23rd Sunday 9th September 2012
Didn’t They Do Well?
No, this is not a nod towards Bruce Forsyth and his well-deserved knighthood but an observation about the London 2012 Games. More specifically , without taking anything away from the organisers and the volunteers, it concerns the athletes.
Along with many others, I admit to being rather non-plussed by the whole thing before the first opening ceremony (and to being confused after it) but it didn’t take long for the infectious and unavoidable enthusiasm to get to me. Above all it was the dedication of the athletes that moved me to shed a few tears with them every time I heard our national anthem and to even more tears when they apologised for coming second or third in the world! The start of the football season frankly feels a rather damp squib in comparison.
In October the Church begins the Year of Faith marking the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. Deacon Michael and I have decided to run three programmes of additional catechesis during the year, to use the newsletter to provide some of those materials for people who cannot attend the sessions, and publish some wonderful teaching by the bishop of Frascati—but don't worry, you won’t have to learn Italian to read it. All of these things and keeping abreast of what is happening in the diocese will serve to enhance our understanding of the mysteries of our Church and its beliefs and practices and thus deepen our own faith.
In addition, I’m conscious that we have a lot of young families in our parish and with them in mind I have ordered copies of a new Catholic newspaper called Reach. It aims to raise questions for reflection on what it means to be a Catholic family and as it says on the front, help incredibly busy parents to find space for the bigger things in life. There is also a newspaper within for children, links to various websites and organisations and the most amazing eight year old explaining God! If you can, please put £1 in the newspaper box for a copy.
In various different ways each of us has the opportunity to grow spiritually in the coming year. If we put just a small percentage of the effort into our training that our athletes have done we too may ultimately receive a reward that is even more precious than gold.
Fr Kevin
No, this is not a nod towards Bruce Forsyth and his well-deserved knighthood but an observation about the London 2012 Games. More specifically , without taking anything away from the organisers and the volunteers, it concerns the athletes.
Along with many others, I admit to being rather non-plussed by the whole thing before the first opening ceremony (and to being confused after it) but it didn’t take long for the infectious and unavoidable enthusiasm to get to me. Above all it was the dedication of the athletes that moved me to shed a few tears with them every time I heard our national anthem and to even more tears when they apologised for coming second or third in the world! The start of the football season frankly feels a rather damp squib in comparison.
In October the Church begins the Year of Faith marking the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. Deacon Michael and I have decided to run three programmes of additional catechesis during the year, to use the newsletter to provide some of those materials for people who cannot attend the sessions, and publish some wonderful teaching by the bishop of Frascati—but don't worry, you won’t have to learn Italian to read it. All of these things and keeping abreast of what is happening in the diocese will serve to enhance our understanding of the mysteries of our Church and its beliefs and practices and thus deepen our own faith.
In addition, I’m conscious that we have a lot of young families in our parish and with them in mind I have ordered copies of a new Catholic newspaper called Reach. It aims to raise questions for reflection on what it means to be a Catholic family and as it says on the front, help incredibly busy parents to find space for the bigger things in life. There is also a newspaper within for children, links to various websites and organisations and the most amazing eight year old explaining God! If you can, please put £1 in the newspaper box for a copy.
In various different ways each of us has the opportunity to grow spiritually in the coming year. If we put just a small percentage of the effort into our training that our athletes have done we too may ultimately receive a reward that is even more precious than gold.
Fr Kevin
posted by Sinead Reekie at 12:00 pm