TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
EDUCATION SUNDAY
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
So, with holidays and things it is some time since our last newsletter.
i should begin by saying that our new Parish Priest is Fr. Andrew Foster. Fr. Andrew was raised in this parish. His parents were much loved parishioners. His father was, of course, Dr. Jack Foster of Nettlebed. Fr. Andrew will be moving into the Presbytery the week beginning September 26th.So his first Masses will be celebrated on October 3rd.
I am moving to St. Wulstan's Parish, Wolstanton. It is close to Newcastle under Lyme, and Keele University. I was Chaplain to the University 1993 - 1998. I went up to look at the Presbytery this week, and the church. The school is next door and has 500 pupils! Fr. Dominic, the current Parish Priest, kindly showed me round, and gave entertained me to lunch. We are friends from of old. So, my final Sunday Masses here are on Sunday 26th.September. It is the day of the great Antiques sale at Stonor. How appropriate!
My sister Shirley is much improved. Thank you for your prayers and inquiries. I asked to move north again to be nearer to her. We have no family left in Lancashire, so she is a bit isolated in Lancaster.
We pray for Luke Theobald from the Sonning Common parish. He begins his studies for the Priesthood at the English College in Rome this coming week. Remember his parents Deacon Brian and Francis in your prayers. The Parish Trust helled enabled Luke to attend World Youth Day some years ago. He told me he was most grateful for the financial help.
Mary Lock celebrated her Birthday this past week. 2022 will be the big year!
With all good wishes and prayers in this 'moving' times.
Fr. Michael ocds
So, with holidays and things it is some time since our last newsletter.
i should begin by saying that our new Parish Priest is Fr. Andrew Foster. Fr. Andrew was raised in this parish. His parents were much loved parishioners. His father was, of course, Dr. Jack Foster of Nettlebed. Fr. Andrew will be moving into the Presbytery the week beginning September 26th.So his first Masses will be celebrated on October 3rd.
I am moving to St. Wulstan's Parish, Wolstanton. It is close to Newcastle under Lyme, and Keele University. I was Chaplain to the University 1993 - 1998. I went up to look at the Presbytery this week, and the church. The school is next door and has 500 pupils! Fr. Dominic, the current Parish Priest, kindly showed me round, and gave entertained me to lunch. We are friends from of old. So, my final Sunday Masses here are on Sunday 26th.September. It is the day of the great Antiques sale at Stonor. How appropriate!
My sister Shirley is much improved. Thank you for your prayers and inquiries. I asked to move north again to be nearer to her. We have no family left in Lancashire, so she is a bit isolated in Lancaster.
We pray for Luke Theobald from the Sonning Common parish. He begins his studies for the Priesthood at the English College in Rome this coming week. Remember his parents Deacon Brian and Francis in your prayers. The Parish Trust helled enabled Luke to attend World Youth Day some years ago. He told me he was most grateful for the financial help.
Mary Lock celebrated her Birthday this past week. 2022 will be the big year!
With all good wishes and prayers in this 'moving' times.
Fr. Michael ocds
MASSES THIS COMING WEEK:
THERE WILL BE NO MASS ON MONDAY, TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16
MEMORIAL OF ST. CORNEILIUS, POPE, AND CYPRIAN, BISHOP, MARTYRS.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17
ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE (1542-1621). JESUIT PRIEST, ARDINAL, AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18
MASS OF OUR LADY.
ECUMENICAL VIGIL OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS IN AFGHANISTAN
THURSDAY 16 SEPTEMBER
You are invited to this Vigil, to pray for Christians in Afghanistan and also in other parts of the world, where they suffer persecution for their faith.
Clergy and members of the Anglican and Methodist churches will be joining us. Fr. Andrew Foster, our new Parish Priest, will join us. The new Methodist Minister, Rev. Stephen Spain, will also be with us. Rev. Daniel and other members of the clergy will be with us from St. Leonard's.
This will be the first ecumenical service we have been able to celebrate for many months.
A collection will be taken for the work of The Aid to The Church in Need (ACN). The charity is dedicated to supporting persecuted Christians in different parts of the world.
WE MUST STILL OBSERVE THE MOST RECENT GUIDELINES ON COVID RESTRICTIONS.
Clergy and members of the Anglican and Methodist churches will be joining us. Fr. Andrew Foster, our new Parish Priest, will join us. The new Methodist Minister, Rev. Stephen Spain, will also be with us. Rev. Daniel and other members of the clergy will be with us from St. Leonard's.
This will be the first ecumenical service we have been able to celebrate for many months.
A collection will be taken for the work of The Aid to The Church in Need (ACN). The charity is dedicated to supporting persecuted Christians in different parts of the world.
WE MUST STILL OBSERVE THE MOST RECENT GUIDELINES ON COVID RESTRICTIONS.
PILGRIMAGE IN HONOUR OF ST. EDMUND CAMPION
The Knights of St. Columba have been able, this year, to arrange a full pilgrimage once again.
For the first time the relic of St. Edmund Campion will be venerated at our church in Watlington on September 16th and 17th at Mass. It will, not be venerated during the Ecumenical Vigil of prayer.
It will then be taken to the Chapel at Stonor Park for Veneration on Sunday September 19th.St.Edmund Campion was, of course, protected by the Stonor family at Stonor Park. It was at great risk to themselves that they did this.
For the first time the relic of St. Edmund Campion will be venerated at our church in Watlington on September 16th and 17th at Mass. It will, not be venerated during the Ecumenical Vigil of prayer.
It will then be taken to the Chapel at Stonor Park for Veneration on Sunday September 19th.St.Edmund Campion was, of course, protected by the Stonor family at Stonor Park. It was at great risk to themselves that they did this.
PILGRIMAGE IN HONOUR OF ST. EDMUND CAMPION
POPE ST. JOHN PAUL 2 WRITES: "It is obvious that pain, especially physical pain, is widespread in the animal world. But only the suffering human being knows that he is suffering and wonders why. He suffers in a humanly speaking still deeper way of he does not find a satisfactory answer. This is a difficult question, just as is a question closely akin to it, the question of evil.
"Why does evil exist? Why is there evil in the world? When we put this question in this way, we are always, at least least to a certain extent, asking about suffering too. "
(Apostolic Letter of Pope St. John Paul 2 'On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering' - 'SALVIFICI DOLORIS' 1984).
THE SECULAR HUMANIST AND PHILOSOPHER, PROFESSOR ANTHONY GRAYLING WRITES: "Faith makes people kill other people, set off bombs, start wars, and de-humanise others who disagree. "That is a serious problem. In the core sense of faith as religious commitment, I think one would always want to try to confront and challenge it with reason. "
(A. C. Grayling 'The God Argument :The Case Against Religion and for Humanism.' 2013).
It is always useful to know what others think in the 'Big Questions.' My father was a humanist, and would have agreed with Professor Grayling. Unfortunately!
"Why does evil exist? Why is there evil in the world? When we put this question in this way, we are always, at least least to a certain extent, asking about suffering too. "
(Apostolic Letter of Pope St. John Paul 2 'On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering' - 'SALVIFICI DOLORIS' 1984).
THE SECULAR HUMANIST AND PHILOSOPHER, PROFESSOR ANTHONY GRAYLING WRITES: "Faith makes people kill other people, set off bombs, start wars, and de-humanise others who disagree. "That is a serious problem. In the core sense of faith as religious commitment, I think one would always want to try to confront and challenge it with reason. "
(A. C. Grayling 'The God Argument :The Case Against Religion and for Humanism.' 2013).
It is always useful to know what others think in the 'Big Questions.' My father was a humanist, and would have agreed with Professor Grayling. Unfortunately!
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St Edmund Campion Roman Catholic Church, No.2 Watcombe Rd, Watlington OX49 5QJ
T: 01491 612431
T: 01491 612431