De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

Bouna Festa! I must apologise for my obvious mistake with my Sunday Scripture reflection this week, as Fr. Jeff called me yesterday to ask why I had posted for the thirteenth Sunday when the Catholic Church in the UK will be celebrated Sts. Peter and Paul, carried over from Saturday. Still, my non-UK readers would not have been confused whereas they would have been if I'd posted the correct readings. As I listened to the readings today I did feel a pang though, as I would like to have thought and studied a bit about these fascinating readings, especially the fantastic and miraculous story from Acts which formed the First Reading. Of course, the Gospel story today was the same as last week's, with the profession of Peter, albeit from Matthew's Gospel this week instead of Luke's. I did cover a bit of both last week  talking about the fact that Jesus called Peter "Rock" Cephas (Greek: Κηφᾶς) or Kepha (Hebrew: כיפא‎) both meaning the same thing. The Prote...

Steve delivering his Speech at the Southend-on-Sea Catenian meeting last week. As I reported on the 28th of June , Southend-on-Sea Catenians were fortunate to be joined by Steve Webb, director of BCCS who gave a truly inspirational speech linking together the themes of community, BCCS and the Catenian Association. Steve has been good enough to provide a transcript of his speech in order that I can share his wisdom with my readers. So here it is—enjoy!! SOUTHEND ON SEA CATENIANS 27TH June 2013 COMMUNITY—BCCS—Catenians. Groucho Marx famously claimed that he did not want to be a member of a club that would have him as a member, but that has never been my feeling. I have always been happy to be a part of something where people have common interests and can share experiences. Right from day one I was a member of my family and that served me very well for many years. Family has to be at the heart of everything. When I was 11 I joined the scouts and I got a woggle, lot...

"Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Ps 119:105 Welcome to this, the forty-ninth of my reflections on the theology of the Sunday readings at Mass. I have undertaken this project, regularly posting background information on the readings at Sunday Mass as part of my own prayer life. I have found it helps me to do a little study before I go to Mass about the readings, what the theme of the week is, how it follows on from the previous week's readings and what is being said. In sharing this, I hope to help you too get more from the Bible and Sunday Scripture readings. Perhaps it might give you confidence in the value and legitimacy of the Bible, or perhaps it might inspire you to pray the Divine Office or investigate the weekly readings for yourself. I see this as very clearly part of what the Church teaches about the Bible: This heaven-sent treasure Holy Church considers as the most precious source of doctrine on faith and morals. No wonder herefo...

 We had an excellent Catenian meeting last night. It was great to meet up with the brothers after a month and catch up on how everyone has been. We meet every month at the Park View Suite , who always do us proud with a wonderful dinner, and last night was certainly no exception, with a sumptuous three course meal, brushcetta, followed by roast lamb and chocolate souffle with mint ice-cream. Lots of visiting gentlemen from  Chelmsford's Catenian Circle and Steve Webb was also present, director of Brentwood Catholic Children's Society . Steve Webb with Archbishop Vincent Nichols Brentwood Catholic Children's Society provides counseling for children and young adults up to the age of eighteen, regardless of their beliefs, together with their families, who could be experiencing emotional difficulties.It was started in 1984 by Mgr. John Armitage, much beloved priest of our diocese, who, following the closure of the Children’s Homes in Basildon, adopted the role of ...

So the teacher Jeremy Forrest, who abducted/ eloped (?) with a 15 year old student of his is sentenced today . I have to say, my mind ran immediately to the old Police hit 'Don't Stand So Close To Me', remember it? The song deals with the mixed feelings of lust, fear and guilt that a female student has for a school teacher and vice versa, as well as inappropriateness leading to confrontation. The music and lyrics of the song were written by the lead singer of The Police, Sting, who had previously worked as an English teacher. In a 2001 interview for the concert DVD ...All This Time, Sting denied that the song is autobiographical. The line "Just like the old man in that book by Nabokov" alludes to Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita which covers somewhat similar issues. Like Sting, Forrest has a musical side to his character which some, like the BBC reporter Duncan Kennedy have suggested, added to his appeal for the student who has ended up embr...

"Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Ps 119:105 Welcome to this, the forty-eighth of my reflections on the theology of the Sunday readings at Mass. I have undertaken this project, regularly posting background information on the readings at Sunday Mass as part of my own prayer life. I have found it helps me to do a little study before I go to Mass about the readings, what the theme of the week is, how it follows on from the previous week's readings and what is being said. In sharing this, I hope to help you too get more from the Bible and Sunday Scripture readings. Perhaps it might give you confidence in the value and legitimacy of the Bible, or perhaps it might inspire you to pray the Divine Office or investigate the weekly readings for yourself. I see this as very clearly part of what the Church teaches about the Bible: This heaven-sent treasure Holy Church considers as the most precious source of doctrine on faith and morals. No wo...