish setting up.
Saturday started off with a Mass for a small number of us, so that we could have the Blessed Sacrament present in the chapel, and we finished set up, just in time for the arrivals of everyone. The opening liturgy included prayer and praise, a meditation about answering Gods call (using Mary and the Magnificat as an example....a 1:30am gin induced idea), and a Christian Mime artist...lunch, a key note talk from Fr Luke, free time (and the chance for the sacrament of Reconciliation) followed by workshops...after my workshop which was in the chapel, I set about changing the layout for evening Taize prayer...but that could only be finished off with the arrival of things later in the evening. I then took the opportunity for confession myself, and made my way to the BBQ.
In the evening, two very powerful events happened. Steve Murray, a Christian Mime artist performed for us - for about an hour, and did an amazing mime about the passion of Christ - I was literally moved to tears - it was amazing. I had to miss the concert as I had to set up chapel for Taize prayer which was in complete candlelight - and this turned out to be far more emotional than I could have ever imagined. Obviously, Bishop Michael was in our thoughts (the first anniversary of his death had just passed), but also Fr Ben is very much in our thoughts. But the service was beautiful, just emotional, with many of us going outside to have a good cry - not a wee-, but a big snotty cry. Even Hamish, who does not like Taize, came to find me to tell me he liked it... A hunt for a memory stick, and much de-waxing of a chapel later, I made my way to the convent where the female 'special guests' were staying for the night, and I took a Katie in with me - I had a room with 4 beds in it - she was going to have a crash mat...it made sense!
Little sleep later, and sunday morning came, with breakfast, morning prayer of the church, and then my talk. After we had Mass preparation, Mass, lunch, and that was it,,,Ignite was done. Obviously we had a huge clear up operation, and post the removal of the blessed sacrament from chapel, we began dismantling, with many hands on deck, music blasting from my speakers and dancing!
On Sunday evening, Fr Luke and I drove to visit Fr Ben in his hospice - I was not going to go all the way to Norwich and not visit him. This was a wonderfully blessed time - Ben was in good spirits (he had been with his family earlier in the day) but was tired and weak. We talked about his ordination, and how he has previously said "give me a system and I will smash it", and he was happy when I told him I may be venturing into youth ministry, and just general chit chat - until about 10-15 minutes later he became very week, so we received a blessing and allowed him to rest. On the way back to Norwich in the car, I let the tears fall. Questioning - why? Why?
On Monday I went to Mass in the Cathedral, Hamish popped over to say goodbye and then I made my way back to the office!
I was very lucky to have been part of IGNITE...time spent among friends, meeting new people, being thrown in at the deep end and having time to pray, and think about the future was brilliant.
Please continue to pray for Fr Ben - he is being such a witness of grace and gift - but he does need prayers.
Thank you once again EA for taking me in, and letting me be in amongst you. I am very grateful.
As the weeks got closer, I found myself also leading a workshop called "God speaks to us", and then last Wednesday, I found myself answering another phone call with the question "can you do the Sunday morning talk?".."What on" I reply..."oh, you know, the call to holiness, saints of the 3rd millennium, community, The Eucharist...".."Ok" I say...
So on Friday afternoon I arrive in a very wet Norwich, we make our way to the boarding school in Swaffham where IGNITE was to be held, and began the setting up. While I let the men sort out the sounding and the lighting in the Gym...Fr Luke and I set about transforming a french classroom into a chapel. This was more successful then I though - bed linen is brilliant! I took up various bits of material from my church, we had Bishop Michaels Taize cross, various icons that Fr Luke had painted and set about making an altar and prayer spaces. At 11:30pm, we left the school and headed back to Norwich, via ASDA to pick up more bed linen to finish up the next day and food. At 12pm/am, we put food in the oven and started to plan the openning liturgies, prayers and talks for the next 2 hours. After less than 4 hours sleep in the guest room at Cathedral House I was up again finishing up and making our way back to the school to finish setting up.
Saturday started off with a Mass for a small number of us, so that we could have the Blessed Sacrament present in the chapel, and we finished set up, just in time for the arrivals of everyone. The opening liturgy included prayer and praise, a meditation about answering Gods call (using Mary and the Magnificat as an example....a 1:30am gin induced idea), and a Christian Mime artist...lunch, a key note talk from Fr Luke, free time (and the chance for the sacrament of Reconciliation) followed by workshops...after my workshop which was in the chapel, I set about changing the layout for evening Taize prayer...but that could only be finished off with the arrival of things later in the evening. I then took the opportunity for confession myself, and made my way to the BBQ.
In the evening, two very powerful events happened. Steve Murray, a Christian Mime artist performed for us - for about an hour, and did an amazing mime about the passion of Christ - I was literally moved to tears - it was amazing. I had to miss the concert as I had to set up chapel for Taize prayer which was in complete candlelight - and this turned out to be far more emotional than I could have ever imagined. Obviously, Bishop Michael was in our thoughts (the first anniversary of his death had just passed), but also Fr Ben is very much in our thoughts. But the service was beautiful, just emotional, with many of us going outside to have a good cry - not a wee-, but a big snotty cry. Even Hamish, who does not like Taize, came to find me to tell me he liked it... A hunt for a memory stick, and much de-waxing of a chapel later, I made my way to the convent where the female 'special guests' were staying for the night, and I took a Katie in with me - I had a room with 4 beds in it - she was going to have a crash mat...it made sense!
Little sleep later, and sunday morning came, with breakfast, morning prayer of the church, and then my talk. After we had Mass preparation, Mass, lunch, and that was it,,,Ignite was done. Obviously we had a huge clear up operation, and post the removal of the blessed sacrament from chapel, we began dismantling, with many hands on deck, music blasting from my speakers and dancing!
On Sunday evening, Fr Luke and I drove to visit Fr Ben in his hospice - I was not going to go all the way to Norwich and not visit him. This was a wonderfully blessed time - Ben was in good spirits (he had been with his family earlier in the day) but was tired and weak. We talked about his ordination, and how he has previously said "give me a system and I will smash it", and he was happy when I told him I may be venturing into youth ministry, and just general chit chat - until about 10-15 minutes later he became very week, so we received a blessing and allowed him to rest. On the way back to Norwich in the car, I let the tears fall. Questioning - why? Why?
On Monday I went to Mass in the Cathedral, Hamish popped over to say goodbye and then I made my way back to the office!
I was very lucky to have been part of IGNITE...time spent among friends, meeting new people, being thrown in at the deep end and having time to pray, and think about the future was brilliant.
Please continue to pray for Fr Ben - he is being such a witness of grace and gift - but he does need prayers.
Thank you once again EA for taking me in, and letting me be in amongst you. I am very grateful.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
So, I would like to say a MASSIVE thanks to James who let me guest blog on his blog the other day about Fr Ben's ordination so we could get the prayers up. I am hugely grateful, and I am sure that Fr Ben is also grateful for the prayers.
I have had a lot of emotions recently. Last Friday it was extreme anger when I found out that I was the only PhD student not to receive further funding to finish their PhD post centre closure. This was followed by many tears, and then reflection. Reflection, came last - it should have been first. I still do not know what is going on, but I have a great supervisor who is checking on my mental health all the time (he knows that the Ben news has knocked me slightly too), and is going to fight a battle foe funding for me. So all is not lost. I went on a church away day where I was asked to give a talk about community and the Eucharist, and that went down really positively, so that cheered me up!
And today, well, today I have had a relatively positive PhD supervision - these have been rare of late if I am being honest, so when I was receiving feedback for a results chapter that my boss had not seen at all, or really even discussed with me, and a) he liked my findings (I am bored of them, but he liked them) and b) issues that I have had with other chapters were not present here, I was somewhat happy! Obviously, it needs tidying up and amending, but it was not all bad! woop!
Half a day of work tomorrow before I head up to Norwich to help run some sessions at IGNITE youth festival for East Anglia Catholic Diocese! I am leading a session called "God speaks to us" (prayers for that please), and co-ordinating the Taize prayer in the evening (this I have planned!). So it should be a good weekend....and if he is well enough, I may also pop to see Fr Ben who has moved back to EA to get the care he needs.
I have had a lot of emotions recently. Last Friday it was extreme anger when I found out that I was the only PhD student not to receive further funding to finish their PhD post centre closure. This was followed by many tears, and then reflection. Reflection, came last - it should have been first. I still do not know what is going on, but I have a great supervisor who is checking on my mental health all the time (he knows that the Ben news has knocked me slightly too), and is going to fight a battle foe funding for me. So all is not lost. I went on a church away day where I was asked to give a talk about community and the Eucharist, and that went down really positively, so that cheered me up!
And today, well, today I have had a relatively positive PhD supervision - these have been rare of late if I am being honest, so when I was receiving feedback for a results chapter that my boss had not seen at all, or really even discussed with me, and a) he liked my findings (I am bored of them, but he liked them) and b) issues that I have had with other chapters were not present here, I was somewhat happy! Obviously, it needs tidying up and amending, but it was not all bad! woop!
Half a day of work tomorrow before I head up to Norwich to help run some sessions at IGNITE youth festival for East Anglia Catholic Diocese! I am leading a session called "God speaks to us" (prayers for that please), and co-ordinating the Taize prayer in the evening (this I have planned!). So it should be a good weekend....and if he is well enough, I may also pop to see Fr Ben who has moved back to EA to get the care he needs.
Monday, July 02, 2012
Another Ben update...well technically that should read Fr Ben update...Ben took a turn for the worse, and so on Saturday he was ordained even though he is only in his 3rd year. I rushed up to go and support him with a few other friends...what a beautiful, heart-wrenching, poignant service. Ben was courageous and strong throughout, and at the end of the service there was a spontaneous round of applause that went of for ages, and Ben found the strength to stand up and turn round to face us all...with such joy on his face. He gave us all a blessing as we left the chapel, and I spoke with him for a few minutes, trying my upmost not to cry. Then when I could, when I was out of sight, I walked away in tears.
I am so happy that I went up to support him on his day. His strength, courage, hope and trust in the Lord was an incredible witness, even through his horrific illness. What grace that on Sunday, I heard he was able to celebrate his first Mass at seminary for a few other priests - amazing grace.
I kind of feel that Saturday was a bit of a dream. Travelling the distance, seeing this act of love and service and humility, tears of joy, and tears of sadness. And once again, I was made to feel so welcome amongst the EA clergy...
And to end on a lighter note, I got to sit on another papal chair (with the permission of the rector of the seminary), and after this ordination, I did not fall down any stairs and hit my head.
Please continue to pray for Fr Ben...he truly appreciates them and needs them
I am so happy that I went up to support him on his day. His strength, courage, hope and trust in the Lord was an incredible witness, even through his horrific illness. What grace that on Sunday, I heard he was able to celebrate his first Mass at seminary for a few other priests - amazing grace.
I kind of feel that Saturday was a bit of a dream. Travelling the distance, seeing this act of love and service and humility, tears of joy, and tears of sadness. And once again, I was made to feel so welcome amongst the EA clergy...
And to end on a lighter note, I got to sit on another papal chair (with the permission of the rector of the seminary), and after this ordination, I did not fall down any stairs and hit my head.
Please continue to pray for Fr Ben...he truly appreciates them and needs them
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
I am wanting to have my second results chapter done by the end of the week, giving me enough time to be on course for a first draft of every chapter of the thesis before my break...at the moment, I have 11,000 words left for the discussion - this should be enough...but I am sure we can chop some of my results down a bit, or my literature, so I should be ok for the 100,000 word limit...it is strange - 100,000 words at my disposal, and there is still a chance of going over the word limit.
Was given some advice about prayer of discernment the other day - took it last night...have to say, it was quite powerful stuff.
2 weeks until Ignite - my first try at running some sessions at an organised youth weekend...quite excited. And yes, I have also been asked to co-ordinate a Taize prayer at the event. good stuff
Was given some advice about prayer of discernment the other day - took it last night...have to say, it was quite powerful stuff.
2 weeks until Ignite - my first try at running some sessions at an organised youth weekend...quite excited. And yes, I have also been asked to co-ordinate a Taize prayer at the event. good stuff
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Published!!!
Well, in Southwark Archdiocese anyway! This months edition of our diocesan newspaper "The Pilgrim" contains my article....and not just that, but they have put it on a 2 page spread on the centre pages!! It is all very exciting! In fact, somebody pointed out to me that they also had my photo on the front page!! I will give you all one guess as to what my article was about...!! But they also put Bishop Paul's article about the service I invited him to in there, and a little section about the new Taize CTS booklet that Fr Bryan, my parish priest wrote. So all in all, in every parish in Southwark Archdiocese this morning, the new edition of the Pilgrim will have been offered to parishioners, and my article will be there for all to read.
In other news, I was at St George's Cathedral yesterday for a training day for Diocesan catechists which was very interesting and ended with a Mass with Archbishop Peter thanking us all for our work, and commissioning us to go out to continue teaching the faith....so my friend and I, went out to the pub!
And this evening, I have just returned from 'face to face with Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor at the local Methodist church - the methodist minister questionning him for about an hour. It was a big shame there was no time for questions from the audience, I had loads to ask....but never mind....
Well, in Southwark Archdiocese anyway! This months edition of our diocesan newspaper "The Pilgrim" contains my article....and not just that, but they have put it on a 2 page spread on the centre pages!! It is all very exciting! In fact, somebody pointed out to me that they also had my photo on the front page!! I will give you all one guess as to what my article was about...!! But they also put Bishop Paul's article about the service I invited him to in there, and a little section about the new Taize CTS booklet that Fr Bryan, my parish priest wrote. So all in all, in every parish in Southwark Archdiocese this morning, the new edition of the Pilgrim will have been offered to parishioners, and my article will be there for all to read.
In other news, I was at St George's Cathedral yesterday for a training day for Diocesan catechists which was very interesting and ended with a Mass with Archbishop Peter thanking us all for our work, and commissioning us to go out to continue teaching the faith....so my friend and I, went out to the pub!
And this evening, I have just returned from 'face to face with Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor at the local Methodist church - the methodist minister questionning him for about an hour. It was a big shame there was no time for questions from the audience, I had loads to ask....but never mind....
Thursday, June 21, 2012
An update on my friend Ben, mentioned in the last post: he was not a suitable candidate for an experimental drug, that would not have cured him, but may have helped control pain/grant him a little more time. he is weak, but apparently in good spirits. He really wants to go to Taize one last time, and so we are working on ways to get him there. He really could do with more prayers, so please, pray for Ben. Also pray for those at seminary with him and those caring for him. It was good to have both Luke and Hamish independently visit London (but on the same day) last week and to have an evening of drinking with them. And last night, a good catch up meal with an old friend was just what the Dr ordered. In the last few weeks, I have been leaning on friends for support on a number of issues, and I thank them all. I hope that I can repay the favour...
Saturday, June 09, 2012
I went to Norwich last week for the entire long weekend, and I timed going there just at the right time. And this is where readers of this blog come in. Could, if you are that way inclined (and even if you are not), pray for our friend Ben. He is a third year seminarian, a fellow Taize pilgrim and more importantly a good friend who, last Thursday, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, and was told that he doesn't have long. We are all pretty shocked by the news, and very upset by it. So please pray for him. Pray that he can be comforted, and can remain as strong as he can. Please also pray for those who care for those who care for him at this sad time.
Friday, June 01, 2012
I am very excited as I am going to have a mini-break this weekend and visit 2 good friends of mine. I will have time to pray, time to laugh, to drink and even go to Walsingham for my first time EVER as part of a diocesan pilgrimage (of a diocese that I do not belong to). So, this should be good. Will be staying in a building that is next to a Cathedral, so finding somewhere conducive to prayer will be easy! So yes, East Anglia, I am coming to visit you!
Last week I went to an encouraging yet frustrating meeting, where half way through after being told that I can visit parish x,y and z in my free time to help with their youth activities, I had to snap and say this was not possible as I do not have much free time!! The Dean of Bromley then stepped in to support me - thankfully. Also, I found out that the Bishop really liked our Confirmation programme which was good as we had put a lot of work into that, and now plans have been sent to other parishes to see what we have done :-))
And that is about it. PhD continues...and some of this weekend away is to pray about what to do next...
Saturday, May 19, 2012
It has been a very busy few weeks recently, and so now is my time to catch up a little bit - on many things, including sleep.
So, on the Saturday after I was hacked, my eldest brother got himself a wife! The wedding was beautiful. It was held in the Lake District as that is where his (now) wife is from. We went up the day before to set up the reception venue etc. Now, I had three roles at the wedding - I was 'Best Girl' which meant just making sure everything was ok for the service, I was the caterer liaison for the reception to make sure food was served correctly, that wine was flowing throuhgout the meal and the bar was flowing throughout the evening (the best thing about this role was that I was able to have my gin and tonic hidden), and my main role at the wedding was singing when Andrew and Anne signed the register. Now, yes, I like to sing, but I have never, ever done anything like this!! I was singing Schubert's Ave Maria, and Songbird (made famoud by Ewa Cassidy). The irony of starting a second song which has the openning line "For you, there'll be no crying" to a congregation in tears. I just about managed not to cry when I was singing, but fully blubbed when I sat back down. So yes, I now have another sister in law! The priest was weird, confused by the new translation and a bit muddled. When I spoke to a friend a few days later I told him that I want a priest who knows what they are doing officiating my wedding!! He said that was manageable*
* he is a priest!!
Secondly, I took a group of young people on retreat. I have been wokring with these young people since December, and at times, they have been hard work, but really it has been my pleasure to be their catechist. I took them to the SCYS retreat centre where they had a weekend programme, that they threw themselves into with gusto. I was so proud of them...they were well behaved, really learnt and got to understand me a lot better. There were also a lot of tears. Some of the young people during the reflections got themselves a little upset, the silence spoke to them. They were very upset, so I took them to chapel, sat with them, gave them time to cry, gave them time to explain why they were upset and then prayed for them and with them. Special times.
Thirdly, well yesterday, was the actual Confirmation service. It was truly beautiful to see 32 young people stand up to be confirmed, to kneel infront of Bishop Pat and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. They were all smiling so proudly, looked so smart, read brilliantly, and were just really good. I was so proud of them. So proud that I spent most of the service crying like an emotional relative. Afterwards, the Bishop came and congratulated me on my work with the kids and a lovely service, and many parents came to thank me for working with them (and the other catechists), and really being able to engage with them at their levels. That was what was most important - the fact that parents realised what I had done. I had made prayer cards for all the young people as a gift, and I hope that we can now keep them engaged and excited about their faith.
So yes, busy times. And amongst all this, I am still writing my PhD, keeping that going, and keeping that to time as much as I can. I am struggling a little bit as I am not sure about my funding post July, and I am quite frankly wanting to get the thing done so I can move onto the next pahse of my life...what that is going to be I am not yet sure...I am praying for guidance on this one...
And that is pretty much it for the time being!!
should keep you updated for a little while!
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Busy, busy times...but I have a little time to blow my own trumpet...a little bit!
I have been teaching confirmation to 30 young people since January, and at our sessions I am usually given the "Bible study slot"....I thought this was going to be hard engaging the kids in that...but...it has been ok actually. From spontaneous applaud from the young people, to questions being asked...Monday's study involved a quiz...
But (as in other weeks) I am more worried as to what my priest will say about what I am saying, and not the young people....but then I get this feedback:
"many thanks to you and the others for your work and commitment. Your talk on Monday was excellent! You must deliver some of these in other contexts....we can talk after the weekend"
hoorah!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
I have had a hacked kind of life in the last 24 hours. Some nasty people have deleted all my contacts and all my emails, everything gone. Now some stuff from my past it is probably good that it has gone, as there was a lot of sadness in some emails there. However, there was also a lot of nice things there, with some lovely messages of love and support which are gone. It just does go to show that not everything does last forever.
This tops off a rather bad week.
My birthday the other day was Ok - had a lovely Taize prayer, but also had an unfortunate evening, which ended up with me crying down the phone to someone who has become one of my closest friends...
Having cried to many a customer service adviser this morning, I am really upping my emotional nightmare tally this week!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Sometimes you do things because you know that you get a lot of enjoyment from doing it...this is what happens when I do my monthly Taize services - if nobody turns up (this is not the case) it wouldn't matter, as I would have that time in prayer (and a whole church) to myself.
However, just the other day, somebody who regularly comes to the monthly services sent me this:
"Thank you so much for your Taize ministry – the Good Friday vigil was so lovely and so meaningful"
Boom!
I dont often get feedback - this made me smile.
Lets hope this Sunday's service can also be meaningful!!
However, just the other day, somebody who regularly comes to the monthly services sent me this:
"Thank you so much for your Taize ministry – the Good Friday vigil was so lovely and so meaningful"
Boom!
I dont often get feedback - this made me smile.
Lets hope this Sunday's service can also be meaningful!!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
So it has been a very busy time...last time I wrote I said I still had a lot to update on, and I do...
So there was a lot of Taize activity towards the end of February. Frere Paolo was over and there was a London prayer in the Southwark Anglican Cathedral, being advertised with a 'meditation with the Southwark Anglican Bishop", so I decided to invite a Southwark Catholic Bishop - and to my joy, Bishop Paul agreed to attend - in fact in his email he said he would be delighted to attend. This was good news. The prayer was ok - a littl un-like usual Taize prayer, but I had a good opportunity to catch up with Frere Paolo, and to meet lots of other Taize friends who had travelled to the event - friends from Brighton and Birmigham came, and some other friends I met in Berlin came - good stuff. At the end, I had a chat with Bishop Paul who told me that he had really enjoyed the prayer, and was happy to have been invited. Frere Paolo thanked me for having the iniative to invite a Catholic Bishop, and the Anglican Bishop came up to me to say that they are glad that I invited him, as they should have done that themselves. A few days later I had an e-mail from both Frere Paolo and Bishop Paul saying that they had both met to discuss various things, and the Bishop (who apologised that he will be unable to come to Taize with us this year) said that he is interested about coming out with us next year...
The day after that was Rite of Election...having seen Archbishop Peter at uni two evenings before, and Bishop Paul the day before seeing Bishops was becoming a daily occurrence. Rite of Election was a beautiful service - I had never been to such a service before - but I was incredibly moved. I feel so unworthy to be sponsoring the couple that I am sponsoring, and to stand with them was humbling. After the ceremony, Archbishop Peter joked that we had to stop meeting like this and chatted with me...Father Bryan and I then went to chat to Bishop Paul about a range of things. It was agreed that we should write a joint article for the Diocesan newspaper - me about my experiences at Taize for the last 5 years, and + Paul to write about his experience of the prayer the day before...and there was even talk about holding a Taize style prayer service at the Cathedral that he would support. So a lot of prayer, a lot of knock backs and finally just taking the guts to go straight to the top and ask the people who can make things happen had paid off. Bishop Michael in 2010 spoke with me in the Taize church for a very long time one evening, time that I treasure dearly - but he asked me to get Southwark interested in Taize, to get the Bishops interested in it - and now I am doing that. and it may be working - slowly, but I said to +Micheal I would do my best, and now I am.
Then the other big event that I have been to, and commented very briefly about in my last post was FLAME - the event organised by CYMFed for young people, and those involved in youth ministry at Wembley Arena. A lot of various websites and in various Catholic newspapers has been written about the event. My opinion: gathering a group of young people to witness to their faith, to pray and worship is a good thing - especially if these young people do not have mnany others in their parish to do this with...but it would have been good to have had a bit more 'Catholicism' in it. Rise drama did a brilliant piece at the beginning that had me a little emotional - the best thing about the day for me was the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I rememnber being in Hyde Park with 80,000 people on my knees praying in that silence - feeling this is a bit extreme, but I am loving it. There was a similar feeling at FLAME...almist 9,000 young people in prayer in that arena - maybe they had not prayed like that before, maybe they had not witnessed so many people coming to prayer like that before - and if not, and even if they had, then it is very moving. There was a Glee-esque Flash-mob which was fairly amusing, and annoyingly catchy!! I was volunteering on the day - was up at 5:15 to get to Wembley Arena by 8 - but I had been given a fabulous volunteering role - I was the VIP runner...when the VIPs arrived I took them to their seat - and that was it! This meant that I was sat with the Bishops throughout the congress, and had a giggle with them. watching their faces throughout the flashmob was hilarious, and then hearing a few of them woop at the end had me in stitches. I was able to have a good few conversations with them, which I really appreciated. My friend Fr Luke from EA was also a VIP which also meant that I was able to spend a lot of the day chatting with him, and I saw quite a few of the Taize EA group, as well as Southwark people, some friends from universities and other people I have met in various other situations. I may not have been fully enriched by what was said on the day, but I was moved by some of it, had a lovely prayer experience and had a brilliant volunteering role....and had a good few drinks at the after show volunteers drinks.
I had sung Stainer's The Crucifixion with Petts Wood Festival Chorus - a very moving piece of choral singing, and £1400 raised for Marie Curie cancer care...fitting as this week I found out that a Taize friend of mine, inly a year older then me has a cancerous tumour on his bladder. He was down in London so we met and he told me the news. I knew that something was wrong with him, and was praying that this was not going to be the case - but it is. He is taking it well - in fact -I was pretty cut up with it. On the train home after saying goodbye to him I cried. Why this horrible illness? So i am praying now that it can be just cut out, and that it has not spread - prayers for him would be much appreciated.
Then we have had Easter... In our church, I as a Confirmation cathechist, had made the Triduum part of the Confirmation course. The week before Easter was the 'community action' session - 25 out of the 30 young people came to clean the church and tidy the church garden. And throughout the Easter services, the young children did all of the readings, welcoming, a good proportion of them served, 12 had their feet washed, some helped with the collections, and some then helped to tidy the church after the servers. I was immensely proud of them. They are growing and developing every week, and I had some people of the parish come to tell me how wonderful it was to see the young people participate. What was more exciting was the number of people we had coming to church with them. The Confirmation candidates came with their families, and so we had a full church - beautiful to see. In my session on Monday we are learning about the gifts of the Spirit - in my Bible study I am doing with them, I have written a thank you to them for using their gifts in the last few weeks in the church community, and what a pleasure it is to be working with them. Have also managed to get some of the Pope's Hyde Park homily into it...we shall see how it goes down! After my last Bible study with them I got a spontaneous round of applause. I am really enjoying this catechist lark...maybe Hamish is right - having been screaming "Go into church youth work" at me for the last 3 years, he may be right...
Over Easter I sat down for all of 30 minutes...that was enough for the immune system to shut down and a nasty lurgy attacked. This has made writing the PhD this week harder then it should be. Having said that I have had a tough week all round, panic at the beginning, followed by apathy, followed by I am just not good enough for this...to now..I just have to get it done.
My brother gets married in two weeks, so today i had my 6 monthly hair cut so that I can get used to my new hair for the wedding. I am 'best girl' for the wedding, and tried on about 100 dresses for the thing...we finally found one on wednesday...but when showing it to my nan today we noticed a snag in the material, so I need to get the receipt off the bride and go and exchange it. I will hopefully be singing at the wedding (if my voice is better by then)...some Ave Maria (Schubert-style) and Songbird have been requested when signing the register, so will see what happens!!
And that is about it...I think that is everything of note/interest.
I am slipping into a but of moppage at the moment - need to kick myself out of it quickly as I know that it is not particularly healthy, and I am trying. But stuff keeps on hitting me back in the face!
So there was a lot of Taize activity towards the end of February. Frere Paolo was over and there was a London prayer in the Southwark Anglican Cathedral, being advertised with a 'meditation with the Southwark Anglican Bishop", so I decided to invite a Southwark Catholic Bishop - and to my joy, Bishop Paul agreed to attend - in fact in his email he said he would be delighted to attend. This was good news. The prayer was ok - a littl un-like usual Taize prayer, but I had a good opportunity to catch up with Frere Paolo, and to meet lots of other Taize friends who had travelled to the event - friends from Brighton and Birmigham came, and some other friends I met in Berlin came - good stuff. At the end, I had a chat with Bishop Paul who told me that he had really enjoyed the prayer, and was happy to have been invited. Frere Paolo thanked me for having the iniative to invite a Catholic Bishop, and the Anglican Bishop came up to me to say that they are glad that I invited him, as they should have done that themselves. A few days later I had an e-mail from both Frere Paolo and Bishop Paul saying that they had both met to discuss various things, and the Bishop (who apologised that he will be unable to come to Taize with us this year) said that he is interested about coming out with us next year...
The day after that was Rite of Election...having seen Archbishop Peter at uni two evenings before, and Bishop Paul the day before seeing Bishops was becoming a daily occurrence. Rite of Election was a beautiful service - I had never been to such a service before - but I was incredibly moved. I feel so unworthy to be sponsoring the couple that I am sponsoring, and to stand with them was humbling. After the ceremony, Archbishop Peter joked that we had to stop meeting like this and chatted with me...Father Bryan and I then went to chat to Bishop Paul about a range of things. It was agreed that we should write a joint article for the Diocesan newspaper - me about my experiences at Taize for the last 5 years, and + Paul to write about his experience of the prayer the day before...and there was even talk about holding a Taize style prayer service at the Cathedral that he would support. So a lot of prayer, a lot of knock backs and finally just taking the guts to go straight to the top and ask the people who can make things happen had paid off. Bishop Michael in 2010 spoke with me in the Taize church for a very long time one evening, time that I treasure dearly - but he asked me to get Southwark interested in Taize, to get the Bishops interested in it - and now I am doing that. and it may be working - slowly, but I said to +Micheal I would do my best, and now I am.
Then the other big event that I have been to, and commented very briefly about in my last post was FLAME - the event organised by CYMFed for young people, and those involved in youth ministry at Wembley Arena. A lot of various websites and in various Catholic newspapers has been written about the event. My opinion: gathering a group of young people to witness to their faith, to pray and worship is a good thing - especially if these young people do not have mnany others in their parish to do this with...but it would have been good to have had a bit more 'Catholicism' in it. Rise drama did a brilliant piece at the beginning that had me a little emotional - the best thing about the day for me was the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I rememnber being in Hyde Park with 80,000 people on my knees praying in that silence - feeling this is a bit extreme, but I am loving it. There was a similar feeling at FLAME...almist 9,000 young people in prayer in that arena - maybe they had not prayed like that before, maybe they had not witnessed so many people coming to prayer like that before - and if not, and even if they had, then it is very moving. There was a Glee-esque Flash-mob which was fairly amusing, and annoyingly catchy!! I was volunteering on the day - was up at 5:15 to get to Wembley Arena by 8 - but I had been given a fabulous volunteering role - I was the VIP runner...when the VIPs arrived I took them to their seat - and that was it! This meant that I was sat with the Bishops throughout the congress, and had a giggle with them. watching their faces throughout the flashmob was hilarious, and then hearing a few of them woop at the end had me in stitches. I was able to have a good few conversations with them, which I really appreciated. My friend Fr Luke from EA was also a VIP which also meant that I was able to spend a lot of the day chatting with him, and I saw quite a few of the Taize EA group, as well as Southwark people, some friends from universities and other people I have met in various other situations. I may not have been fully enriched by what was said on the day, but I was moved by some of it, had a lovely prayer experience and had a brilliant volunteering role....and had a good few drinks at the after show volunteers drinks.
I had sung Stainer's The Crucifixion with Petts Wood Festival Chorus - a very moving piece of choral singing, and £1400 raised for Marie Curie cancer care...fitting as this week I found out that a Taize friend of mine, inly a year older then me has a cancerous tumour on his bladder. He was down in London so we met and he told me the news. I knew that something was wrong with him, and was praying that this was not going to be the case - but it is. He is taking it well - in fact -I was pretty cut up with it. On the train home after saying goodbye to him I cried. Why this horrible illness? So i am praying now that it can be just cut out, and that it has not spread - prayers for him would be much appreciated.
Then we have had Easter... In our church, I as a Confirmation cathechist, had made the Triduum part of the Confirmation course. The week before Easter was the 'community action' session - 25 out of the 30 young people came to clean the church and tidy the church garden. And throughout the Easter services, the young children did all of the readings, welcoming, a good proportion of them served, 12 had their feet washed, some helped with the collections, and some then helped to tidy the church after the servers. I was immensely proud of them. They are growing and developing every week, and I had some people of the parish come to tell me how wonderful it was to see the young people participate. What was more exciting was the number of people we had coming to church with them. The Confirmation candidates came with their families, and so we had a full church - beautiful to see. In my session on Monday we are learning about the gifts of the Spirit - in my Bible study I am doing with them, I have written a thank you to them for using their gifts in the last few weeks in the church community, and what a pleasure it is to be working with them. Have also managed to get some of the Pope's Hyde Park homily into it...we shall see how it goes down! After my last Bible study with them I got a spontaneous round of applause. I am really enjoying this catechist lark...maybe Hamish is right - having been screaming "Go into church youth work" at me for the last 3 years, he may be right...
Over Easter I sat down for all of 30 minutes...that was enough for the immune system to shut down and a nasty lurgy attacked. This has made writing the PhD this week harder then it should be. Having said that I have had a tough week all round, panic at the beginning, followed by apathy, followed by I am just not good enough for this...to now..I just have to get it done.
My brother gets married in two weeks, so today i had my 6 monthly hair cut so that I can get used to my new hair for the wedding. I am 'best girl' for the wedding, and tried on about 100 dresses for the thing...we finally found one on wednesday...but when showing it to my nan today we noticed a snag in the material, so I need to get the receipt off the bride and go and exchange it. I will hopefully be singing at the wedding (if my voice is better by then)...some Ave Maria (Schubert-style) and Songbird have been requested when signing the register, so will see what happens!!
And that is about it...I think that is everything of note/interest.
I am slipping into a but of moppage at the moment - need to kick myself out of it quickly as I know that it is not particularly healthy, and I am trying. But stuff keeps on hitting me back in the face!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Ok...still have loads of things to report about - but this weekend has just been a bit insane...
1 - FLAME happened...content may have been a bit dubious at points - adoration was by far the best part of the day...but I had a brilliant volunteering job of being a VIP runner...so much fun - I smiled and laughed through the tiredness.
2 - Petts Wood Festival Chorus sang last night -Stainer's The Crucifixion...a thank you to Helen for when we had to give the thank you gifts for saying "I will let you give the gift to the hotter singer...but that is only because I am already married". Oh how we laughed. Beautiful piece of music though...and hopefully money made for marie curie cancer care.
1 - FLAME happened...content may have been a bit dubious at points - adoration was by far the best part of the day...but I had a brilliant volunteering job of being a VIP runner...so much fun - I smiled and laughed through the tiredness.
2 - Petts Wood Festival Chorus sang last night -Stainer's The Crucifixion...a thank you to Helen for when we had to give the thank you gifts for saying "I will let you give the gift to the hotter singer...but that is only because I am already married". Oh how we laughed. Beautiful piece of music though...and hopefully money made for marie curie cancer care.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
So, it turns out that my confirmation kids were perfectly behaved on Saturday. I think the surroundings helped. There was a deep intake of breathe when they entered (the majority had not been there before), and they set about doing their worksheet we had for them (that will be going in their confirmation pack that we are putting together for them). The staff and stewards at the cathedral were lovely - in fact they asked 4 of my young 'uns to do the take up the gifts during the service. After Mass, when the cathedral was emptying, the cathedral administrator gave us our own little tour and history of the cathedral, really interacting with the children, and meant that the cathedral had to stay open a little longer then usual for this to happen, and meant that we were the only ones left in there! As I was the last out, I turned around and took a quick picture of an empty westminster cathedral. Epic. A huge thank you to all the staff and priests there for helping us, being friendly towards us, and even mentioning that we were their in the prayers, and praying for us! I really believe the kids are developing, and realising that I am there to help them develop and learn about their faith and not just to tell them to turn their phone off, stop talking and remove their chewing gum!!
Yesterday I went to a very interesting debate held at university: 'Holiness and Wisdom and the beginning of life: When does human life become morally significant?'
Two speakers - a Professor of Medicine (and an Anglican Priest) and Peter Smith (the Archbishop of Southwark). Both spoke very well, and provided an interesting account of the ethics and morality of embryonic stem cell research. I had a very long conversation with Peter Smith afterwards...about many different things - including a question I had been too scared to ask in the open forum...to which he said "and this is the type of question that we needed in the debate - something very well articulated". But we had a long chat about faith formation and development, East Anglia, Taize and time! I said I would be seeing him in 2 days time as I am sponsoring a couple converting to Catholcism and this weekend is Rite of Election!
This evening, I will however be meeting with another Southwark Bishop who answered my e-mail and agreed to attend the Taize prayer around the cross at Southwark Anglican Cathedral this evening. I will be leaving to go and see Frere Paolo shortly, and hope that the St James Taize cross has arrived at the cathedral safely as are lending it to them!! I hope that this service goes well, as I am really wanting to get Taize more on the scene in Southwark - Peter Smith has encouraged me to keep going with it (and it is really helped by that fact that Bishop Michael always used to tell him to go, and that I had been told by Bishop Michael to plug Taize in Southwark)....so we shall see what Bishop Paul makes of it. But I am also excited about seeing other Taize friends who have indicated that they will be attending this evening...
Yesterday I went to a very interesting debate held at university: 'Holiness and Wisdom and the beginning of life: When does human life become morally significant?'
Two speakers - a Professor of Medicine (and an Anglican Priest) and Peter Smith (the Archbishop of Southwark). Both spoke very well, and provided an interesting account of the ethics and morality of embryonic stem cell research. I had a very long conversation with Peter Smith afterwards...about many different things - including a question I had been too scared to ask in the open forum...to which he said "and this is the type of question that we needed in the debate - something very well articulated". But we had a long chat about faith formation and development, East Anglia, Taize and time! I said I would be seeing him in 2 days time as I am sponsoring a couple converting to Catholcism and this weekend is Rite of Election!
This evening, I will however be meeting with another Southwark Bishop who answered my e-mail and agreed to attend the Taize prayer around the cross at Southwark Anglican Cathedral this evening. I will be leaving to go and see Frere Paolo shortly, and hope that the St James Taize cross has arrived at the cathedral safely as are lending it to them!! I hope that this service goes well, as I am really wanting to get Taize more on the scene in Southwark - Peter Smith has encouraged me to keep going with it (and it is really helped by that fact that Bishop Michael always used to tell him to go, and that I had been told by Bishop Michael to plug Taize in Southwark)....so we shall see what Bishop Paul makes of it. But I am also excited about seeing other Taize friends who have indicated that they will be attending this evening...
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
today I have dipped into gloom mood. I dont know why - but I have not been myself, and I feel all out of sorts.
I went to Mass in my lunch hour to give myself a spiritual kick...and to get through the afternoon...
On getting home, I did not feel much better, even when getting some lovely texts from some people attempting to cheer me up and giving me some prayers.
But, I got some news this evening that did cheer me slightly...I have been asked to be godmother to me neice. A complete little pleasure...this cheered me. An honour. My little neice is gorgeous and makes me smile...and now I will have this extra bit of responsibility for her. May God bless her.
I went to Mass in my lunch hour to give myself a spiritual kick...and to get through the afternoon...
On getting home, I did not feel much better, even when getting some lovely texts from some people attempting to cheer me up and giving me some prayers.
But, I got some news this evening that did cheer me slightly...I have been asked to be godmother to me neice. A complete little pleasure...this cheered me. An honour. My little neice is gorgeous and makes me smile...and now I will have this extra bit of responsibility for her. May God bless her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)