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Ella and James Preece are a Catholic couple living in Kingston Upon Hull in Yorkshire in the UK. This is our blog.

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Blogged by James Preece on 29th January 2010

Regular readers can read my interview with Bishop Drainey here.

Welcome to any new visitors this weekend, especially if you found my link in the Catholic Herald. I'm a 27 year Catholic old young dad of two who goes to Mass every week because he wants to and not just because his wife drags him along, there are about six of us in the whole country - do let me know if you meet any more. I grew up in a Church designed do destroy faith in God and for most of my generation it's worked very well. Fortunately I have a rebelious streak in me and worked things out for myself, not because I'm clever but because like Gandalf, God likes to work with the most unlikely creatures imaginable.

I've been blogging on the state of the Catholic Church in England since 2002 and in that time I've written a lot of stuff. Here are some recent highlights:

On the Sex Abuse Scandals (we've learned nothing)...

On Criticising the Clergy (it's okay to do it)...

On Archbishop Nichols (picks on traditionalists, doesn't do his job)...

On Kieran Conry (The Bishop for Youth)...

How to avoid the parts of Christianity you don't like: A beginners guide from Bishop Kieran Conry

There's lots, lots more to be found via the Tag Cloud on the left. Try my posts on Bishop Drainey or if you fancy a laugh, Middlesbrough Cathedral.

The best way to keep up to date with the latest goings on is to subscribe to the free email updates or if you are a bit technical, try the RSS Feed

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Reader Comments

Michael said...

Just wanted to say a quick hello - came across your site (via CH) and it looks fantastic! Your subscriptions list is about to increase by one...

Best,

Michael

epsilon said...

Your article was excellent James!

The bishop's response was all large and fine on some points, but

"It is one thing to say that he would like to see these things in Middlesbrough diocese, but Pope Benedict is personally taking the lead himself. I asked if we might see any of these traditional practices from Terence Patrick Drainey.

'I don't know.'"

!!Well if Terence Patrick Drainey doesn't know who does!!

His loyalties appear to be to the "English Church" - well for what it's worth TPD: mine are to the Roman Pontiff, and when the plates come around on Sunday I hope they'll be piled high with notes (of zero GBP value) from the punters telling the CBCEW and their cronies in the CESEW what they think of "English Catholic" cow towing to this child-pornography trafficing government.

zosh said...

just so you know, I think the bishop may be tutting a lot, as there a probably a lot of people in a mot of the areas of the UK who do not know the Our Father in Latin...I am one of them...its a shame yes...but it has never been used in my church, and even when I have been to church abrod, it is also said in respective languages and not Latin

anon said...

I think we have much bigger issues in the church than teaching children and young people the latin versions of the basic prayers. we should be starting by teaching them to even make the sign of the cross.
lets get into the real world

James said...

It's not about sitting down and teaching these prayers, it's about allowing these prayers to get an airing now and then so that they are at the very least vaguely familiar as a part of the rich tapestry of our Catholic faith and not (as they are now) completely alien.

Tom said...

James - just wanted you to know that I thought your interview with Bishop Drainey was spot-on.

You brought out many key issues and he responded in what seems like a positive fashion. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I hope that he puts into practice in Middlesbrough diocese what he seemed to espouse in his responses to your questioning.

Well done! and keep up the good work - not only in interviewing bishops, or in running your great blog (which I read regularly), but in being a good and faithful husband and dad. You're someone of whom the Church in this country can be proud. Would that some of our bishops had the courage of your convictions.

To the Blessed Virgin Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross.

O sorrowful Mother! intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

Amen.

Couple's Prayer

O God, our heavenly Father, protect and bless us. Deepen and strengthen our love for each other day by day.

Grant that by thy mercy, neither of us may ever say one unkind word to the other. Forgive and correct our faults, and make us constantly to forgive one another should one of us unconsciously hurt the other.

Make us and keep us sound and well in body, alert in mind, tender in heart, and devout in spirit. O Lord, grant us each to rise to the other's best. Then, we pray thee, add to our common life such virtues as only thou canst give.

And so, O Father, consecrate our life and love completely to thy worship, and to the service of all about us, especially those whom thou hast appointed us to serve, that we may always stand before thee in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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