The Body and Blood of Christ 23 June 2019
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
The Eucharist (also known as the Mass) is not just important, it is essential food for our journey through life. Life deals us many ups and downs and we need all the help we can get. The best and most precious help is to be had through the Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Mass is rightly called the source and summit of the Church. It is the greatest gift we can receive in this world: the gift of Christ himself. In the Eucharist the divine life of Christ enters our very bodies and souls giving us the grace to live as Christ would have us live. We rejoice that, once again, we can take part in this Sacred Meal and, on this special day, give a little extra thanks for all God’s goodness to us.
It is especially appropriate that we celebrate First Holy Communions in both parishes today. Do please pray for Henry and Cameron (Frinton Vigil Mass) and Audrey, Emily, Emily-Rose and Evie (Sunday Mass at Dovercourt). Pray too for their catechists, parents and family.
Also, do keep in your prayers three young people from the Harwich & Dovercourt Parish; Ava, Tilly and James, who received the Sacrament of Confirmation at Mass last Sunday (Trinity Sunday).
As a result of holidays, next weekend’s Newsletter will be a bumper edition. Whilst I am away I am grateful for so many for ensuring spiritual life goes on in the two parishes. I am indebted to Fr Michael Rear who will be celebrating Mass at Frinton in my absence, and, as always, to Fr Bill who will be celebrating at Dovercourt until he himself goes on holiday towards the end of July. Our Eucharistic Ministers do a wonderful job in the absence of a priest, and I thank them too.
May Christ, the Bread of Life, bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
From Gillian Wildney at the urging of the Coffee Morning clientele:
Little bats flying high.
Dropping messages from the sky,
the priest looked up and wiped his eye
praising God that cows don’t fly.
The Most Ho9ly Trinity (Year C) 16 June 2019
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
For many the Trinity is a problem to be reckoned with rather than a mystery to be entered into. If we take this line we find difficulties as we face what St Thomas Aquinas termed “the misery of language”. How difficult it is to express what we feel. How limiting we can find language when trying to express religious truth. How inadequate we can feel when contemplating infinity. It simply makes me feel like retreating into mystical silence.
Rather than wasting our time trying to ‘work it out’ I suggest we simply accept that God manifests himself in different ways – and be thankful!
Do keep in your prayers three young people from the Harwich & Dovercourt Parish; Ava, Tilly and James, who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Mass today (Trinity Sunday).
We celebrate First Holy Communions in both parishes next week (the feast of Corpus Christi). Do please pray for Lana, Henry and Cameron (Frinton Vigil Mass) and Audrey, Emily, Emily-Rose and Evie (Sunday Mass at Dovercourt). Pray too for their catechists, parents and family.
You will no doubt be aware by now that Anne’s mother died on Sunday 2nd June. Her funeral takes place in Coventry on Wednesday (19th). Consequently, Anne and I will be away from Tuesday 18th to the afternoon of Thursday 20th. My apologies for the paucity of Masses at Frinton and my heartfelt thanks to our Eucharistic Ministers who will be providing services of the Word and Holy Communion on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and to Fr Bill who will be celebrating the weekday Masses at Dovercourt.
May God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
The rector was ill in hospital and was visited by his churchwarden who said, “Rector, we had a meeting of the Church Council last night and a resolution put forward wishing you a speedy recovery was passed by fourteen votes to twelve.
Pentecost Sunday 9 June 2019
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
In our readings today we are reminded of the power with which the Apostles were filled on that first Pentecost day. They were emboldened and made eloquent in proclaiming the Gospel. As a result many more came to believe. We are also reminded that we, in our turn, need to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may be emboldened and made eloquent and that, through us, the Gospel may reach ever more people.
Today we pray for ourselves, for our parish for Pope Francis and Bishop Alan and for all our Church.
Come Holy Spirit of God, come, re-new the face of the earth.
Send forth your light and your truth. Guide us with your powerful love.
Holy Spirit make us one. Alleluia.
Do keep in your prayers three young people from the Harwich & Dovercourt Parish, Ava, Tilly and James, who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Mass next week (Trinity Sunday).
My thanks this week go to Najat and Marieanne (Frinton) and Teresa and Adam (Dovercourt) who will be reading at Mass this weekend in Arabic, Swedish, Gaelic and Polish. Our Church is indeed a Church of many languages reaching out throughout the world.
May the Risen, Ascended and Glorified Christ bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile: The rector told the congregation that he would shortly be leaving to move to another parish. However he assured them that the bishop had promised to send a good man to take over. After the service he noticed a woman crying and said, “Don’t get upset, the bishop has promised to send a good man to take over.”
“He told us that the last time,” replied the woman in tears.
Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year C) 2 June 2019
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
On this World Communications Day, we have a message from Bishop John Arnold:
As Bishop for Communications, once again on this special day of prayer for all those working in the media, tech, creative and communications industries, I’m delighted to bring your attention to the crucial work of the Communications Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
In his message for this day, Pope Francis invites us to reflect on the foundation and importance of our ‘being –in-relation’ and to rediscover, in the challenges of the current communications context, the desire of the human person who does not want to be left isolated and alone. While governments seek legal ways to regulate the digital world and to protect the original vision of a free, open and secure network in the world-wide-web, we all have the possibility and the responsibility to promote its positive use.
We can always seek new, innovative ways to share and promote the joy of the Gospel. Those specifically dedicated to this work, such as the Diocesan Communications Officers and the small team at the Bishops’ Conference do an inspiring job with few resources. I’ve particularly enjoyed the recent Podcast series ‘Luke in Lent’, produced by the Communications Office at the Bishop’ Conference. The work around the Youth Synod has filled me with hope.
There will be a retiring collection at all Masses this weekend to further our work of communicating our Faith in the world.
May the Risen and Glorified Christ bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Wife to a minister as he left for a meeting: “Drive carefully, my dear. Remember it’s not only a car that can be recalled by its maker.”
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C) 26 May 2019
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Pope Emeritus Benedict writes: This Sunday’s Gospel, taken from Chapter Fourteen of the Gospel according to St John, gives us an implicit spiritual portrait of the Virgin Mary when Jesus says: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we shall come to him and make our home with him”. These words are addressed to the disciples but can be applied to a maximum degree precisely to the One who was the first and perfect disciple of Jesus. Mary, in fact, observed first and fully the words of her Son, showing that she loved him not only as a mother, but first of all as a humble and obedient handmaid. For this reason God the Father loved her and the Most Holy Trinity made its dwelling place in her.
ASCENSION DAY: on Wednesday evening (Frinton) and on Thursday (both Parishes) of this week we celebrate THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD. This is a Holy Day of Obligation when ALL Catholics should be at Mass.
FOURTH AND FINAL PLEA: Easter ends on the Feast of Pentecost (8/9th June). This is the day when we celebrate the Church of many languages and nations. To emphasise this I would like the readings at Mass that weekend to be in a language other than English. If your first language is not English and you would like to read at one of the Masses that weekend please let me know (preferably by email or by written note). If we have any volunteers for this wonderful task, I promise I shall sign the Eucharistic Prayer using the language of the deaf! But only if we have volunteers!!
May the Risen and Glorified Christ bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
My mother had an aunt of mine staying with her. One day they visited our local parish church and Auntie wanted to sign the visitors’ book. There was no book in evidence but a list containing names and addresses, so they signed that. All was well until the rector called for the deposits for the trip to Oberammergau!
Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year C) 19th May 2019
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
St John Paul II writes: “I John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God”. The splendid vision of the heavenly Jerusalem, which today’s Liturgy of the Word presents to us closes the Book of Revelation and the whole series of sacred books which comprise the bible. With this magnificent description of the City of God the author indicates the definitive defeat of evil and the achievement of perfect communion between God and men. From the beginning, the history of salvation aims at this goal. Before the community of believers, who are also called to proclaim the Gospel and to witness to their own faith in Christ amid various trials, the supreme goal shines forth: the heavenly Jerusalem! We are all advancing towards that goal, where the saints and martyrs have preceded us down the centuries. On our earthly pilgrimage these brethren of ours, who have passed victoriously through “great tribulation”, serve as an example, incentive and encouragement to us.
THIRD PLEA: Easter ends on the Feast of Pentecost (8/9th June). This is the day when we celebrate the Church of many languages and nations. To emphasise this I would like the readings at Mass that weekend to be in a language other than English. If your first language is not English and you would like to read at one of the Masses that weekend please let me know (preferably by email or by written note). If we have any volunteers for this wonderful task, I promise I shall sign the Eucharistic Prayer using the language of the deaf! But only if we have volunteers!!
May the Risen and Glorified Christ bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A minister coming home from chapel one Sunday met two little boys proudly carrying fishing nets and jars full of tiddlers. “Do you know where little boys go who go fishing on Sunday?” he said solemnly.
“Oh yes,” one of them replied eagerly, “up the cut and under the third bridge.”