Catholic Church of St Mary-on-the-Quay Clifton Diocese, Bristol

Saturday, 4 July 2009

Parish News - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2009

News from Adrian Brown: 38 people from St Mary's enjoyed a very warm and sunny day out in Hereford and at Belmont Abbey on Saturday 27 June. One of many high points of the coach trip was being able to attend Mass, celebrated by Fr Kazimierz and Fr Nico, in the Abbey Church at Belmont.

Marion Morgan: On Friday 31st July the 5.30 Mass will be the Mass of St Ignatius Loyola (founder of the Jesuits) whose feast day it is. It will be concelebrated by Bishop Declan with our own clergy and some neighbouring priests. During this Mass, Marion Morgan will be consecrated, becoming one of the Order of Consecrated Virgins (O.C.V.) EVERYONE IS INVITED. There will be a buffet afterwards. Do come and share in this happy occasion.

Sea Sunday: Next week is Sea Sunday, when the Church remembers all those who live and work at sea.

Seafarers are commonly recruited from poorer countries where wages are lower. Seafarers work in difficult and often dangerous conditions suffering from loneliness, spiritual deprivation and even exploitation as they transport the goods we use and consume every day.

Sea Sunday is your chance to help The Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) – the official maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church in Great Britain – makes a real difference to the lives of seafarers. Everything AoS does is on behalf of Britain’s Catholic community, but it receives no statutory funding from either the Church or the government. The parish will take up a second collection on Sea Sunday for the work of AoS- so please give generously next Sunday, its ministry cannot continue without you.

Thursday, 2 July 2009

Summer outing to Hereford and Belmont Abbey, 27th June 2009

The SVP kindly organised our eagerly awaited summer outing. We could not have wished for a better summer’s day. Blessed with a glorious morning with the sun graciously shining down upon us as we set off our on our coach journey over the new Severn Bridge catching the picturesque views of the rolling Welsh hills in the distant horizon.

Upon arrival in Hereford, the smallest city in England, we wandered at leisure visiting the many historical sites, including the Cathedral (housing the Mappa Mundi and Magna Carta exhibits, also the new stained glass dedicated to the 17th century poet and cleric Thomas Traherne in the Lady Chapel) which has stood on the site since Saxon times. Some of us had our lunch in the grounds of the Cider Museum, quenching our thirst with a most delightful glass or two of the cider produced there. Nearby stood the Catholic church of St Francis Xavier, an architectural gem saved from ruin and decay after a concerted effort by the local people. Its spectacular Gothic columns, in a flash brings one back to St Mary’s.

Our next port of call was Belmont Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 1859. Wandering in the gardens surrounded by tall yew hedges, colourful rose beds and a fountain, we were warmly greeted by a monk who was calling for his dog, Badger. Some of us joined in to help look for her. It was a garden of peace and tranquillity listening to the symphony of birdsong.

A fitting close to the day was when Fr. Nico and Fr. Casimir celebrated Mass for the group in the Abbey church filled with its innumerable stone angels.
"St Benedict encouraged his monks to be aware of the Divine Presence and of his angels watching over us". On the spiritual level one could almost feel the presence of angels watching over us.
We remembered Fr. Michael especially at this time. Gathering round on and in front of the Altar joining hands to make a circle to pray the Our Father radiated a spontaneous feeling of love and unity... The SVP received a huge round of applause at the end of mass.

The Homily was given by Fr Casimir: Picture the performance of a wheelbarrow balanced on a tight rope between two high buildings which God is pushing. We can imagine ourselves in the wheelbarrow and having complete trust in God that he will safely bring us to the other side! He recalled his own call to the Priesthood when sometimes during the unknown journey he just had to trust in God totally.

After a welcoming cup of tea we embarked on the coach for the return to Bristol. The journey was broken by an announcement over the microphone, "Hello, hello...let us pray a decade of the rosary before you all fall asleep." What a fitting end to a wonderful, enriched and enjoyable outing.

We give grateful thanks to Fr. Nico and Fr. Casimir for their generous and valued time accompanying us. Till the next outing- watch this space!