Monthly Archives: September 2008

The sacrament of marriage

The latest idea emerging from the Conservative conference points a finger of shame at the Church in England. For in an effort to hold our fractured society together the Tories are seeking to encourage young couples to attend courses of … Continue reading

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The Sacrament of Marriage

The sacrament of Holy Matrimony. It is vital, within current secular culture, that all Christians understand marriage. Because marriage falls into that sticky category of human sexuality, an issue tearing most Western Churches apart at this time. This is unfortunate … Continue reading

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Happy retirement Fr. Bob White SSC

This afternoon Hayley, Jemima and myself took great pleasure in visiting the parish of S. Thomas of Canterbury, Brentwood where I served my title as curate. The occasion was the emotional farewell Mass for Fr. Bob – who is retiring … Continue reading

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God’s family has grown!

It was our great pleasure to welcome two of our Sunday School children into the family of God this morning. We rejoiced with the angels, archangels and saints in heaven as Maisie and Harry were baptised in the name of … Continue reading

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Hurrah for church wardens!

After Mass this morning, during which we honoured S. Vincent de Paul, I met with my trusted Church wardens. Geoffrey and Paul really are unsung heroes at S. Barnabas and are always most supportive and hard working. A parish with … Continue reading

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Ss Cosmos & Damian, martyrs

Today the holy Church of God celebrates the feast of Ss. Cosmos & Damian- and we gave thanks for them both during our 10.30am Mass, and at later home communions. Very little is known about these early Saints- and perhaps … Continue reading

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Chapter 17

A busy day began with my setting up the hall with equipment for the ‘Barna-babies’ toddler group. One of the unforseen consequences of the success of the Pre-school is that numbers have dropped here…so we need to gather a new … Continue reading

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The Barna-Bus Pre-school marches on….

It really has been the most wonderful, if challenging, excercise to create and open a pre-school from scratch. The project begun when we discovered that 70% of our children, amongst the most seriously disadvantaged in town, had no access to … Continue reading

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Lunch with Archdeacon Clive

After the mid-day Mass I had lunch with our very supportive Arch-deacon, Clive Mansell. Members of the General Synod will recognise him as one of the few regulars to chair debates- indeed he chaired that infamous July debate which caused … Continue reading

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Padre Pio: The gift of Stigmata

Today is the Feast day of S. Pio of Pietreicina- known affectinately as Padre Pio. (Click here to read his biography) One of the most famous figures of the last Century- Padre Pio is said to have possesed incredible spiritual … Continue reading

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