Catholic and Loving it!

It's been a realy long time since I last blogged on the subject of carving wood which is a shame because I've done quite a bit since then. Anyway, My first ever wood carving... in cheap kiln dried pine from B&Q. I didn't really start off with a plan, I wanted to do a celtic knot so I sketched one out in pencil and then drew around it. Next I gouged out the area's in between and then finally I did the little pattern on the top.

It's not much, but it's a learning experience and it gave me a feel for what it's like to plunge a chisel in to a piece of wood. It's not exactly a hot knife through butter but it's not too difficult either. Here's what I did learn though: direction matters.

If you cut against the grain of the wood (especially if you have not recently sharpened your chisel) you cause a horrible tearing as you can see on the left below:

If you cut with the grain (especially with a recently sharpened chisel) then you get a clean cut as you can see on the right above.

So there we are, a lesson learned. In future I must be careful to carve with the grain and to sharpen my chisel regularly.

I wrote the other day about the secret french guerilla conservationists and not one person sent me an email offering to take part in such a project in England. Now I read about this...

A house was built on the hillside and Falco moved in with several friends who shared his vision. Using hammers and picks, they began their dig to create the temples of Damanhur - named after the ancient subterranean Egyptian temple meaning City of Light - in August 1978.

As no planning permission had been granted, they decided to share their scheme only with like-minded people.

...

The first time the police came it was over alleged tax evasion and still the temples lay undiscovered. But a year later the police swooped on the community demanding: "Show us these temples or we will dynamite the entire hillside."

Falco and his colleagues duly complied and opened the secret door to reveal what lay beneath.

Three policemen and the public prosecutor hesitantly entered, but as they stooped down to enter the first temple - named the Hall of the Earth - their jaws dropped.

Click on this link to see photos. It's awesome. The official site is here and the flickr search here.

The style of the art is a bit new-age-cult for my taste (like the cover of the Watchtower), but come on, a group of people secretly digging an underground temple (sorry, nine underground temples) is cool.

Remind me again why we don't have one of these...? Once again, if anybody want's to join my secret underground church art improvement society then let me know.

Forget the hissop stick, there are apparently 100's of uses for vinegar... what do you mean you've never heard of The Venegar Institute (you were happier not knowing it existed wern't you).

Click here for your Vinegar uses and tips

Guy writes to Coke because they are sponsoring the Golden Compass movie and he wants to ask if they know how anti-Catholic it is. They reply:

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

The Golden Compass movie is a story about friendship, love, loyalty, tolerance, courage and responsibility. This movie also provides an opportunity for Coca-Cola to help raise awareness about climate change and the perilous state of the polar bear.

We do not believe that this fantasy movie is an attack on any religion. We would never support a film that intentionally antagonized or condemned any faith.

Oh, well that's alright then.

Just what everybody always wanted...

A towel elephant is a cute addition to your bathroom and an incredible way to impress your guests! [...] If you want to give your bathroom an original touch, have "Eddie the Towel Elephant" greet your unsuspecting guests and tickle their sense of humor.

Full instructions here.

If that doesn't float your boat, how about stacking eggs in to a city or arranging album covers to make pictures.

Not feeling creative, why not enjoy this collection of photographs taken at exactly the right time

.

So, another year another Christmas concert at St. Mary's College. Every year I go along to hear Ella in the Senior Choir...

The Junior Choir were excellent in their rendition of "Carol of the Children" by Rutter. The String Quartet, Flute Choir, String Orchestra and Orchestra were all well rehersed, professional and a delight to listen to. There were some great groups of kids who had done slightly different things... The folk group were superb (and nothing like the crap you get at folk masses). Red Banshee were also very good (again, superior to what you expect when you place an electric guitar in a teenagers hands) - Leona was loving the Red Banshee (loud and red = great). Speaking of thing's Leona loved, the dancing. There were two sets of dancers and both were very well coordinated (considering the huge number of girls on stage).

The senior Choir were very good (Full Disclosure: I'm married to one of them) and I can't not mention the guy on the guitar with his own composition "Oriental Cityscape" and the girl who played with him. She sang a beautiful lullaby which Leona hated because she could tell it was supposed to put her to sleep and she hates sleep. In fact, there were several student made compositions which were all superb. While I expect the sudden ability of students to compose music is largely due to the availability of software like sebelius (photoshop for music) this does nothing to detract from the skill with which they evoke various feeling and emotion. After all, the guy who wrote "Christmas Soon!" probably had sebelius too.

So, congratulations to all involved. Well done.

A gripe? Oh James, tell us it isn't so! Every year I moan about the secularisation of it all. Kid's these days... or is it the grownups? Either way, I didn't hear many carols... perhaps that's not what Christmas concerts are about. Anyway, that's the only criticism: less God than I would have liked.

The Syro-Malabar Church is an Eastern Rite Church which is in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. They have a page of facts all about it here but I will sum up. The "Syro" part refers to Syria and a Chaldean tradition, the "Malabar" part refers to the Malabar coast of Indea where St. Thomas landed.

I will confess, the Syro-Malabar Catholic's are not a group of Catholic's I ever expected to become in any way aquainted with. They are all the way over there and I am all the way over here. Nevertheless, by the wonders of modern technology (aeroplanes, economics and the like) it makes sense for them to fly halfway around to world to come and work in Hull... For this reason we have a sizeable community of St. Thomas Christians here at the West Hull Parishes.

Today was the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the first anniversary of the St. Mary's Prayer Group which is a prayer group set up by the Indian community here in Hull. For this reason there was a bit of a celebration. The Indians invited the Parish Council along and Fr. Massie encouraged myself and Ella to go along and experience it as well.

Mass in the Syro-Malabar Rite

The celebrations began with the celebration of mass in the Syro-Malabar rite. Fr Joy Cheradiyil came all the way from Glasgow to celebrate a beautiful (if strange to my ears) liturgy. This was my first experience of the Indian love affair with the microphone. In our culture a microphone is designed simply to make a speaker audible at the back of a room, the perfect microphone setup is invisible to the human ears and simply makes the voice a little louder and audible to elderly ears towards the back. In the Indian culture a microphone is as large as possible, there must be a constant hiss and the voice must be heard to echo. The other rule is that feedback must happen every half an hour or so and while the English cover their ears and strain to maintain their sanity the Indian Catholic's don't even notice that anything is amiss.

The entire mass (with the exception of the readings and the homily) was sung. This was not possible because the Indian community have been trained so sing Malayalam plainsong (many of them did not sing at all) but because the Priest sang and people either joined in or didn't. The Malayalam language is a marvelous thing to hear, mostly like a record being played backwards with the occasional 'woing, boing, doing'. The chanting is rythmic and beautiful while entirely unlike any chanting I have ever heard before. I enquired with Fr. Joy afterwards and he confirmed that they sing non-polyphonic chants and simply chant the mass including introits, antiphons etc. He said "that is not how you do things in England..." and I said "that is how we should do things in England".

Given that Vatican II talks about chant having "pride of place" it's a bit of a scandal that people have to come halfway around the world for me to hear a sung mass in my own parish Church!

The other thing that was certainly notable about the mass was the homily. The best word I can think of is this: Animated. You don't have to speak Malayalam to recognise the waving of arms and the shaking of fists. Fr Joy's voice was (as we say in England) raised. I have never heard nor seen an English priest speak to a congregation in this way, the message was clear - whatever he was saying, it was not optional.

The mass did feel long but not so long as to be too long. The main reason for the extra length is that the prayers are much longer. The rite itself is pretty similar and they even have a special three part blessing for advent (just like us). I wish our masses were more like their masses.

Speeches and Food

After mass we had some presentations where the key players in the St. Mary's prayer group were invited on stage to give speeches. Fr. Massie took the opportunity to invite the Indian community to come to Lourdes next year which is a smart move.

The man who runs catechesis classes after mass at St. Wilfrid's gave a heartfelt plea to those present to get their kids along to the catechesis classes. It is a plea I have sadly heard all too many times before. I heard it said to peoples parents when I was a child, I heard it said to my peers when I was a teenager and I hear it said every now and then at weddings, baptisms, christmases and easters. It's the classic "I'm not saying you don't go to mass and I know you have very good reasons for not going to mass but really I think you should start going to mass". It's kind of saddening to hear it and I really felt for the man saying it. I remember a polish man saying to me "I do not understand, in Poland my friends go to mass but when we are in England they do not go to mass". This Indian man was in the same situation.

I have spoken to a few immigrant Catholic's who have made similar observations. It's worth remembering when getting all rose-tinted-spectacled about Catholic cultures in places like Poland where "everybody is Catholic" that a fair number of people are not particularly Catholic at all. I think there's a lot to be said for "if you love someone let them go" and "if they don't come back, they were never yours".

Anyway, after the speeches it was time for one of the highlights of the evening: the food. Some of the Indians turned up with a huuuuge pan (probably too big for some doors) of curry and another huuge pan of rice. The curry was deeeelicious and Leona loved the lumpy white non-spicy stuff that came with it. There was plenty left for seconds and the man dishing out the food did that classic where you say "just a bit" (you know, because you have already had a full meals worth) and he fills your plate anyway. Mmmmm.

The Play

There were two plays actually, just before we ate some of the younger kids did a play and afterwards the adults did one. There's not something you see in our culture... In our culture drawing and painting, acting and singing and dancing is for kids. In the indian culture adults take part in everything and I thoroughly approve. The play by the children told the story of the prodigal son, the one by the adults told the story of Jesus' life from birth to death.

The plays were remarkable for three things. Firstly, the lighting. The entire way through the stage was bathed in coloured light, white or green or red or sometimes all three (flashing). A red spotlight was used to highlight key moments and a strobe light was employed for the scene in which a man was beaten up. The lighting was intense. Secondly (you guessed it), the sound. The actors did not speak, the entire thing was acted out using body language and facial expressions. Very loud music was played along with sound effects (the blind man heard all kinds of people talking in a rather disorientating fashion), we heard a crying baby when Jesus was born and thunder roared when he was crucified.

It sounds awful doesn't it, flashing lights, loud music, imagine trying to inflict that on the English? The old ladies would walk out (and who else is there?). However, the third remarkable thing saved the day. The acting was amazing. I don't just mean it was good in a "let's be polite way". Especially with the flashing lights and the loud music caught me totally off guard. What was amazing about it was the integrity of the "fourth wall". There were no glances at the audience, no nervous pauses or giggles. When those men and women walked on that stage they became Mary, Jesus, the Blind Man etc... It was the complete opposite of that rubbish french style mime and an amazing thing to behold and we really enjoyed it.

As you can imagine, it is a challenging environment for photography and I had to use all my l337 5killz to get reasonable photos, the following doesn't even begin to do justice to what we witnessed but at least you get an idea...

We had a wonderful wonderful evening and we ardently hope we are invited to something similar again someday. Our thanks to the Indian community for inviting us along. The only trouble is, we feel a bit embarrassed to invite you for a cup of tea after mass now - we don't have microphones or curry or anything... you get a biscuit?

From our "things no parent should ever need" department...

If you’ve ever wished for a “hand” to leave behind so that your baby would feel as if you’ve never left the room, your prayers have been answered with the Zaky.

The Zaky is an ergonomic infant pillow designed by a mom to mimic the size, weight, touch, and feel of her hand and forearm to help her baby with comfort, support, protection, and development. The Zaky can help calm your baby and help your baby sleep better through the night.

It has to be seen to be believed. Click here for photos.

More on Street Evangelism from the people at the St. Patrick's school of Evangelisation (where we will hopefully be on Sunday)...

Street Evangelisation

Street evangelisation happens every Friday evening for us and will also be a big part of our Advent Mission next week. It is often one of the most challenging forms of outreach that we are faced with at the school - and for some this form of outreach is even controversial.

Here we wanted to just give you a picture of what a typical Friday evening of street evangelisation is like for us and what does and doesn't happen.

The whole evening is rooted in prayer, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed in St Patrick's throughout. We begin the night in adoration and by praying the Sorrowful Mystery of the Lord's Crucifixion; we end the night in adoration and by praying the Glorious Mystery of the Resurrection. We also take it in turns to stay with the Blessed Sacrament throughout the evening to sustain in prayer those who are out on the streets. It is very much an evening of prayer for the conversion of Soho.

We always go out onto the streets in pairs, and since different people have different gifts the approaches that work best for them differ. Some include:

• Standing on a corner handing out SOS prayerline cards and asking people if they need any prayers said
• Walking around Soho silently praying the Rosary
• Walking about the streets engaging people in conversation and telling them about a Saint (like Blessed Mother Teresa) and offering them a Miraculous medal

A main challenge is to remember that we are there to bring Christ to people, but not ourselves or our own 'angles' on life or faith. Success cannot simply be characterised in worldly terms - by the percentage of arguments won or the number of medals given out this week. Instead, success might be simply to soak up some of the anger or sorrow a person needs to get rid of, to speak a word of encouragement, or simply to say a prayer for a person we meet.

We all find that Street Evangelisation is something that challenges us. It's certainly not what I look forward to most in the school week. It is emotionally and physically tiring, there is rejection and even ridicule to contend with. But there are also moments of grace and remarkable receptivity. We have a lot to receive, as well as give, in encountering Christ in the people we meet on the streets.

[link]

Ella and I (and hopefully Ryan) are really looking forward to going to London to meet the people at SPES. Looking forward to it, and dreading it.

Leona is nine months old today. We can't bleieve how the time has flown by and I will defnitely be showing you pictures of how she has grown later. In the meantime, as you may be aware, Leona is named for Leo XIII and I wanted to share some Leo XIII fun.

Firstly, did you know that Leo XIII was the pope who had the first electric lights installed in St. Peter's Cathedral? He was also the first pope to be caught on video! Here he is (they hadn't invented sound yet)...

While they hadn't invented sound with video yet, they had invented sound. Leo XIII is also the first pope to have been recorded and you can hear him chanting away here...

Fantastic stuff. Finally, you may recall my unhappiness with the Catholic Youth Service's choice of quote for this years Youth Sunday. They chose a quote from Ghandi who also once famously when asked if he was a Hindu he replied "Yes I am. I am also a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Jew.". Leo XIII has something to say about that...

To hold, therefore, that there is no difference in matters of religion between forms that are unlike each other, and even contrary to each other, most clearly leads in the end to the rejection of all religion in both theory and practice. And this is the same thing as atheism, however it may differ from it in name. Men who really believe in the existence of God must, in order to be consistent with themselves and to avoid absurd conclusions, understand that differing modes of divine worship involving dissimilarity and conflict even on most important points cannot all be equally probable, equally good, and equally acceptable to God.

Roar!

As you all know by now, today is Leona's 9 month birthday, Leona shares her birthday with someone else. Rachel Rose is 276 months old today (23) so Happy Birthday Rachel!

Those of you who don't know Rachel can enjoy this video she made for a Virtual Vigil...

Nine months old. See-saw day. Leona has been out of the womb for as long as she was in it. She's developed amazingly since she was born. When I look back at the photos from her first week I barely recognise her. We did a bit of a recap at three and six months and now she is nine months old.

It's been a very exciting three months really, when it started we were just making our first tentative steps in to sitting in a high chair and being fed very very liquid goo. Now Leona is quite comfortable sitting in a high chair picking up segments of satsuma all by herself (pre-checked for pips of course) and eating them. She is crawling around rooms, getting hold of things she shouldn't and generally being a lot of fun. We are still loving the whole parenting thing and it's still no where near as bad as the hype suggested.

Leona is now crawling around...

She is sitting up on her own...

Getting expressive...

Something else Leona has been getting in to is books. Obviously she can't read yet but she has a few books with lots of pictures and (really impressively) she has learned to turn the pages.

Here's a nice photo of Leona and her mum...

And here's a photo of Leona and some old rocks we saw in a field...

She really has been growing...

In each of those photos, Leona is three months older than in the previous one. See how she grows! I don't suppose that babygrow will still fit her when she hit's the big one.

Everyone is warmly invited to an evening workshop on Scripture for Advent and Christmastide on Wednesday 19th December, beginning at 7pm. This will be hosted by the Parish of St. Stephen on Annandale Road in Hull, and led by Father Jim O’Brien.

[link]

The word on the street says there's a "Doctrinal Note on some aspects of Evangelization" on the way. The Vatican website has notes and everything.

As ever, Cardinal Arinze doesn't mince his words:

"Provided that it is done with full respect for their human dignity and freedom," Arinze -- himself an adolescent convert -- said that "if a Christian did not try to spread the Gospel by sharing the excelling knowledge of Jesus Christ with others, we could suspect that Christian either of lack of total conviction on the faith, or of selfishness and laziness in not wanting to share the full and abundant means of salvation with his fellow human beings."

[link]

St. Francis did not say "Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary" But Francis Cardinal Arinze does say "spread the Gospel by sharing the excelling knowledge of Jesus Christ with others".

He also says that if you don't try to spread the Gospel then it's a "lack of total conviction" or "selfishness and laziness".

So let me get this right? Old ladies... Fr Stephen... a Piano... and you want me to pay £12 for the pleasure? Get thee thou out of here. If Fr Stephen has anything useful to say he can bally well say it for free. It's blatantly just him showing off on the piano while old ladies coo over him and tell him how lovely he is. I want to throw up. So sayeth the James. It didn't help much that when Ella asked Fr Stephen about it he said "You'll have to come to find out". When Ella told him I thought it would be just him playing the piano he told her "James hasn't been to one, that's the trouble with blogging, people don't invite you to things for fear of being blogged about".

Ella wanted to go, so we went. £24 between us. That's more than the cinema that is!

It were right good.

Fans of GK Chesterton will know what I am on about when I say that Chesterton was very fond of stories as a means to convey the truth. Chesterton points out that the good stories are those that, in some way or another, tell the story. A short summary of Fr. Stephen's musical retreat might be to say that what GK Chesterton did with fairy tales, Fr. Stephen Maughan did with music. If anything, it works better with Music - you cannot tell a story at the same time as you talk about the story, but you can play music as you talk about music.

He began by talking about themes, he played the hovis theme and then asked us what we were thinking about. Even those of us not born in the 70's were thinking of bread. He then described how Dvorak was in south america in the middle of nowhere when he wrote the piece, trying to describe the most beautiful sunset he had ever seen. Words failed him, so he wrote music instead. Fr Stephen then played the music at it's proper speed (much slower) and we dreampt of sunsets. He played some themes from films such as ET, Star Wars and Superman and talked about Nessun Dorma and his frustration that this theme is so often played and ends with a single chord when it should seque in to the rest of the story. Of course, nobody knows the story (they don't speak Italian for a start), they just like the nice music.

Fr. Stephen pointed out that Nessun Dorma alone makes little sense without the rest of the story and suggested that the same is happening today with Advent. People know the Christmas songs but they make no sense on their own. They end like Nessun Dorma with a single chord on Christmas day an make no sense because they do not continue in to Easter. He showed us Madonna of the Meadow by Giovanni Bellini and Michaelangelo's Pieta. Pointing out that when the Angel comes to Mary and she says "Yes" and we say "Isn't it lovely" we really need to think about what she is saying "Yes" too.

Next he talked about variations. Focussing on Elgar's Variations. Elgar started with a theme and then wrote variations based around people he knew. The point is this, the variations were totally different and reflected the different people's lives and personalities. However, the theme is the same. In the Christian life, the theme is Christ and our lives should be variations on his life. Fr. Stephen suggested that as an examination of conciense we think about how our own variation on the theme might sound if Elgar were to write a variation based on our lives. Would there be any part of the music we would want to change?

Finally, he talked about the Church as Fugue. Having overheard a man describe the Church as a Fugue he explored the idea. This was particularly interesting for me as I got to learn not only Fr. Stephen's point but also what a fugue actually is. The shortest description I can think of is that it's a bit like if Elgar's variations all happened at the same time... no, that's a rubbish description. How about if I just say that this is one. Once again, Fr. Stephen talked about Jesus Christ as the central theme and our lives as variations upon it. Lest this sound like religious pluralism (we're all different and nobody is wrong) Fr. Stephen was very clear on the point that the original theme had to be the same and suggested John 3:16 as the central theme.

My description only skims the surface really, if Fr. Stephen does another one of these (and I hope he does) then you should all go. It's well worth £12 and very good.

December 14th 2007 Bishop John Crowley's farewell mass. Coaches are booked and people are encouraged to go in vast numbers. By all accounts a wonderful service for a much loved Bishop.

January 25th 2008 Bishop Terrence Drainey's ordination mass. Tickets are issued. Two per parish.

What's that all about then?

Perhaps Bishop Drainey wants to keep the numbers down so that his first act as Bishop can be to immediately evacuate the building and have it demolished?

Advent Reconciliation Service: As is our tradition at this time of the year, you will have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a relatively painless atmosphere during our Tuesday evening Mass this week which begins at 7.00 p.m.

[link]

Relatively painless confession... is that like relatively dry baptism?

It is enough, so they say, to help people to become more human or more faithful to their own religion; it is enough to build communities which strive for justice, freedom, peace and solidarity.

So they say...

I haven't written yet about the recent 'note' from the CDF regarding evangelisation. There's isn't anything to say really, it's self explanatory. Read it yourself here. I thank God once again for the internet because, frankly, I don't see many priests I know encouraging those who arn't computer literate to read this kind of stuff (which is a shame).

Anyway, rather than write about the document I want to write about me, because there is a point on which I think I am misunderstood. I don't know if I am just rubbish at explaining myself or what. Somehow, people seem suprised at the idea that I would agree with this paragraph:

In any case, to evangelize does not mean simply to teach a doctrine, but to proclaim Jesus Christ by one’s words and actions, that is, to make oneself an instrument of his presence and action in the world.

This is largely, I suppose, because I have placed great emphasis on actually explaining the Gospel to people. Actually saying to people "this is what we believe" and "this is why we believe it". I have been told, more times I can remember, that St. Francis said "preach the gospel at all times, use words when neccesary". I tried looking up the exact quote and I can't find it, I can only find articles about how he never said it.

Generally, when you talk about the more practical preachy side of evangelisation people tend to get defensive. I am brought in mind of a peanuts cartoon...

That cartoon pretty much sums up my experience with the Church in Hull. I don't go on about evangelisation because I'm looking for something to criticise. I go on about it because I feel personally responsible for not doing it...

"If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast; it is a duty for me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!"

Generally, when you ask about evangelisation, people will tell you that they already evangelise. They will point out, correctly, that the Youth Group they have is a form of evangelisation. That marriage prep courses are evangelisation. That having Catholic schools is a form of evangelisation. This is all cheating, because as the CDF says: "every activity of the Church has an essential evangelizing dimension".

My point, is this...

In any case, it needs to be remembered that, in transmitting the Gospel, word and witness of life go together. Above all, the witness of holiness is necessary, if the light of truth is to reach all human beings. If the word is contradicted by behaviour, its acceptance will be difficult. However, even witness by itself is not enough "because even the finest witness will prove ineffective in the long run, if it is not explained, justified – what Peter called ‘giving a reason for the hope that is in you’ (1 Pet 3:15) – and made explicit by a clear and unequivocal proclamation of the Lord Jesus”.

Let me say that again... even the finest witness will prove ineffective in the long run, if it is not explained.

The CDF are quoting Pope Paul VI. In his encyclical Evangelii Nuntiandi Paul VI says:

The Good News proclaimed by the witness of life sooner or later has to be proclaimed by the word of life. There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed.

You have to do both. You have to live it and you have to say it.

We never made it to the Advent Mission in London. We never got to see any street evangelism in action. We missed out.

On Saturday night we had a Street concert outside St Patrick's led by our talented Gospel Choir, followed by a Mercy Evening. The arrival of (literally) hundreds of drunk santas, obviously bored of their pub crawl, presented an interesting oppurtunity for evangelisation.

The prayers of those inside the Church were answered when several of the santas were led inside to pray before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

You can see pictures and a fuller account here, here and here.

It is that time of year again it seems to arrive so quickly!! We were all there with our trendy black folders which you could only just fit all the music in, in a rather cunning manor!

The head opened the service with some nice words and then on with the carols which were interspersed with several readings. James was dissapointed that there was only one reading from scripture but the others were themed with the preparation and waiting of advent. The reading about The Indescribable Gift was nice focusing on Jesus coming to forgive and save us, a really good link between Christmas and Easter which come hand in hand. We sang a few classic carols. with the senior choir singing harmonies which James said sounded good (naturally he is an expert in this) Kevin seemed to be enjoying himself and it was certainly a job well done.

Both the two pieces performed by the senior choir and the one by the junior choir sounded wonderful. I think the choirs have been excelling themself more and more and I will really miss singing with them, maybe I can pop back every now and then. Kevin did not look like we were strangling a cat so it can't have been that bad. Kevin also tried to test our lung capasity with some of the endings! I was worried I would flake out but we had time to recover between readings :o) It is also nice to sing parts to the carols, maybe I can dazzle them round the christmas table when we sing a few this christmas.

Fr John said the last two blessings and then Fr Pat jumped in with a surprise blessing... one of the sixth formers (you may remember him for Joseph) had said that he had been in the school for 7 years (and he was rather involved) and it would be nice to have a special blessing. I have to agree, particularly those students who stay right through, they are a member of our christian community and the school prepares them for the trials ahead, particularly trials as Cathoilcs. Fr Pat did a celtic blessing and it was very apt talking of being the light (and witness) of Christ. It is important to remember that we do not only think of our sixth form (and GCSE students leaving for pastures new) on the day they leave. At the start of the Churches caledar it is only right to start them on their journey into the real world where they are to take Christ with them.

As with these things there is always the worry that you have a story from I dont know... the donkeys point of view, but this evening proved to be a beautiful way to celebrate advent. Well done All.

From our "glorious traditions our parent's generation pissed away" department we bring you the 'O' Antiphons. The last eight nights before Christmas Eve were called "The Golden Nights" and the antiphons all begin with 'O' e.g. O Wisdom, O Lord of Israel, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Radiant Dawn, O King of Nations, O God With Us.

In latin that reads: O Sapientia, O Adonai, O Radix Jesse, O Clavis David, O Oriens, O Radix Gentium, O Emmanuel. The first letter of each title (not including the 'O' of course) spells "SARC ORE" which is Ero Cras backwards which means "tomorrow I will come" in latin.

Fortunately, somebody wonderful has pub together a web page on the subject of the 'O' antiphons resplendent with mp3 files and jpg scans of gregorian chant notation - click here for that.

114. The treasure of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care. Choirs must be diligently promoted, especially in cathedral churches; but bishops and other pastors of souls must be at pains to ensure that, whenever the sacred action is to be celebrated with song, the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute that active participation which is rightly theirs, as laid down in Art. 28 and 30.

116. The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.

118. Religious singing by the people is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises, as also during liturgical services, the voices of the faithful may ring out according to the norms and requirements of the rubrics.

[Sacrosanctum Concillium]

Are Choirs diligently promoted? Are our pastors of souls at pains to ensure that the whole body of the faithful are able to contribute when we celebrate with song? Is chant given pride of place? Is religious singing intelligently fostered?

It must be the lack of demand from young families...

Come the first evening star in the sky and what happens? In the Polish tradition Wigilia begins... a table is set with a white cloth over a bed of hay, symbolising the hay in the manger and the white cloth Mary swaddled Jesus in. The oplatek is in the center of the table and we all take some of it and wish good tidings and blessings to each other as we share it. Leona loved the oplatek. Traditionally you have 12 dishes of fish but we only have 3 courses, one of fish and our table did not have hay undter it but we did lay the oplatek on hay. This year grandad was with us aswell, he seemed to enjoy it. We then open presents, being part English part Polish we open the prezzies from Polish relatives on the eve and the English ones on the day. After watching Blackadder christmas carol (not a traditional Polish activity) we went to midnight mass with my dad to Holy Cross. Fr Pat talked about the gifts the three wise men brought and how sometimes we can be given gifts that we are not sure how to use, but also the lambs brought by the shepherds... maybe a meal for Mary and Joseph, an apparently more useful gift, but showing us the importance of remembering those who are less fortunate than oursleves, the shepherds themselves were poor but gave what they could. We thought of those who were homeless but also those who have no-one at this time.

We all played with the band, a timeless classic run by Arther and Kathleen, it was great to see Gwedalin and Dermot there too. Kathleen occasionally got carried away when she forgot how many verses she had played and I am sure the congragation had found the hymns before Arther had anounced it she "whispered" them too him so loudly :o)

Christmas day though we were back and forth like yo yo's the day did not go by too fast and we got to see everyone and we did not feel like we were rushing too much, we had a wonderful christmas day!

Boxing day came and as is traditional we went to see the morris dancing at Brantingham, it was all really good and I was encouraged to join the garland side, which Nat goes too. By the time that ended we went back to my parents for dinner and a few games. Tommorrow I think we will have a day in!