The Augustinian Friars in Britain

Our Hearts are Restless until they Rest in You, Lord

Around the Parishes - June 2010

Prayers of Reparation and Atonement

Each of our parishes responded to the request of the Bishops of England & Wales for prayers of reparation and atonement for the sins of priests and religious against children.  The prayers were offered on the Fridays of the month of May.

Clare

Church Extension

The parish priest, Bernard Rolls was able to announce  news of great joy with regard to the church extension.  For the past 10 years there have been negotiations with various planning authorities at national and local level to get agreement for a building on what is a valuable historic site.

At last the parish seems to have met virtually all the technical conditions imposed by the planning authority—save for an archaeological investigation and the recording of the building monument conditions by the Ancient Buildings’ Authority.

A lay committee in the parish has worked with great perseverance along with the friars to reach this point.

May we all wish them well in their continuing exertions to realise a dream and satisfy a real local need.

Bell Lectures

The Churches Together in Clare and Cavendish do work actively together.  Each year a series of four lectures takes place in the Bell Hotel.  One of the lectures, on 3 June will be given by Paul Graham OSA (cf. below).

and ..

A BBQ took place at a family home for all those, young people and parents interested in taking part in AYE.

The Ancient Warehouse vendors in Clare—a substantial local industry—are providing items for an auction in aid of AYE.  Parishioners are asked to swell the collection by their own contributions.  The auction will take place on 19 June.

A weekend of reflection for friends of Augustine, scheduled for the weekend 14-16 April had to be postponed because David Kelly OSA, who was to lead the weekend was grounded in Dublin by volcanic ash.  The weekend has been re-arranged for June 18th - 20th.

Hoxton

Each year on Pentecost, the multi-lingual parish celebrates the speaking with one voice in various tongues of the first Pentecost.  Parishioners are invited to speak a bidding prayer in their own language during the 11 am Mass.

Parishioners are invited to come out in traditional costumes and to take part in the procession at the beginning of Mass.  A world map is placed in the church porch and a red pin identifies each of the many countries represented in the congregation.

A parish concert is being planned for 9 July and local talent is invited to come forward.

The youth group are working at producing the parish banner for the AYE.

Hammersmith

Pentecost Sunday was a day of prayer for priests, to mark the Year of Priests, soon to conclude.  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament took place during the afternoon with prayers led at the beginning of each hour.

On the 23 May, Barry Clifford OSA the parish priest announced at their annual general meeting that the St Augustine’s Social Club would be closing down.  It was no longer fulfilling the purpose for which it was started.  Some of those present protested loudly and angrily.  The statutory six months’ notice was given and the club will close in November.

Woodvale

The Churches Together in Ainsdale continue to collaborate closely in many ways.  Each year they organise a series of reflections during Lent, taking place in a church of different denomination each week.  This year the topic was ‘Christ’s Cross and Ours’.

The youth committee continue their enthusiastic fund-raising for AYE, especially to enable a group to attend from their twin parish Ishiara in Kenya.  A group of four has been registered.  They will fly into Manchester, where they will be met and hosted by parishioners during their stay.

The annual triduum in honour of Our Lady of Good Counsel took place, the preacher being George Stibbles OSA, once a member of the local community, now Prior in Broomhouse.

Discernment Community

A community of five young men continue their process of discerning their way ahead in life, with particular concern for priesthood and religious life.  They spent the weekend of Pentecost on retreat with the community in Harborne.

A national weekend of vocations promotion and discernment will take place at Oscott College during the weekend 2-4 July.  Stefan Park OSA, our vocations promoter is organising the Augustinian participation.

Paul Graham OSA

The title of the Bell Lecture is 'The Emergent Church', and will address the issue of where the Church is at today by looking at two narratives: the 'modern story', which is a narrative of decline; and the 'postmodern story', which is a narrative of change.

Paul is also giving a seminar paper at King's College, London, as part of the Summer Theology programme of the Research Institute in Systematic Theology, on 13 July.  The topic is, 'A Pope and an Archbishop: Ratzinger and Williams on Religion and the Secular'.  This will be the fourth time he has given a paper at King's.

Further, he has been asked to speak on Contemporary Society at the course in San Gimignano, 19-23 July, on Being an Augustinian Priest Today.