New homes

My new placement finds me in Leeds again, or rather just outside the city to the south. This photo shows the church of St Brigid with my house just to the left. Yesterday I named the presbytery "John Paul II House". A whole series of events recently have led me to use the Prayer invoking the help of John Paul II - it seemed that the next step was to place myself and new inititatives, including my presbytery, under his patronage. Fr Julian has already visited my new parish and we held a very fruitful fraternal of the John Vianney Society.

A little to the north in Ilkley, the Elizabethan hunting lodge "Myddleton Lodge" is for sale again. This house, which dates from 1560, and which was the property of the Myddleton's, Yorkshire Catholics during the reformation and later, has been in Catholic hands until 2000. The house has been substantially restored and is for sale at £2.85 million. This house too could be a very good "John Paul II House" for the formation and evangelisation of young people. Any offers?

The St Joseph Community

While I was in Ars way back in February, I was thinking about how we were going to provide a warden for Newman House, the Catholic Chaplaincy where I, together with 12 student residents, live. It was just the mention, made by Fr Richard, that Patrick Morton was looking for some project for this coming academic year which made me think. In fact, it often happens at Ars. Maybe it's something to do with the intercession of the holy Curé. I had already spoken to Chris Wojtulewicz, one of the students here at the University, about the possibilities of coming to live at Newman House. Anyway the inspiration was to have a small community of men, living with me here at Newman House, for two purposes: personal discernment and helping in the Catholic mission to the University. I soon identified a third member, who in the long run was unable to join us. However, over the summer I got in contact with Chris Owens, from North Carolina, who was looking for a place to live in Birmingham, having accepted to start part time work and part time study at Maryvale Institute. Hey presto. There's a community. At the time of writing Patrick and Chris Owens have already moved in, and we eagerly await the arrival of Chris W next week, so community life can start in earnest.

Our life together is based on a pattern of prayer, as you would expect. Morning Gosepl meditation and Lauds; daily Mass; daily Adoration; Rosary. We also have a Monday evening community night when we will have a time of sharing the Gospel for the following Sunday, a good meal and an hour of adoration and night prayer. The rest of the time will involve each of us doing our own work, and also getting involved in the activities of the Chaplaincy. A particular part of that will be - for Patrick, Chris and Chris - running an apologetics session called 'Catholic Answers' before the Sunday evening Mass each week, when they will be able to help students to be equipped to answer questions thrown at Catholics by atheists, agnostics, evangelical Christians, liberal Christians, etc.

One thing that is notable in the Church, at least in England these days, is how devotion to St Joseph has all but disappeared. It may be because the figure of St Joseph seems easy to relegate to a tea towel headed member of the cast of the annual children's nativity play, and to ignore the rest of the time. After all, he does not have a direct role in salvation history. All he seems to do is to look after the central characters of the divine drama - Jesus and Mary. And yet St Joseph is vital in that history of salvation. Without Joseph, Jesus may never have come to be born, in that a woman caught committing adultery - which is what would have been presumed to be Mary's disposition - could be stoned to death. Joseph being a just man was going to quietly put Mary away and divorce her, presuming the same thing. But once he knew God's plan, he silently assented (we never hear him speak in the Gospels) to that plan, and, under the Jewish Law, became the father of Jesus in the eyes of the Law. Thus Jesus became the son of David, descended from the royal line. St Joseph is also fundamental as a role model for Christian men. He was strong, quiet, faithful, reliable and pure. Maybe the crisis in fatherhood, and the depreciation of purity, have a lot to do with the demise of devotion to this great saint. Maybe through our community we will be able to help revive among at least a few people devotion to this great saint, the patron of the Universal Church, and to live a true manly spirituality.

Please pray then for Patrick, Chris, Chris and myself as we begin this community life together for the next year.

O glorious St. Joseph, you were chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus, the most pure spouse of Mary ever Virgin, and the head of the holy family. You have been chosen by Christ's Vicar as the heavenly patron and protector of the Church founded by Christ. Therefore it is with great confidence that I implore your powerful assistance for the whole Church on earth. Protect in a special manner, with true fatherly love, the Pope and all bishops and priests in communion with the See of Peter. Be the protector of all who labor for souls amid the trials and tribulations of this life, and grant that all peoples of the world may follow Christ and the Church He founded.

Dear St. Joseph, accept the offering of myself which I now make to you. I dedicate myself to your service, that you may ever be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent love for the spiritual life. May all my actions, after your example, be directed to the greater glory of God, in union with the divine Heart of Jesus, the immaculate heart of Mary, and your own paternal heart. Finally, pray for me that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death.

I'm back

It's a particularly stupidly long time since I've posted anything, and I've been leaving all the work to poor Fr Richard. It's been an exciting summer, so I may take a few posts to get up to date.

The Letter to Families

Pope John Paul II wrote this Letter in 1994 to help guide the family in a tempestuous world according to its genuine light. It is actually quite a difficult read, so I have made a precis of it - which you can find here, then click on "Resources", then click on "Family".

The Letter expresses how the family is the hinge of the Civilisation of Love, and calls upon them to take part in God's plan. John Paul exposes the "other" plan for families for what it really is: an "anti-civilisation" based on the loss of truth and promoting an agenda which threatens the family to the core of its being. At the heart of the family is the mystery of the presence of the person of Christ. The Eucharist is the greatest expression of love in the family - for in Christ the family is redeemed.

This Letter is essential reading for spouses and parents, for your great task is to enable your family to be a part of the New Evangelisation.

Last night LIFE launched a new Group in West Yorkshire. Martin Foley, the chief Executive of LIFE spoke to the assembly, which was held in the Novotel in central Leeds. He outlined the policies and work of the organisation and the plans to set up a central Yorkshire Committee which will co-ordinate the work of members and sub-groups spread throughout Yorkshire.

As I listened to Martin Foley I was reminded of how well-structured is the deeply pagan agenda of our society. Far from diminshing, abortion statistics continue to rise. It is now seventeen years since Parliament debated abortion; and any future debate will be more dangerously anti-life and less of an opportunity for pro-life. LIFE has had to remove the "Message Board" from its website because of the deluge of foul language. Contemporary culture has made the abortion issue a feminine preserve; men no longer see a role for themselves in abortion culture - LIFE speakers frequently experience boys "switching off" during school education visits and the whole issue is seen as a woman's preserve.

All this tells me how little light there is in our culture for people to be guided by, and that the organisation LIFE is operating mainly in a punitive way - offering help to those who "falll out" of the grip of pagan culture, but hardly being able to respond to causes of this culture.

The other side of this is that LIFE, operating in a way which "is consistent with Catholic principles", is only offering help and guidance at a pragmatic level. In fact, the full work which is to be done is EVANGELISATION - bringing people into the New Life of Christ and helping them to live from the Mystery of Faith. We Catholics cannot set our goal below this. However, LIFE is certainly stepping into the fray with great courage and deliberation. Martin Foley, its Chief Executive, is a man who is visibly filled with light and hope - and he received a great salute from West Yorkshire last night.

An ex-gangster in the north

John Pridmore, the ex-gangster, and the St Patrick's Mission Community, supported by the Friars of the Renewal, are in Bradford this week giving a parish mission in St Joseph's. Last night John spoke about how the Father's love had sought him out and changed his life, he gave an electrifying witness to the presence of Christ in the Sacrament of Penance and in the Eucharist, and he called on St Joseph's parishioners to draw close to Christ and to disregard the other voices around us that make us forget the presence of God.

A great number of people had come to the first evening service of the mission and filled the beautiful church of St Joseph near the city centre.

Twice John referred to the strength of faith of Catholics in Yorkshire in times past, idicating what fertile ground Yorkshire is for Christ and the Gospel. If you can come, the Mission Service is at 7.00pm each evening this week.

St Margaret Clitherow pray for us and for the conversion of many.

"BB" revisited

The last greatness of rural England - England before motorways or trunk-roads, before the "commercialisation" of the countryside, and before its emasculation by modernity and political correctness - was encapsulated by the personality and writings of Denys Watkins-Pitchford or "BB".

As young children we were read to in the evening by our mother and our imaginations were fed by some of "BB"'s most inspiring and rewarding stories: the "Bill Badger" series, "The Whopper", "Brendan Chase". It was such stories as these that gave me a love of the countryside and led me to explore the outdoors from a very early age. Long before a television arrived in our house I had already explored the parks, the ponds and brooks and the fields on the outskirts of Leeds. What a great joy it was then to venture off the M1 last week, accompanied by Declan who is more a fan of "BB" than I am, into deepest Northamptonshire in order to visit some of the places connected with "BB".

We stopped first in the village of Lamport and found the Old Rectory where "BB" had been born and where he grew up. The rolling countryside was idyllic and we saw images there which had come straight from his drawings and prints.

We visited the graveyard at Cranford St John where he is buried with his wife and son - a graveyard which is in the most beautiful rural setting you could imagine. We prayed for him and his family there - that his Christian soul which was large enough to appreciate the work of God in the fields and the woods and in Christ, would be made even larger by the fulfilling grace.

Finally, we visited "The Round House" where lived he lived during the last decades of his life. Declan was overjoyed to find "Big Pond" still there after so many years - but we couldn't see "Big Boy" the carp.

Visiting these places for the first time has renewed my thoughts about "BB"'s books, especially his books for children. In an age of technology and information we do need to keep in touch with a more preliminary experience of life, and of the relationship between God and Creation. "BB"'s books are accesible, beautiful and hugely engaging - there is a lot to be rediscovered here.

Friends with Christ: the new season

The "Friends with Christ" initiative is holding two events this October - let the graces of the summertime flow! Perhaps you were at Walsingham "Youth2000" or "New Dawn", perhaps you joined the World Youth Alliance for their "Viviamo" in Romania, perhaps you took part in a local prayer festival, or maybe you were waiting for your results to come through or for a reply for your job applications. Perhaps you are steeling yourself to burn for Christ at the beginning of a new term. Look out for what is on offer and embrace every opportunity of grace that God gives you.

Fr Julian and myself have timetabled two events which go to the heart of our Faith and which we offer to you:

Friends with Christ Retreat in Birmingham, Fri 19th- 21st October. A retreat led by Fr Julian and myself for young people and University students aged 18 - 25. The Retreat will begin on Friday evening with supper at 6.oopm.
There will be help on how to pray, Holy Mass, Adoration, talks, Spiritual Exercises, good food and relaxation, and individual guidance for deepening your relationship with Christ. The retreat will end after lunch on Sunday at about 2.00pm. No charge - donation please. Come and stay or come each day! Floor space available for those who wish to stay - please bring sleeping bag/ground mat. Otherwise come in and take part in the sessions each day. Contact either of us for a booking form.

A Friends with Christ Day of Recollection for dating couples, led by Fr Richard Aladics and Alan and Anne Morton. Saturday 13th October near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. This day is for young people, aged 18 to 25, who are beginning a relationship or who are already thinking about marriage, and who are looking for a time to pray and discern together - hearing the call to marriage and putting Christ first. No charge - donation please. If you are coming by train we can offer lifts from Retford and Newark stations. Contact Fr Richard for a booking form.

Credible witnesses

Following the pilgrimage to Craiglodge I drove south to Walsingham in order to take part in the Youth2000 International Prayer Festival. There at England's National Shrine to the Blessed Mother, Our Lady helped both priests and a thousand young people to celebrate and adore the Eucharist.

During four days this great company of young people, priests and religious took part in an experience of the life of the Church. Christ was at the centre of this experience and His presence drew from us all our own witness to His action in our lives, in prayer, in desiring anew His life, in celebrating the Sacarments, in sharing and in testimony. It was an experience of grace; of being built up together to be his witnesses, credible witnesses.

A pilgrimage of grace

Last week I led a group of young people, most of them from Leeds, on a pilgrimage to CraigLodge in Scotland (my first visit there). Our intention was to spend three days together in prayer and friendship, and we chose The Family House of Prayer as our place of pilgrimage (as so many young people before us have done). It was a superb three days of grace.

We were welcomed at Craiglodge by the Community and given extensive freedom in taking part in the life of the Community and preparing our our framework of prayer and adventure. Fr Stefan joined us from his Augustinian community in Edinburgh and we were indebted to him for his lack of local knowledge during the first day's adventure - wading across a Highland river was, in fact, a source of grace for our company.

On the second full day after a morning of adoration and reflection we climbed into the Lost Valley in Glen Coe, arriving in Oban in the evening sunlight for a meal by the harbour.

I gather that during the three days we spent there, Scotland had its best weather so far this year. This pilgrimage, made together by young people and priests, was a great blessing for us this summertime. We were able to pray together in a way which would not have been possible otherwise, and we were able to share together so much of our life in Christ. We were another company of builders for the Civilisation of Love.

A feast of Grace

We've got a 12-Star General. She's leading us into Eternity!

Her story, which has been 'gathered' by the Church is extraordinary. We hear about so many people, in magazines, on the radio, on the television, who have absolutely nothing to tell us. Very occasionally we hear a person speaking to us (in the media) who shines a ray of light, this rare ocurrance is a great blessing.

But this person is quite different from the mindless mass-media "personality"; her life is utterly informed and transformed by grace. She can tell us about the whole of her life, about the meaning of the most simple event in her life. She introduces us to the whole panarama of life. Her story is the most accesible story, because it is cherished and preserved by God himself, and because she is our Mother.

She is the first, among many (saints), who can tell us the truth!

A priestly movement in the heart of Europe

During the past ten days the "Societe Jean-Marie Vianney" has been holding its annual general summer Session; first in Ars (near Lyons) and then in Lisieux (in Normandy). About sixty priests together with some seminarians from Europe and Canada took part in this gathering.

The "Societe Jean-Marie Vianney" is a priestly fraternity of Pontifical Right whose purpose is the development and exercise of the interior life of the diocesan priest for his apostolic and missionary life. This fraternal and spiritual endeavour is inspired by the witness to priestly holiness of the Cure d'Ars, St John Vianney.

At the heart of this movement is the Holy Eucharist, celebrated and adored, by the priest. A second dimension is built upon priests sharing together their own experience of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A third aspect of this movement is the study of the Teaching of the Church undertaken as a shared responsibility.

It is unusual to see priests in public, and large numbers of priests at that, especially in the UK. Perhaps Europe is unaware at this stage, that its true heart is still beating. Europe certainly possesses the material wealth to develop itself; it also possesses spiritual wealth and the John Vianney Society is called to be at the forefront of of this mission.

A very poignant moment for me was the singing of Midday Prayer of the Church on the cliffs by the Batterie de Longues which overlooks both "Gold" and "Juno" beaches (D-Day landings). Here in view of many tourists we prayed together for the unity of Europe. For, as the Moderator of the Society said as he opened the prayer: "A Europe without God will be a disaster!"

We were graced throughout the Session with the spiritual company of St Therese; in fact we stayed in Lisieux just over the river from the Carmel wall where she was perfected in holiness. We visited the Noman coast and Bayeux with its thousand year-old Tapistry, ending that day with a splendid Norman BBQ.

This society, still so new - it was given Pontifical Right in 2002 - is a flower at the heart of the Church. Please pray for the Society, that it may lead to the holiness of priests, that it be a strong platform of the New Evangelisation and that promote and guide many, many priestly vocations; it is already at the heart of the renewal of the Diocesan Priesthood.

Revisiting a Rising

Recently I visited Lincolnshire and some of the sites associated with the Lincolnshire Rising - the precursor to the Pilgrimage of Grace. The Rising occured in response to the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the taxing of the Church and Governmental involvement in clerical life. It began because of a sermon given by the Parish Priest of Louth, Fr Thomas Kendall, on 1st October 1536, who called upon the people of Louth to defend their rights against the King. This photo shows the interior of St James Church in Louth - the original pulpit replaced by this Victorian piece.

The Rising gained great momentum throughout Lincolnshire, bringing together a great army which mustered first on Hamilton Hill (pictured) just outside Market Rasen in the first week of October. It was here that Robert Aske first made a public appearence; he was to become the principal Captain of the later Pilgrimage of Grace.

The Host finally made its way to Lincoln where they met with Henry VIII's envoys who managed to suppress the rebellion and then to execute many of its leaders.

Lincolnshire had much to lose - principally its faith and its numerous religious houses. Newstead Priory, pictured here, is situated on the banks of the River Ancholme. It was a Gilbertine House - the Gilbertines were a uniquely English Foundation. The "Priory" is now a venue for civil weddings and civil partnerships.

Finally I visited the site, which for me, is the most evocative remnant of the Dissolution of the Monasteries: Thornton Abbey. Only the Gatehouse of this Augustinian House remains, but as you approach the Gatehouse you can begin to imagine the "city" built for the honour of God which lay beyond. Thornton Abbey (just the Gatehouse) is well worth a visit; it is on the south bank of the Humber close to Immingham.

All that took place in Lincolnshire during October 1536 prepared the way for the Pilgrimage of Grace (I'll post about this later), and for the hardening of attitudes in Government against the "old religion". The Dissolution of the Monasteries continued, a new "church" was established, and as we know, the country has become more and more spiritually impoverished.

What a plan!

Cardinal Pell of Australia is envisaging a comprehensive renewal of his Diocese in the light of the blueprint letter of JPII: "Tertio Milennio Ineunte". At last there is a clear response from the Church of the Anglo-Saxon world to the New Evangelisation. Here is one "local Church" to keep your eye on - there will be many lessons for us to learn in the UK about how to become the Church of the New Evangelisation.

Take a look at the Home page of the Archdiocese of Sydney here and click on the Logo on the right hand side titled "Draft Pastoral Plan".

It is great to see what the plan heralds for young people: a local concrete response to next year's World Youth Day and for every parish to have the resources to lead young people in the Christian Life!

Let's remember Cardinal Pell, his Diocese and its renewal, and the plans for World Youth Day in our prayer.

Pelagianism in Leeds

In the UK we live in a deeply neo-Pelagian culture, one in which life is self or state-made and one for which Christ is present only as a reminder of how to be nice. It is a culture which has been forged through the presence of its national church - a church which is, by its nature utterly Pelagian, and by today's secularist movement. Neo-Pelagianism is today evidenced amongst other things by supermarket culture, Sunday shopping, condom and Court Order culture, drug and alcohol abuse, free unions and "living together", the welfare state mentality, middle class resort-enclaves - all of which declare "we can make it through on our own, we don't need Christ!"

I recently came across publications from two Catholic colleges in Leeds which reveal the influence of neo-Pelagianism in their ethoses (is that the plural of "ethos").

College "A", in its end of year Mass used the following prayers:

"Lord, peace always starts with ourselves. Help us to go forward ... and to promote peace in our homes, workplaces or wherever we find ourselves ... " "Let us celebrate all human beauty caught in colour, form and faith. Celebrate the human body made to move with speed and grace. Friendship found in common focus, effort turned to common goal." "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us ... and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from ur own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

This is just a little snippet, there is a lot more! Our young Catholics are being patronised terribly by this vapid nonsense.

College "B" in one of its Scriptural Course prospectus declares:

"The course will interest those are searching within English literature to sustain a personal quest for spiritual meaning." "It provides an understanding of the ways in which the English Bible was claimed, explained and proclaimed by institutions and individuals, and how it came to inspire other forms of literary expression." "You will have the opportunity to choose from a range of optional modules; Catholic Novelists, Dissent, Faith and Feminism ... " Why choose "Religious Studies" asks another prospectus? "So you can analyse and explore such issues as environmental ethics, gender and sexual ethics, Darwinism and debates about human nature ... and to discover new approaches to ethical reflection."

Catholic students and prospective students beware! Christ is not the centre and focus of these colleges, and the drip, drip, drip of neo-Pelagianism has taken hold here. The truth is that Christ is the definitive Revelation of the Father, that He has come to us because human nature is wounded, and that the Life of Grace, which He offers, is the unique opportunity for human beings to find fulfillment in God.

"Lord, look upon our troubled times, which need preachers of the Gospel, witnesses to you, persons who can point the way toward 'life in abundance'! Look upon our world and feel pity once more! Look upon our world and send us labourers!" Benedict XVI

The second leg of my break brought me to Hertfordshire and Essex. First I went to visit the town where I was born and took this photo of its ancient Cathedral:

Then eastwards to the old Catholic stronghold of Ingatestone Hall of the Petre family. Here St John Payne worked until his capture and execution at Chelmsford. The house has two remarkable priest holes. Neither of them were ever discovered during the penal days and both could provide ample space for the hiding of priests and Mass stuff.

I then went to the other side of Essex to see "Braddocks" or "Broadoaks". This house belonged in penal days to the Wiseman family - Catholics - and contains the finest priest hiding-place in the country. There is a detailed record of the search made in 1594 for the Jesuit John Gerrard who was hiding in this hide. The search lasted four days and was unsucessful, so cleverly had the hide been made by Nicholas Owen (now a saint).

You might imagine that something had inspired these visits - it had. For my holiday reading I took with me Alice Hogge's new book - "God's secret agents". She has writen a popular historical novel about the life of Catholics during Elizabeth I's reign. The book has been extensivly researched and is really well written. I recommend it to you as an immensly inspiring account of the lives of our forebears, priests and lay people, who offered themselves so that the Catholic Faith would continue in England.

Another world

The first leg of my break brought me to Provence - I like this country more than any other. The first thing to notice was the weather - very different from ours. 28C and dry. The second thing to notice is that the village where we stayed - Villecroze - was just like "Minas Tirith" in "The Lord of the Rings".

Even the house where we stayed called to my mind the lodgings where Gandalf and Pippin were housed just before the siege of Gondor.

We had a superb week, cycling, swimming in fresh water and salt, and praying all the while for the new evangelisation of the UK.

The Dawkins Delusion - the interview

Having been challenged by some secularists the past few days, I came across this tongue in cheek little item on You Tube...

An extraordinary occasion

Here's a picture taken during the Mass I celebrated yesterday evening. Sorry about the quality of the image.

Parity

I'm back. And what extraordinary news from the Holy Father. We used to speak of "parity for the old rite" in the late seventies but the new "Motu Proprio" is stunning! Thank you, Holy Father.

I don't know whather this Motu Proprio will mean that more Tridentine Masses will be celebrated, but I think that it will have a huge psychological amd theological impact: the Mass is the Mass!

This Act, together with "Redemptionis Sacramentum" and "Sacramentum Caritatis" means not only that the period of liturgical experimentation is over, but that reality of the Mass, as the unchanging and saving action of Christ in history, is now again at the forefront of the Liturgy. And that the Church is actively drawing us into the action of the Mass (whether old or new rite), so that we might be formed by Christ and so that the Liturgical Movement might be better grounded.

On Monday I celebrate my 19th Anniversary of Ordination. I will be offering Mass, using the 1962 Missal, at 7.30pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Huddersfield. (It's the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.) Refreshments afterwards in my Presbytery. If you can come, please do.