ECUMENICAL AIR FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE

A meeting between Pope Benedict and Patriarch Kirill the Archbishop of Moscow and All Russia, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, looks increasingly possible, a senior Russian official said last Tuesday, according to the Moscow Times.     Relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, which separated almost a thousand years ago, have warmed in recent years, making a meeting between the two men more likely, the official said.    He was speaking on the eve of a two-day visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Italy, where he met Pope Benedict.

The Catholic Times

Last year the Pope met Patriarch Bartholomew, the Orthodox Archbishop of Constantinople, and did not attempt to hide his feelings as they both greeted the crowds from the balcony. 

VANESSA TAKES ON BIG FUNDRAISING TASK

Kevin Finn has been managing the 100 Club for our Parish over the past ten years, during which time he has collected about £9000 for church funds.    That is a superb achievement, and he's worked very hard, so it's no wonder he is happy to be handing it over to Vanessa Connolly who will be running it in future.   She's a brave lady to take it on, so let's give her lots of support.    If you wish to purchase or renew your 100 Club entry for this year, please email vanessa.connolly944@btinternet.com or phone her on the number given in this week's newsletter and on the notice board just inside the coffee room.




photo by Frances

WE SNEAK A PEEP AS THE GREEK WEEK MEET

 http://www.paulandgreece.com

Some of the nineteen members of this year's trip to Greece entitled In the Footsteps of St Paul met for a few minutes last Sunday to check over the arrangements.   They will be leaving on Monday April 4th, and will be away for seven days.   We hope all their plans go well, and we have asked them to provide photos and information so they can share with us some of the interesting things they see and do.    We sneaked into their meeting to photograph them (they're such a handsome lot!), then thought more carefully about it and decided not to publish the photo, so you've got Philippi instead.  Next time you see it, it will be populated.  

CATHOLIC MEDIA OSCARS VOTED FOR DAILY

Voting is now taking place for the Catholic Readers' Choice Awards (http://catholicism.about.com)
The Catholic Herald is the only British newspaper to reach the finals, and Magnificat the only British magazine to do so.  (Wasn't The Tablet entered?)
One really impressive finalist in the best Catholic blog contest is the fantastic Whispers in the Loggia (http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/) and, Mums, don't miss Catholic Icing (http://catholicicing.blogspot.com/) - we can't wait to hear your comments (click comments below)
A finalist in the best Catholic website competition is the remarkably useful Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/)
Apparently while this is going on we can all vote once every day if we want to.   (Perhaps Britain should consider doing that at elections rather than AV - that would really keep our MP's on their toes!)

EDWIN ORDAINED TO THE DIACONATE

Ancient Richborough

Our congratulations to Edwin Barnes, who last Friday was ordained Deacon Edwin by Bishop Crispian in the Bishop's private chapel at Portsmouth.      The handful of people present at the ceremony included our own Deacon Stephen Morgan and, on the left of the photo, the Chancellor of Portsmouth Diocese.    

Two days later for the first time Deacon Edwin took his proper part in our Parish Sunday morning Mass.    This photo shows him carrying the Gospels in procession during the antiphonal hymn.    He has the support of our prayers and takes our best wishes with him as he continues his preparation for ordination to the priesthood on March 5th. 

FIRST STEPS TOWARDS FIRST COMMUNION

Here are some members of this year's First Communion Class enjoying their first session with catechist Becky McCoy.     Sister Veronica from St Dominic's Priory is another member of our catechetical team.    She won't be at the back of the class for long!

REMBRANDT'S VIEW OF RECONCILIATION

itinerantpreacher.org

Have you been into the Reconciliation Room lately?   If not, you may not have seen the huge reproduction of Rembrandt's Prodigal Son which now overlooks us penitents as we are reconciled to Our Blessed Lord through this wonderful sacrament.   You have to peer closely at the portrait to see that there are not just one, but three other characters in the picture.  We assume that the tall fellow on the extreme right is the unforgiving elder brother, but we don't know who the others are, and why they are there.     If you can enlighten us, please click on "comments" below.

.... AND APOLOGIES WERE RECEIVED FROM ....

We do not wish to suggest that it is a common practice for officers of the parish to go to great lengths to avoid attending the Annual General Meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council.   Yet last week, when the rest of us were doing our noble duty at the AGM, our intrepid investigator uncovered evidence of the attendance that evening of two ladies with an astonishing resemblance to our Hon. Secretary Frances and her daughter Angela at a Berber evening in Marrakech.
  - Where?
  - Marrakech.
  - That's what I thought you said.

It has been rumoured that they were actually taking part in a secret practical demonstration arranged by the Pontifical Commission for Post-Vatican II experimental Interfaith liturgy.     We're glad to hear that the font's going to be moved out of the way.

Thanks for the photos, Frances.  You're a sport!

HOW MUCH INFLUENCE HAS THIS MAN NOW?

Catholic Online

This is the first famous Benedict, the great Patron Saint of Europe who is often called the Father of Monasticism.  Deacon Keith Fournier suggests that the Pope's choice of this name for his Papacy was not accidental, but "providential and prophetic."   He notes the issues raised by the important Papal homily given last Sunday in which the Pope called the present era "the time of mission" and says that the whole Church is summoned to harvest.   Read Fournier's challenging commentary in the current edition of Catholic Online.   For our Parish's response, see the next item.

OUR VISION FOR MINISTRY AND MISSION

At the Parish AGM on Wednesday the PPC Chairman Clare Bassett invited us to celebrate the large number of events, ventures and projects which have taken place in our parish in the past twelve months.   Then Fr Danny told us how when he arrived here he had been moved to tears by the breadth of the pastoral care which flows round and outside our parish community, and thanked all those who through their ministries have helped to make the parish so active and vibrant.   Our mission, he told us, is to continue to develop ourselves as contemplatives, in order to strengthen and support our loving outreach.  We are an attractive community, and we need to be seen to be so.   There then followed a lively  discussion about how we can best support the children and young people in the parish, and it was suggested that we have a Mass on Sunday evenings.  You can join in this discussion too - please click on the word "comments" at the bottom of this article.

We welcomed one new Parish Councillor, Lesley Ellis.  

She replaces Lisa Thurston, who will however continue 

to produce the weekly newsletter. 

  Nick Filbee is our new Vice Chairman

 instead of John Collins, who retains 

his seat on the Council.

To add your view about Sunday evening Masses for young people, click on "comments" below. 

NOW - HIGHLY ILLUMINATED CHORISTERS!

What do you members of our choir think of your new lights?   We can see you better (or we would be able to if we were facing the other way and were a bit taller) and you can see your scores and books better.   And now you've got a loudspeaker of your own, over beside the furthest light on the right, which we hope will mean that you'll be able to hear everything as well.   All thanks to John!

HUNGER FOR TRUTH AFFECTS APPETITES

This photograph shows some of our Special Ministers of Holy Communion celebrating shortly after Fr Danny had presented each of them with a certificate confirming that they have been commissioned until December 2014.  Our ministers take their duties very seriously.    Are some so anxious to discuss the best ways to ensure finest liturgical practice that they are even ignoring the goodies provided for this very special occasion?   Just look at that sadly neglected cake!

We know that among the regular readers of our blog are Kay in Sicily and Hannah in Algiers. Greetings to both of you and to all our readers everywhere.   Are there other friends or relatives who live abroad or in different parts of this country?   If so, they may like to read our blog.  Have you told them about it, and given them our address at www.lymrcchurch.co.uk?

ACORN PROJECT - WEEKS THREE AND FOUR

Teacher Linda Rodway watches over a mixed group of children and patients at the Oakhaven Day Centre while work on their project is being undertaken.

During the final week the children showed us their finished work, then each pair were presented with certificates by the patient with whom they had been working.   They produced good work and impressed both patients and staff with their mature attitude, their self-control and the way in which they conducted themselves throughout the four weeks of the project.    Fr Danny, the parishioners, parents and staff watching must have felt really proud of our children, and after they had gone there was nothing but praise for them from the volunteers and patients.

DIOCESAN PASTORAL CONFERENCE GROUP

Six members from our two worshiping communities enjoyed attending this years Bournemouth Conference led by the Diocesan Department for Pastoral Formation.  The weekend was an opportunity to explore how we are called, as baptised people, to share our faith and experience with others.  The theme was approached through practical sessions, input, prayer, reflection and liturgy.  We would all thoroughly recommend this annual event.  It is ideal for all involved in church ministry in particular anyone who is interested in deepening their relationship with Jesus in order to share it with others.

Report and photo from Cathy

NEWS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE

Cody is quite the youngest baby ever to have featured on our blog, and he is our choir member Nicky's first great grandchild.   Here he is with his proud parents Daniel and Stephanie at home in New Zealand.  Now we know why you've been over there in New Zealand for so long, Nicky.   We'd thought you were just trying to escape the cold weather!

WALHAMPTON SCHOOL BACKS BASICS BANK

Sandra Jackson and Peter Chitty stand with Mrs Jackie Phillips, the wife of the headmaster of Hordle Walhampton School as she presents a cheque for £1353.66 to Phil Wiseman, the Chairman of Basics Bank.   The money was a share of the collection taken at the School's belated Carol Service, and will be used to supplement donations of food collected for needy people in the local community.   Basics Bank is managed and staffed by volunteers from all the Lymington Churches.