The Mission of Deacons

On my blog list I subscribe to the excellent blog of Deacons Today and I reproduce this below as it is something we come across often in trying to live out our daily vocation which is indeed anything but 'part-time' :





Recently, I have been reviewing several foundational documents, speeches and catecheses on the diaconate. One such text is an address given by Pope John Paul II to a joint plenary assembly of the Congregation for Clergy and the Congregation for Catholic Education on 30 November 1995. The Congregations were gathering to prepare two documents on the diaconate, which were eventually published in Feburary, 1998. This papal address was the official launch of this project. I think it would be interesting to share some of it here as part of our reflection on deacons and the ministry of charity.
Entitled "Deacons Are Configured to Christ the Servant," the whole address is excellent, but one paragraph is particularly rich in significance. Here's the first part of what the pope had to say:

“The exercise of the diaconal ministry—like that of other ministries in the Church—requires per se of all deacons, celibate or married, a spiritual attitude of total dedication. Although in certain cases it is necessary to make the ministry of the diaconate compatible with other obligations, to think of oneself and to act in practice as a ‘part-time deacon’ would make no sense. The deacon is not a part-time employee or ecclesiastical official, but a minister of the Church. His is not a profession, but a mission!”


Deacons often find themselves dealing with a common misperception on the part of some presbyters and laity that they are, in fact, “part-time” ministers. Such a misperception places the locus of ministry on formal ecclesial structures themselves; the deacon, however, as a full-time minister, exercises diaconal ministry across the full range of human activity: whether he is at home with his family, at work in a secular profession, or functioning at church. At all times and in every venue he is, in fact, acting as a sacred minister of the Church, and the pope makes this point perfly clear.

Cancelled Pilgrimage?!

Of course there is no way that our Christian witness and pilgrimage can be cancelled. However there is sad news to report that this year's Glastonbury Pilgrimage has been cancelled as confirmed by a letter being sent out and signed by.....The Bishop of Plymouth. As a former member of the Council of the GPA I regret this very much and at such late notification too. It makes absolutely no specific reference to the departing brothers and sisters to the Ordinariate but only to "doubts about attendance" and that a service with the image of OLW taking place at Exeter Cathedral in May is the reason. I suppose that it was always going to be difficult as most of  the main supporters and all the flying Bishops and the former Chairman, Bp David Silk have been forced by the caring, sharing Church of England to make pilgrimage elsewhere. The future will be discussed at the AGM of the GPA in October; make sure you retain your membership until then if you want to vote.

Personally I think the future for the Anglican pilgrimage there and the future of the National Anglican Pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham lies as a joint ecumenical witness with the Roman Catholic Glastonbury Pilgrimage and Roman Catholic Walsingham one too. Whilst sacramental division remains each could have their own non- communicating Masses or separate prayers of consecration and then joint veneration of the Blessed Sacrament and sprinkling and healing services combined perhaps. There is no doubt that the full sacramental unity of Anglo Catholics with Rome will proceed apace as nothing much of any use will or can be offered by General Synod. And as a not very well focused extra remnant in the form of the Society of SS Hilda and Wilfred, it will struggle with the starkly reduced numbers and missing the most vibrant members of the former Anglo-Catholic wing of Anglicanism . We can but keep praying with and for each other that God's will may be done (as soon as possible!).

The Water of Life

Homily Lent 3. Yr. A
The Samaritan Woman at the Well

Sunday’s Gospel is full of a large number of meanings on a variety of levels. It begins with the account of the woman at the well. Although we don’t have the name of the Samaritan lady we do have the name of the well. Jacob’s well is named after the great Patriarch Jacob who was an absolutely key figure in Hebrew history. He was of course the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. On his journey at Bethel he received a vision when he was promised blessing and posterity, which became true. There is by the way a legend that the stone pillow on which he laid his head during his vision at Bethel is the stone of destiny or the crowning stone of Scone on which all Scottish Kings and English ones, since 1296 when it was removed to Westminster Abbey, are crowned.
Jacobs well is, however a real and historical place, the setting for the account of Jesus’ journey from Judea to Galilee that traditionally passes through Samaria taking a symbolic three days. The well can be found at the fork in the road in a very precise place; that is at the fork which branches in one direction to Samaria and W. Galilee and in the other to Bethshan and Lake Genaseret half a mile from modern Askar. 

John’s Gospel is full of references to water. Here the human need to drink water is reference to its life giving qualities. We cannot live or exist without it. Jesus’ life and ministry often refers to water, as in new birth from the very beginning of life with water in the womb of the BVM, through baptism in the Jordan, water in cleansing and healing, blessing and at burial. The church uses water extensively in its sacraments and blessings from the cradle to the grave.
Jesus’ dialogue with the woman at Jacob’s well, as with his dialogue with us today in the sacrament of word and action and Eucharistic presence, is that not only is water a life giving and life saving commodity essential for our survival but he as living water is also essential for our well being and our spiritual life both here and in the life to come.
The woman is the first missionary in a sense, as she brings her community as she brings us to recognise Jesus as our Saviour and the Saviour of the world. Jesus shows us that he is the gift of God greater than Jacob, he is the living water on which we heavily rely. Hence his words “everyone who drinks this water will become thirsty again but he who drinks of the water that I shall give will never be thirsty… gushing up to eternal life”. Wine is made up largely of water, the same substance that through the mystery of the Eucharist becomes the blood of Christ, the water of spiritual and eternal life. One of the reasons Deacons at Mass mix water with wine in the chalice before its consecration is to make this connection between what Jesus did at the last supper using water in this way and remembering that at the crucifixion both blood and water came from his pierced side sacramentally embodied at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

So then, we have water of life to drink, the gift of God himself and the food of life which is Jesus his son who refreshes us with his words, comforts us as we thirst for the true meaning of life, food and drink beyond all understanding. Jesus is the water and food of our redemption and the deep source and well of all life, all knowledge, wisdom and truth. The physician and healer of our weakness, clears away our sins and doubts and fears like a great cleansing tide that washes over us leaving us pure and renewed to do his will. As we turn towards the cross we shall again hear the words of Christ hanging there for you and for me “ I thirst”. He thirsts not just for himself but he for us, he thirsts for our love above all he thirsts for our faith and our faithfulness. Will we hear his words to us and will we respond? May this Holy Lent reveal to us the great joy and meaning of the coming Pascal-tide. May we see more clearly the life giving Saviour in whom and to whom we owe everything and to whom all honour might majesty dominion and praise be given now and for ever, Amen. + M.E.Z.

Holy Lent

We'll be going as a family to the Mardi Gras arranged by some church stalwarts after school today. Pancakes of course on the menu! Not sure if the race will be on we'll let you know! If you want a good way to keep Lent for five minutes each day why not listen in to Fr. Z on his daily podcast from the USA? You can listen in here at http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/lentcazt-00-shrove-tuesday/

My photo today is of the "Pancake Greaze" which we used to celebrate when I was at Westminster Under (junior) School many moons ago! Westminster School adjoins The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to popularly and informally as Westminster Abbey or in London as "The Abbey". The tradition consists of the school chef tossing a horsehair pancake over quite a high ceiling bar after which there was a violent rugby type scrum with no rules. The winner being the one who had collected the most pancake, after The Dean blew his whistle, by usually stuffing as much as they could under their shirt. The reward was considerable, as the winner was presented with silver Maundy money no less! Health and safety nowhere to be seen in those days!

Dewi Sant of Wales

St. Non's Well in St Davids, Wales. This holy well is said to have sprung up during a thunderstorm when St. Non gave birth to St. David around 500 AD. It has healing properties.

A Happy St. David's day to all! The legend that the 6th. cent patron saint of Wales Dewi Sant only ever drank water but neither wine nor beer is from the mists of time but may well be true although probably not many of his countrymen are strict followers of his in this regard, especially at the six nations rugby feasts! The more likely story that he daily practised total immersion in cold water (his nickname being Aquaticus) is a sanguine thought indeed especially as in cold winters such as this! That he founded ten monasteries including Menevia (St. Davids) and Glastonbury in the harshest traditions of the desert fathers are facts not disputed. Archbishops of Wales of Roman Catholic or the Anglican tradition would more authentically be based on the ancient see of St. Davids in Pembrokeshire, the ancient metropolis since the synod of Brevi AD 550. From time immemorial the Welsh have worn a leek on St. David's day, in memory of a battle against the Saxons, at which it is said they wore leeks in their hats, on St. David's advice, to distinguish them from their enemies. Dewi was one of very few Welshmen to have been canonised by the Western church, in his case by Pope Callistus II in 1120, the feast being proscribed for the whole province of Canterbury until the Reformation. Despite what you might hear from parts (not thankfully all parts) of the Church in Wales, you  definitely do NOT have to be a supporter of the novelty of the Welsh Assembly (a most recent innovation) to be a loyal supporter of Wales and a pilgrim follower of St. David. That is why I shall be voting NO at the referendum this month on the proposal to give enhanced powers to the WAG (Welsh Assembly Government). I urge all Taffys like me (so named after Daffyd) to do likewise! This is the closest I'm likely to get to pushing politics but have you seen the appalling standard of debates on the TV channel BBC Parliament? In my experience the local authorities combined with Westminster do a much better job. What a joke and why does the Church in Wales insist on going secular and nationalistic when the priority should be the Gospel of Jesus Christ and nothing but the Gospel? 

What to watch this Lent

Of Gods and Men

If you get the chance do try and see the wonderful French academy award winning film Des Hommes et des Dieux. I saw it with my wife and friends last night at the Newport Riverfront Theatre complex, a much underused and highly recommended arts centre. The English title is "Of Gods and Men". There were so many wonderful and poignant moments in the film it's hard to know where to start. The Benedictine community of eight monks in Algeria is the setting. Beset with problems working among the poor and within the Muslim community upholding the Christian faith, there is love, fear, courage, the way of the cross and resurrection in abundance in the real life story. That this film could win awards in France and Europe says much about the arts there and also the sad state of the British and especially American film scene. It wouldn't have got a look in here or the States. The characters are beautifully played in an understated and authentic way exuding the frustrations, the sacrifice and the joys of living in community with the daily Mass and Offices at their heart being the true powerhouse and springboard so important to the fruits of ministry. Monastic vocations can surely only be enhanced by such powerful and truthful work given to us by the Director Xavier Beauvois. It also gives much food for contemplation and prayer especially during Lent. This is timely while we see so many Christians struggling and continuing to become martys for the faith in hostile lands to the present day. Here are some trailers which only give a soupcon of what lies within...

Directions New

I suppose that it was inevitable in all the huge changes taking place in the Anglo-Catholic world that the publication of Forward in Faith "New Directions" would be similarly changed. How could it be otherwise with all the personalities changing and moving? However it was with great sadness that when I opened the Feb. edition I realised all was never going to be the same. Another farewell to be faced is my immediate reaction. I had better give it another couple of months. The opinions and editorials were quite different to before. The balance is tried to be given by various re-prints from elsewhere which are obviously not the views of the new regime. Better time may be spent on study books from now on. Which brings me on to saying how much I have enjoyed reading one of my Christmas present books kindly given me; "Heaven and Earth and Little Space". Definitely no disappointment here and thoroughly absorbing stuff. Oh the author? a certain Fr. Burnham. My review of this in a word... brilliant. Buy it here

Confirmation and Chrismation

Blessing the Holy Muron(Chrism) Armenian Orthodox 

Regarding a current blog theme on the sacrament of Holy Confirmation I can't but help agreeing with the way our sister churches of the Oriental Orthodox and Orthodox Churches administer this according to very ancient holy tradition which is to administer Holy Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Communion to the children all as infants. I remember well assisting as an honorary Deacon at an Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church initiation rite which included the admission of the infant to full membership of the church of Christ. There was no doubt in my mind that the Holy Spirit having been invoked presided at the holy annointings at this most early age and of course Holy Communion was administered to the infant on a spoon where Jesus Christ entered and sanctified the newly initiated there and then. Having been anointed by Holy Muron(Chrism) the whole body was thereby made one with Christ. Here is what has been written;

“Confirmation is thus the personal Pentecost of man, his entrance into the life of the Holy Spirit…his ordination as truly and fully man…His whole body is anointed, sealed, sanctified, dedicated to the new life: ‘the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit,’ says the priest as he anoints the newly baptized ‘on the brow, and on the eyes, and the nostrils, and the lips, and on both arms, and the breast and on the hands, and the feet’…The whole man is now made the temple of God…”

Wales to Westminster

You will find far better photos and coverage than mine from the Ordinations today. However, if you want a flavour of the day of the priestly ordinations of the three PEV's, one of whom was kind enough to give Welsh traditionalists a home and two Chrism Masses after our orphanage after the Provincial Assistant Bishop's abolition by the Bench of Welsh Bishops; here it is! Remember here in Wales we knew exactly where the then Bishop Andrew's caravan was leading, I am surprised at  some being so dismissive of the Ordinariate so early before it's hardly started. Intelligent discernment requires at least a period of reception of the idea of the offer from Rome doesn't it? Especially as there is no time limit or pressure being applied. I have been  quite shocked by the speed of some leading Anglo-Catholic's in Wales and elsewhere to declare it's not for them. Why ever not?  Where is the maybe, or what might God be saying to us in all this? It's patently clear that there's no future in Wales for things as they were before, imperfect as they may have been. If you had been in Westminster Cathedral today you would have seen before you that no denial of any previous ministry was either sought or made. To the contrary the leader of Roman Catholics in Wales and England made specific reference to the grace of  the candidates previous ministry and paid tribute to their courage to take charge of the new Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham (where many of us Welsh traditionalists have learnt our branch of the faith and calling).

The Alarm was set for 5.30am this morning. Morning Prayer office and away! I was in the train at 7.00 in Paddington at 8.40 and after the tube to Victoria, in Starbucks in Victoria St. having a small Americano by 9.20! As the crowds started passing by early for the 10.30 start I moved over to the Piazza earlier than I had planned. Just as well the place would be standing room only and heaving! With a good seat close to the front time to pray and to think and to soak up history in the making. At first it looked as though the altar had been arranged for an Eastward facing rite for which the huge space is well suited. But no, never mind! The frontal was lovely, the lighting and sound system high quality and the place abuzz with expectation. Looking around there we loads of Anglicans; those departing, those thinking about a ticket and those not sure but perhaps later (when one more boot is put in by General Synod perhaps). At 10.30 exactly the huge procession of Bishops, Priests and Deacons entered quietly (the long way round!) the Hymn strikes up "Thy hand O God has guided.." just like home! Archbishop Nichols' lovely welcome and the messages from Cardinal Levada and Pope Benedict himself read out, then the penitential rite the Kyrie and Gloria by Victoria (1548-1611) sung by the Westminster Cathedral Choir who sit high up behind the Baldachino and were not in the procession. They were in excellent form throughout the rite, well done to all, bless them! After the ministry of the word the pulpit was vacated by the proclaiming Deacon of the Word and was immediately invaded by vultures (of the noisy media camera variety you understand!) The calling of the candidates, the ir presentation by Bp. Alan Hopes the election by the Archbishop and consent of the people. Then the longish Homily which you can read elsewhere, then the examination, promises of obedience. Here then came the sung litany of the saints always a moving part of the ceremony but especially as OLOWalsingham and Blessed John Henry Newman were invoked. Then the laying on of hands, the Ordination prayer. The investiture of stoles and chasubles (by their wives..that's definately a first!) The oil of Holy Chrism was then used for the anointing with the "Veni Creator" (home from home again). Then the Eucharist with concelebrants and a chance to receive a first blessing at the communion. The Lord's Prayer sung by all and a very beautiful account of the Ave Verum by Sir Edward Elgar. Much joy and acclamation after the dismissal and then it had to be "Praise to the Holiest in the height .." by Newman as the recessional. Handshakes with Archbishop Vincent on our way out and a chance to chatter with the large crowds down the steps. Then off for refreshments in town, a quick visit to the art gallery and home on the train in time for Evening Prayer office in Wales again! Wow what a day! "Lord I an not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed" ....and there was healing on this day in abundance, pray God it will continue.

Christmas Octave Day

From the Palace of His Holiness the Catholicos, Etchmiadzin, Armenia

In giving thanks for the past year we pray that the New Year will be fruitful and full of blessings, full of harmony and unity in Christ. Theotokos, God-Bearer, Mother of God and all Christians, unto your unending prayers we hope to enter on this first day of 2011, our first Mass dedicated to you who point, not to yourself but to the Word made flesh who bears the Holy name of Jesus your son. May we leave our old selves behind with the old year and re-dedicate lives to the new paths of the New Year in Christ's service which is perfect freedom.

Seeing the Birth of Salvation

Christmas Day Homily. Who can describe or explain the wonders and mysteries of the season as God is born as man from the womb of the Virgin in His Son Jesus? All we need is to believe and to accept the birth of this holy One we see at Christmas as the incarnation of salvation itself. Here is none other than the Son of God among us. Of course there is unbridled joy that this saving event should happen and be re-enacted sacramentally in the Christmas Liturgies each year. There is also the knowledge that as fully human He will suffer as we all suffer, indeed he will share our sufferings, transform them and save us through the Resurrection...if we let him. He will lead us and guide us….if we let Him. He will save us from ourselves, our sins and our failings and our cruelties to others too ...if we let Him. Where are we at this time of His birth, are we fully believing, fully absorbed, wholly accepting of all the teachings and witness of the many who have gone before us? Or are we wanting to make up our own interpretations, re-work the events to make them seem somehow more acceptable? This is not a sort of Father Christmas option; to accept  the Christmas presents in the stocking but not the man responsible for bringing them. Our faith has to be founded on truths and the good news of the Gospel without equivocation. This Christmas solemnity did happen as we read of it in the familiar scriptures on which we rely. So where are we in our lives, in our faith at this time? Are we at the foot of the crib really worshipping and praising and listening to the word of God made flesh? Are we really prepared to join with ordinary believing Christians in their millions and millions over two thousand years without us putting up barriers and unnecessary doubts? Are we up for being with the ordinary shepherds and the extra-ordinary Angels and the exotic Kings who have yet to arrive? If not then why not ? 'Come to me and I will refresh you' says the Lord. We can be with Him and rejoice, looking into the eyes of God in this crib before us and if not sure still, then seeing Him in the eyes of the little children and those of all ages around us and catching some of their faith, the true faith, the real story. If further help is needed then we can repeat the words of Mary the mother of Jesus, the Mother of God ''Be it unto me according to thy word'' again and again until the faith of Christ washes through us and fills us to the brim until there is no going back only onwards, listening to the words of the Angel ''do not be afraid''. Let us not be afraid to believe, to join with the shepherds, the Angels, Christians everywhere as we rejoice and realize that the Lord is among us, can never be taken away from us, will never die and be ever present in our homes, our hearts, our lives. In the words of the Angel again "I bring you news of great joy. Today the Saviour of the world has been born to you". May the Holy family of Mary Joseph and Jesus give us the pattern and witness to our faith, through their prayers may we have enough love in us, enough humility and enough openness of faith to believe these things and welcome Jesus into our hearts now and for ever. +

Thought for the Day

It is good that the normalisation of the Roman Catholic Church continues apace in these islands as The Holy Father is invited to give the Radio 4 slot 'Thought for the Day' on The Eve of Our Lord's Nativity at 7.45am. See here

Mary Immaculate. Mother of God

If you believe that Mary is the Mother of God and is awaiting this Advent to conceive Him in His son then she can not be anything other than immaculate at her own birth. As they say round here "not a problem"!!

Ordinariate in Wales

After Welsh PAB Ordinations 2004 

We already have provision in Wales for the forthcoming Ordinariate by virtue of the Roman Catholic heirarchy covering both English and Welsh Anglican Provinces. It is good that at last some interest is being launched within Wales via the new web site which has been launched click HERE not necessarily to instantly sign up to the Ordinariate but simply to explore it. It has been slow here perhaps to gather momentum due mainly to the tiny size of the Welsh Anglican province and the apparent lack of enthusiasm within the Welsh province of SSC which like all provinces of SSC is supposed to be in favour of corporate re-union with Rome. There are however Welsh Anglicans on the Bristol group for the time being exploring their way forward towards the Ordinariate. It is good to know that the Welsh bench of Bishops has among its number members who have expressed concern for traditionalists among their flock by saying that there is no antagonism towards them and they do not take issue with the fact that promises have in fact been broken. If this is so, it begs the question why there is no Provincial Assistant Bishop for providing sacramental care for them then? The message is clear though that traditionalists do not have a long term future in the Church in Wales. Come to that nor perhaps in the short term either. For example where will they go for the Chrism Mass in four months time? To the college of female and male priests with the Diocesan? What also about Ordinations and Confirmations? Time for waiting and listening upon God this Advent for discernment of these most important issues.

Contemplating Advent.

Here are some images of the frosts and cold of the season which will arrive again in time for the start of the new Church year. A time for pausing, a time for reflection, a time for planning and putting right what is wrong. A time for sitting in the dark and waiting for the light of Christ. A time for decision perhaps and a time for staying or departing and  new beginnings. Contemplations on the new birth, a birth of God who will be among us, a new birth in faith perhaps, farewells to the old and the lovely, the familiar and some great hopes of young growth of something new. A time for reason and a time for calculation and adding up, a time for listening to the still small voice of our Saviour, a time for prayer, a time for thanksgiving and waiting upon the Lord. A time for repentance and confession. A time for new resolution and a time for belief and reinvigoration. A time for meeting new friends and appreciating those who will always stand with you and never waver in sharing the  responsibility to be guardians of the faith. A time for a new beginning at the start of a new year. Let the lovely time of Advent begin.. the best hymns.... the very best time of year.... let the Holy season begin!
Conditor Alme (6th.cent.)
 Creator of the stars of night.
Thy people’s everlasting light.
O Jesu Saviour of us all,
Regard thy servants when they call.

Requiem Mass

Here are some photos of the Requiem Mass for Remembrance Sunday at St. Deiniol's this year.

France 1944

Some of these are the photos from our family holiday in August. We cycled with our two daughters 15 Km to make our pilgrimage to this allied war grave cemetery at Ranville which was full of mainly British troops killed in the first wave of the liberation DDay landings. We followed this, crossing near-by Pegasus Bridge with a visit to the excellent and 'must see' Museum of Peace at Caen where we met not only British, American and Canadian visitors but Germans and French all trying to learn the truth of what happened in the carnage of the two World Wars. The young ages on the Caen stone headstones tell their own story. Only if we understand fully what went wrong in those days can we avoid such a human tragedy again. Those who say 'it could never happen now' need to be the first to make these journeys of understanding and discovery. May the souls of those who gave their lives for freedom rest in peace + and rise in glory, Amen.

Remembrance

As I wrote (click here) last year (and again here) tomorrow is Armistice Day, the eleventh day of the eleventh month and Remembrance Sunday again arrives. One of the things one gets asked to do in the rural  ministry is do all sorts of outside events which is taking the Church to where people are. Last Saturday in anticipation of Remembrancetide I was asked to conduct a short Act of Remembrance for those fallen in war from the parishes within our local Hunt country here, and to bless the hounds. How could I refuse! The kennels are situated a few hundred yards from one of our parish churches in the group. The opening meet of the now joined Curre and Llangibby Hunts was hosted by a former Church Warden. St. Deiniol's, Itton was largely restored at the expense of the Curre family. Sir Edward Curre's white hounds of Itton being world famous for his introduction of the Welsh (long coated) cross hounds over an hundred years ago. These blood lines are found in kennels throughout the land and afar. And so it was that the rural tradition of the opening meet took place in the timeless surroundings of this most beautiful county of Monmouthshire. You can see the blowing of the horn by the Master following this Act of Remembrance and also the blessing of the hounds which took place beforehand in honour of St. Hubert's Day which was a few days earlier, who as all traditionalist churchmen will know, is the patron saint of La Chasse! Amazingly the hounds are so well trained nowadays that they instantly recognise the difference between the aniseed trail they are now commanded to follow by Tony Blair's most liberal of Governments and the fox which is their natural quarry. Amazing! Hunting folk are the most animal loving you could meet. I know numerous ones who even prefer dogs to the caring sharing liberal ecclesial and state legislators of their own race..bless them!

To the Ordinariate-The Glastonbury Connection

Best wishes and prayers to the five Bishops who have declared their departure to set up the Ordinariate. These sentiments will come from all of us who have benefitted from their pastoral and sacramental care over many years. It can not have gone un-noticed that the Glastonbury Pilgrimage Association has been a great influence and grace to orthodox Anglicans in recent years, remembering as we do the soul of the late Bp. John Richards, a former chairman of the GPA, at this time. Glastonbury has been one of the few places where those of like-minded views and theology have until now been able to worship, pray and adore the Lord Jesus Christ in the Anglican patrimony reflecting the Universal and undivided Church. Bp. David Silk was our recent Chairman. All those Bishops and many of the faithful have made their annual pilgrimage to seek the power and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in challenging times. These prayers and the grace of God have, I believe, helped to bring things to this natural new starting point for mission and evangelisation, enabled of course by the amazing and empowering establishment of Anglicanorum coetibus by Pope Benedict XVI. The prayers, outreach and care generated by all of these Fathers in God have enriched the Anglican Church and the mission and witness of Christianity to the world. This witness has been in the best spirit and vocation of all Bishops, who are supposed to be guardians of the faith. In this these five deserve our gratitude, admiration and ongoing support. Over the years we have met at the Abbey there together for fellowship, guidance, worship and for working out a vision for the future. Never have I thought that the pilgrimage regardless of changing numbers was anything other than a great grace and vehicle for oecumenical advance overseen by the souls and prayers of those Abbots and Religious who continue to drench those old stones with their prayers and make them Holy in the apparent ruins and the destruction of that Abbey Church. May it ever continue to bring catholic Anglicans to share in the riches of the faith we share with the whole Church although it will be a shadow now in size since the departure of it's most influential members. May we also pray for a swelling in the ranks of the Ordinariate from those Bishops clergy and faithful, as yet not sure, and who have until now shared in the same fellowship and vision of unity of Christ's church in the journey of true pilgrimage.

Fishing.

I apologise to my readers for wasting their time searching to see if I've written anything new over recent weeks. As you can see I have had a break and it's been some time since the last posting. I was able to take time off in the Highlands of Scotland during October and post  photos of a successful annual fishing trip, returning a noble Aberdeenshire salmon to continue it's quest to return home to spawn and ensure the continuity of it's family and it's magnificent species. On returning I had a number of mail items including correspondence from two Bishops. One from outside the Province, being very supportive and pastorally caring the other from South Wales objecting to a post on this blog. The result of the first was reaffirmation, renewal and  envigouration of vocation. The other...well you can probably guess. As the second was type-written on crested Diocesan Church in Wales notepaper marked 'private' and signed in the official way as +Sharky, Bishop of Samson and Buryan there is a presumption that this correspondence is not for general consumption and of course I may decide that this should be so. On the other hand I have been thinking. My blog is mine isn't it? I don't make you read it. It is the embodiment of my own life and expression of faith. If you read the posts for the most part I hope that they are for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God, flawed as they may be from time to time by the personal faults and sins of the author but they are in no way threatening to anyone. The libel laws remain in tact for those who wish to use them. The blogosphere posts can give an arrow-like directness to the issues of the day and I realise that and that not everyone is going to like what they read.  The fact that a post may have 'come to my attention' as the Bishop says won't clip my wings or threaten me. Nor do I feel that I shall reply or, let it be known, be stopped in future from reporting, just because I have a letter marked 'private' in response to a published blog. If you want to engage with a published blog should you not expect to reply even in disagreement in the published format and not behind the trappings of office? I know other Bishops who have at least made their objections known on the comments of a blog page and that seems right and proper to the debate. Anyway, as the editor with control of this blog I've made the decision not to reply other than here and to say that in future if you don't agree with what I've said, just leave a comment and I'll make the decision to reply, to publish or not. Thank you! Slippery fish can sometimes be difficult to handle.