Dear friends, I recently did a funeral visit to a family in the parish. During the conversation, the grand-daughter came home from school dressed in some outrageous (to me) outfit. Apparently it was “Book Day” or some such title. The children in school were expected to turn up dressed as their favourite character from a … Read more
Dear friends, This month’s “Window” is coming out two days before Holy Week. I have no idea how Holy Week will be celebrated, other than the fact that we will do what the Church has done for at least 1700 years. An early account of Holy Week in Jerusalem is recorded by the holy nun, … Read more
Dear friends, Did you know that I am, apparently, a blogger? I received a telephone-call from a man in Newcastle to say that he enjoyed reading my blog. “What blog?” I asked. ‘The one on-line on your church’s website.” “You mean the ‘Vicar’s Window’ in the parish magazine.” I replied. Does this mean that I … Read more
Dear friends, This month sees the end of the Christmass Cycle with the Feast of Candlemass. For entirely selfish reasons, the sung mass will take place on the eve of the feast at 1930. This will include the usual candle-lit procession from the porch to the altar. February 2nd is the actual Feast Day and … Read more
Dear friends, During the days prior to Christmass I had a number of phone calls from people who wanted to help with providing food for homeless and housebound people. From the conversations which followed, I get the impression that people now see the church as the stop-gap for a situation created by the collapse of … Read more
VICAR’S WINDOW Dear friends, Thanks to a suggestion by the people at “Business Products”, our magazine now boasts a much more sophisticated cover. I now send a suitable photograph and text via my mobile telephone and Glen prints the required number of covers. Last month, the month of Christ the King, showed the “Majestas” (Christ … Read more
Dear friends, The month of November is the Month of the Dead. “El dia de los Muertos” (The Day of the Dead.) is the title given in Mexico. Anyone who has seen the Bond film “Spectre” will remember the amazing opening scenes of a great procession of people dressed, among other things, in skeleton suits. … Read more
Dear friends, Many many years ago, I attended High Mass at a church on Merseyside. The choir sang beautifully, the church looked stunning, the “bowing and scraping” in the sanctuary was second-to-none. Perhaps I was too new to the church thing (any church) that I found the experience both mystifying and downright hilarious. I had … Read more
Dear friends, This has been a busy month. The Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady was kept wonderfully on the Sunday afternoon at S. Werburgh’s and at Holy Trinity on the day. Thankfully, a number of people and priests from neighbouring parishes joined in our celebration. I say thankfully because a number of our … Read more
Dear friends, A little basement window for the double month. Here are a few items of news and comment. The terrible events in the past few weeks, both deliberate and accidental, make for harrowing reading and viewing. Thank God for the outpouring of human-kindness in the face of adversity. The decision taken by the Scottish … Read more