Indoctrination Doesn't Always Work...

Successive governments here in the UK have been banging on about pollution, climate change, global warming, damage to the the ozone layer and greenhouse gases for at least as long as I have been teaching (and probably longer) to the extent that these topics appear with monotonous regularity on the school curriculum, particularly in Science. Rather in the way that the History curriculum seems to revolve around the trenches in World War I and the Nazis in World War II, this constant rehashing of the topics means that students "know" about it all, but they promptly switch off when they hear the key phrases.

This was demonstrated in answers to a test question I have been marking. The question was about the decline of a deer population over time. Suggestions for the cause of this decline were solicited...

In addition to the expected answers of "increased predation by wolves," "hunting" and "disease" I noted several mentions of "global warming" and "climate change." Not surprising, when these are such favourite buzzwords. But the answer which had me howling with laughter demonstrated the typical teenager's muddled thinking:

"The hole in the ozone layer is melting."

I would just like to add a disclaimer - I haven't mentioned any of these topics to the class in question!

Swapping Pulpits...

For Laetare Sunday this year, Fr. Finigan had arranged a "pulpit swap" with Fr. Christopher Basden, Parish Priest of St. Bede's, Clapham Park.

This was quite an undertaking, as, according to custom at Blackfen, we were due to have a Solemn High Mass, to make full use of our splendid rose High Mass set. However, Fr. Basden took it all in his stride, proudly reminding the parishioners of Blackfen that he had reintroduced the traditional liturgy at St. Bede's long before Fr. Finigan had done so at Our Lady of the Rosary!

Fr. Basden was celebrant, Fr. Bernard McNally was deacon, and Rev. John Harrison was subdeacon. Once again I had my phone camera to hand, and a small selection of photos can be found over at the Flickr page.

Day With Mary

The Day With Mary team visited Blackfen on the first Saturday of March. It was a wonderful day, and very well-attended.

You can see my selection of photos on the Flickr page for the set. Unfortunately I forgot my proper camera, but my mobile phone did quite a reasonable job, I think.

I think that one of my favourite photos from the collection was taken during the recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, in front of the Blessed Sacrament, led by one of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate. The Sisters are wonderful - they always appear serene and joyful, and they just exude holiness...

I also paid the obligatory visit to the bookstall during the lunch break - though due to financial constraints I was forced to forego my usual spending spree... though I did manage to obtain a copy of Joan Carroll Cruz's Eucharistic Miracles - a book I'd read before (borrowed from someone) and had been meaning to get for ages for myself. Despite my lack of purchasing power, the ladies manning the stall were happy to pose for a photo opportunity...

Sodality Of The Five Holy Wounds...

The Sodality of the Five Holy Wounds held a Missa Cantata at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen on Friday. The Friday after the Third Sunday in Lent is traditionally the Feast of the Five Holy Wounds, which I hadn't realised before.

The unfamiliarity with this Feast meant that there was a bit of a query as to the liturgical colour in the Sacristy before Mass...

The Mass itself was beautifully sung. It was known as the Golden Mass, revealed to Pope Boniface II in 532AD and believed to have been composed by St. John the Evangelist himself.

I only took a few photos, and they can be seen on my Flickr page. The dates and times of future meetings are to be confirmed, but if you want to join the Sodality, you can keep an eye on events by checking out the Sodality blog. More information about the Sodality and its Constitutions can be found there too.

Photos From Brighton...

With shame, I realise that I didn't get around to posting any of the photos from the 150th Anniversary Mass of St. Mary Magdalen's, Brighton - the ones I posted directly from the phone didn't really count!

The Mass was really wonderful, as was the party afterwards. A selection of photos can be seen on my Flickr page for the event.

I got there early enough to get a shot of the choir rehearsing beforehand...

The church really did look beautiful...

And at the end, Fr. Ray Blake kindly allowed me to take his photo...

One advantage of having taken so long to get the photos up is that I can also link to Fr. Tim Finigan's sermon, as well as to the official photos page, and to recordings of Bruckner's Locus Iste and the setting of Tu es Petrus which Tom Bennett composed especially for the Anniversary Mass. Awesome. Clare, who runs the choir at St. Mary Magdalen's, has some fantastic posts also, so do go and check her blog.

Presents...

My next-door neighbour accosted me as I returned from Mass this afternoon. Had I received any more presents from the Monsignori? she wanted to know. I replied in the negative, and she warned me that Furretti had succeeded in catching a squirrel the other day, but when my neighbour intervened, the cat dropped the squirrel which then made its escape.

On entering the flat, both cats came to greet me in a manner which I have learned to distrust. It's a sort of "We're here, and we love you, and we want you to come with us now because we have something to show you..." manner. Warily, I followed the cats into the living room. There was a live pigeon on top of the curtain track. Miaowrini was miaowing like mad, running between me and the pigeon, as if to say "I want that one, can you get it down for me, pleease..."

Well, it wasn't easy. The pigeon was too high up for me to drop a towel over it, and when I went to open the curtains it flew back across the room, much to the cats' delight. I managed to open the window, but it blew shut again just as the pigeon tried to fly out, so the poor thing stunned itself on the glass. I got the towel over the bird at that point, and waited for it to calm down (its heart was hammering so hard I could feel it, and Miaowrini's cries of excitement didn't help!) before I let it fly off. The poor bird had been a bit chewed up before it got away, and the state of the living room floor gave testimony to the epic battle which had occurred.

I still marvel at how they got the bird up to the catflap in the first place...

Back Again...

I appear to have had a blogging break for the past two weeks. It feels a lot longer. Nothing to do with Lent - I just seemed to be too tired, or too busy, or too uninspired... or a combination of all three.

Every now and then I get the urge to give up blogging for good, but I do enjoy it... I've just been out of sorts. And I have lost a lot of readers too... I suspect that I have been given a dose of my own medicine - dead blogs are expunged regularly from my own blogrolls, so it wouldn't surprise me if my lack of output has led to the blog being culled.

Anyway, I shall attempt to get back on the straight and narrow - blogging shall recommence forthwith!

The Most Beautiful Thing...

The Most Dangerous Time For The PP

... the Crowning of the Statue while wearing a cope...

Day With Mary At Blackfen

It starts with prayers...

Happy Feast Day !

Yes, daffodils. I'm not that fond of daffodils, and I definitely don't know why that Wordsworth chap was wittering on about them. I vaguely associate them with Wales... and the alternative was leeks. I'm afraid that I really don't like leeks. So, today, it has to be daffodils...

A very happy St. David's Day to all my friends of Welsh extraction, particularly Leutgeb (I do hope she gets to have some spotty bread) and the Reluctant Sinner.

A Fun Quote...

"Of course, just when you get a decent MC trained up, he leaves. We're losing about three soon... That's the trouble with the Old Mass... it keeps causing vocations...!"

Just Back...

I'm just winding down after the really wonderful Mass at St. Mary Magdalen's, Brighton (Fr. Ray Blake's parish), this evening. The bun fight in the hall afterwards was pretty impressive as well.

I enjoyed hearing the new composition of Tu es Petrus, but must confess that I preferred the one by James MacMillan. MacMillan's version was reminiscent of the victorious Church - the Church Triumphant - "You are Peter, and on this rock, etc." (at least it was for me, but I'm a musical ignoramus.) I thought that the setting tonight was filled with the terrifying and awe-ful (as well as awful) responsibility which accompanies the office of Pope. MacMillan's piece made me think "Yay! Pope Benedict!" whereas tonight's piece sent shivers down my spine and made me think "Oh, no... poor Pope Benedict!"

I've taken a few more photos, and will try to load them later in the week.

The only disappointment of the evening for me - Genty came and said hallo, but I was conscious of not wanting to disturb people around us. Unfortunately, in the crush, I lost contact... hopefully we can have a chat at the next Bloggers' event!

A Closer Look At The High Altar...

At St. Mary Magdalen's...

After a fraught emergency dental appointment after school today, I decided that I needed spiritual solace in the form of the 150th Anniversary Celebration Mass, and drove down to Brighton. It took much less time than I thought, so, after a cup of tea with Fr. Ray Blake, I thought I'd get a few photos of the newly restored nave and sanctuary. Sublime...

The Reluctant Sinner's Less Taken Path...

Mary and Dylan insisted that I get a "blogging exclusive" photo... So, happy to oblige, courtesy of my Android phone, I thought I'd post this one...

Don't Upset The Chefs...

I wanted to take a photo of Trish and Phyllis who are doing the cooking for the Guild meeting. I was warned off, but was told that I could get a preview of dessert...

Never upset the chef...

Guild Meeting Underway

Mary O'Regan steps into the breach to speak to the Guild meeting...

A Warm Welcome...

The kitties appeared to be very pleased to see me when I returned from the Faith Theological Symposium yesterday evening. Furretti wanted to curl up close, and she purred a lot. Miaowrini was also quite welcoming, but, once she realised I was in for the night, she was happy to curl up on the cat bed on top of the wardrobe.

This morning, both cats made a fuss of me.

When I returned home this lunchtime, after Mass and a chat with a friend over tea and biscuits, I found that Miaowrini had brought me a present... the living room floor was covered in feathers, and a large pigeon lay in the midst of the mess.

I'm not sure if this is a "welcome home" present, or a warning of what the cats will do to me if I leave them again...

Anniversary Celebrations...

Fr. Ray Blake is celebrating the 150th Anniversary of St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton, with an impressive series of events. I am almost tempted to relocate to Brighton for a short while... though I doubt that my cats would be able to cope. Monsignor Miaowrini would probably be abducted by the first seagull she attempted to snaffle, and would be dumped mid-Channel. Monsignor Furretti would possibly die from salt-poisoning as a result of licking sea-air encrusted fur...

However, the programme of events is mouth-wateringly good. It will start off with a special celebratory Mass on 27 February, at 7:30pm. Schubert's Mass 2, Bruckner's Locus Iste and a world premiere of Tom Bennett's Tu es Petrus all feature. His Hermeneuticalness will be preaching.

There will be a blessing of the "Mother Riccarda" bus after the Sunday Mass on 4 March, and a series of talks will kick off on Friday 9 March, 2012, at 7:30pm with a talk by James MacMillan.

As Fr. Ray said, everyone is welcome...