De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

This Sunday's homily at Leigh-on-Sea from Father Kevin was one of those that seemed to speak directly to me. All week I have been thinking about my own witness to the faith with concern for the degree to which I am prepared to follow the teachings before me. I sometimes feel sad that people are upset by what they think the Church teaches, usually because they do not fully understand it. Trying to explain it in love is always a daunting task (especially in light of the fact that in today's society, the message is so counter-cultural), though my experience is that informed teaching is usually received with great joy (as people tend to be able to recognise the truth when they hear it, even if they don't like it). Of course, occasionally people just do not want to hear you. When this happens, I feel like a bit of a failure, I feel like I have let them and God down. I also sometimes get upset because people take offense, even Catholics, who are sometimes surprised by one aspect...

Wow! What a Mass!! Last night I had the extreme pleasure of experiencing a little bit of heaven on earth, when I attended Mass in thanksgiving for my Parish Priest, Father Kevin Hale's 30 year anniversary of priesthood (yes, you're right, he doesn't look old enough!). Here he is with his dear friend, the recently ordained Titular Bishop of Cuncacestre & auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, the Rt. Revd. Robert Byrne: The Mass was truly sublime; Music was astounding, Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd, the offertory motet was Beati Quorum Via by Charles Villiers Stanford. The voices filled the beautiful Church of Our Lady of Lourdes with such beautiful sound, I just had to close my eyes and soak it up...Every moment a prayer, raising our hearts and minds up to heaven, as if we could hear the angels themselves lifting their voices in praise to The Almighty. We were also joined by a number of Norbertines from the Priory of St. Philip in Chelmsfor...

I love the above image of the men of Galilee gazing upward at the Lord's departure. At Ascension I feel a lot like this...Left behind to some extent. After the ordeal of the Passion and death of Jesus, the disciples experienced the incredible shock of a fullness of life they could touch, see, talk to and with. This was called the Resurrection, that is, the same Jesus alive and living yet not the same but rather evasive and transcendent. The Ascension is a further step into the Mystery. How must they have felt confronted with the Resurrected Lord? And could they have understood His departure? Or would they have felt lost and alone after His departure? Could they have understood that, now, although Jesus is no longer seen or touched, He is nevertheless, alive and present, near, intimate. We are left, like them " staring  upwards, hoping and longing for a participation in God’s life". Of course this is what He came back to confirm; He is The Lord. And yet they re...

Sunday's Gospel was the story of the Woman at the Well which is one of those really important Scripture passages which deserves much reflection and consideration. Fr. Kevin offered a very valuable reflection on the Gospel which I have asked him if I can share with you all here. You can also listen to Fr. Kevin deliver his homily here if you prefer. A number of people have told me that they have given up drinking for Lent. I think what they really mean is that they have given up alcoholic drink. There was man in the news at start of Lent who said he was going to live only on beer throughout Lent; apparently it’s possible. What isn’t possible is to live without water. The body can go for days and weeks without food, but without water we would simply die. The body craves water to remain alive; even in those regions of the world where there have been recent disasters, the importance of getting water to survivors is paramount.  Our souls are the same as our bodies in this regard;...

At Brentwood Cathedral over Lent this year, Fr. Martin Boland, Dean of Brentwood Cathedral, and one of Brentwood's best and brightest is indulging his personal fantasy to be Michael Parkinson by interviewing six priests about books which have influenced them in their spirituality. Fr. Martin (left) & Fr. Kevin. Last night, for his first interview, Fr. Martin spoke to my own Parish priest, Fr. Kevin Hale. I know Fr. Kevin well and feel very privileged to be a parishioner of Leigh-on-Sea for the last four or five years. Privileged largely because through his gentle ministering, I have found an ever deeper love of Christ and His Church. Being a parishioner at Leigh-on-Sea has taught me so much, largely through the example of a man who puts himself at the service of his flock in a way I have not experienced before. Because of Fr. Kevin, I have discovered the importance of time spent in prayer and reflection. I have been given opportunities to discover and understand the tru...

The following is a press release from my Parish about our new Parish Centre which will be opened by Bishop Thomas McMahon on Sunday: The Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes Leigh-on-Sea is opening its new Parish Centre at 1pm on Sunday 9th February 2014. In 2004 it was decided that the old Parish Hall, erected in 1900, had ceased to provide for the needs of a modern Parish. A committee was formed to brief the Architect, Anthony Delarue to create a new building. The new Centre is set back from Marguerite Drive behind a formal garden and car-park. The style of the building follows that of the church, designed by the Parish Priest Canon Gilbert in 1923. It adapts the gothic detailing to reflect the secular use of the new structure. It is more classical, with large ‘thermal’ windows and gables derived from Roman Baths, reflecting the building’s recreational function. Everyone was agreed that the new building should continue the rubble stonework of the church, and this it does...

I really got a lot out of the Scripture this Sunday. It was one of those weeks were all the readings worked together to improve my understanding of an issue. The issue was salvation, which has been one of those things that has caused me lots of questions over the years. When I was a boy, holidaying in Cornwall, we went to Mass one Sunday and the Priest told this joke, which has never left me: A man arrived at the gates of Heaven. St. Peter asked, “Religion?” The man said, “Methodist.” St. Peter looked down his list and said,” Go to Room 24, but be very quiet as you pass Room 8.” Another man arrived at the gates of Heaven. “Religion?” “Baptist.” “Go to Room 18, but be very quiet as you pass Room 8.” A third man arrived at the gates. “Religion?” “Jewish.” “Go to Room 11 but be very quiet as you pass Room 8.” The man said, “I can understand there being different rooms for different religions, but why must I be quiet when I pass Room 8?” St. Peter told him, “Well, the C...

Father Kevin with Mary when she was born. From Father Kevin this Sunday: Dear Friends in Christ The Readings at Mass this Sunday speak about the universality of salvation; that is, how God intends everyone to be saved and reached Heaven. The Gospel in particular raises the question of who will be saved? This is a sensitive thought in an age where there is wide spread religion indifferentism and relativism. Many people in our society—even those who believe in God—hold the notion that one religion of philosophy of life is as good as another; the basic criterion for many nowadays is that my truth is as good as your truth . For the Christian, that cannot be so. We believe in one Person, Jesus Christ our Saviour, who is the unique revelation of God and is Himself The Way, the Truth and The Life, There is no salvation possible outside of Christ who is the one Saviour. However, this involves us often having to hold two truths in a kind of tension: the teaching of St. Paul that God ...

At Our Lady of Lourdes, Leigh-on-Sea, we have been busily building a Parish Centre: It's no Parish 'hall', a far more substantial project which will undoubtedly stand for generations to come. As such it demonstrates our Parish community's commitment to Leigh-on-Sea and indeed, to the young people of the future. On Sunday, we had our Parish AGM, followed by the Blessing and laying of the Foundation Stone for the Parish Centre. It was great, and Father Kevin asked me to take some pictures for the sake of posterity. Of course, this has the added advantage of allowing me the privilege of posting the pictures here. For friends and parishioners, I have numbered the photos, so if there is one or more you would like copies of, please email me with the number(s) and I will endeavour to send you them. If you leave a comment at the bottom of this post I will get in touch with you that way. This is Fr. Kevin's message from Sunday's Newsletter: Dear Friends in ...