DOUBLE EDITION The Most Holy Trinity (Year B) 27 May Corpus Christi (Year B) 3 June
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the great mystery of the Holy Trinity – One God, three persons. We rejoice that our wonderful God manifests himself in this way, and that through baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit we are members of His family and privileged recipients of His great love.
Next week we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi (The Body & Blood of Christ). What a great gift we receive when we come to Mass. We offer so little, and He gives us so much – in fact He gives us everything He is. So we come to Mass next weekend with even more thankfulness than ever.
My thanks to our volunteer readers who read in so many different languages at our Pentecost Masses last weekend. A special thankyou to Beatrice and Maja who recited the ‘Hail Mary..’ in German and Polish respectively at the Dovercourt Mass. Across the two parishes we heard readings in three different European languages and, in the case of Frinton, in Arabic and Tagolog as well. Thank you Inge, Maria, Marianne, Najat and Valentina.
This week I celebrate my 70th Birthday. As a special treat the whole family have rented a house in Thorpeness for the week. I am really looking forward to it, but am sure that the grandchildren will wear me out! Anne and I also want to celebrate with our parish families and hope that you will be able to join us either on Saturday evening (after the Vigil Mass at Frinton) or after the late Sunday Mass at Dovercourt for a civilised celebratory drink and a slice of birthday cake. During my absence, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate the weekday Masses at Our Lady Queen of Heaven, and the Frinton Eucharistic Ministers will provide services of the Word and Holy Communion at Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi. My thanks and gratitude, as ever, to them.
May our Great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:A pastor from Michigan became rather concerned about one of his members who lived close by the church and came to every service. She would shake his hand at the door and comment, “That was a very challenging service, just what THEY needed to hear.”
One Sunday there was a heavy snowstorm, and she was the only person in the congregation. Seizing his opportunity the minister took the full service and preached a very strong sermon directed to this particular lady. As she shook his hand at the door she said, “What a challenging word, if only THEY had been here to hear it.”
Pentecost Sunday (Year B) Day of Prayer for the Church 20 May 2018
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Today’s Feast recognises and celebrates the fact that we are a truly Catholic Church, made up of many nations and languages.
It is in the power of the Holy Spirit that the early Apostles were able to speak so eloquently and boldly. No longer uncomprehending, no longer afraid, they proclaim the Truth of Jesus Christ and many more come to believe as a result of their testimony. Times can seem tough for the Church in the world of today. But the Holy Spirit is still our Advocate our Comforter and our Inspiration. Let us pray ever more fervently that our Church may grow in holiness, conviction, confidence and strength.
My thanks to our volunteer readers today. Across the two parishes we will hear readings in three different European languages and, in the case of Frinton, in Arabic and Tagalog as well. Thank you Inge, Maria, Marianne, Najat and Valentina.
I thoroughly enjoyed baptising the bell at Our Lady Queen of Heaven last week and it was good to have representatives from the Town Council, the Harwich Society, former members of St Paul’s Parkeston and the Catholic Guild of Bell Ringers present. My thanks to Chris Drury, Ann Duggan and all those who have worked to support the restoration of Paul, our bell.
Next week I celebrate my 70th Birthday. I am actually ‘on holiday’ from Friday (25th) and the whole family have rented a house in Thorpeness for the week. But, so that I can celebrate with you as well, I shall be here for next weekend’s Masses. Following the Saturday evening Mass at Frinton we will be meeting in the Presbytery (garden, I hope) for cake and Bucks Fizz (do come along even if you intend to come to the Sunday morning Mass – we will begin at about 7.15pm). On Sunday morning there will be cake and Bucks Fizz in the church hall at Dovercourt. I am looking forward to this – please come along if you can and share my joy.
May God the Holy Spirit be your strength and comfort.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile: The pastor of a small country chapel in the North of England asked his deacons if they would consider installing a chandelier in the chapel. They met at length to discuss the issue, and reported back to him that they had decided against the idea for three reasons:
- The secretary didn’t know how the spell it in the minutes
- If they bought one they had nobody who could play it
- They thought that the money could be better used improving the lighting in the church.
Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year B) 13 May World Communications Day
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Of this Sunday, Pope Emeritus Benedict writes:
In his Gospel, Saint John, more fully than the other three evangelists, reports in his own distinctive way the farewell discourses of Jesus; they appear as his testament and a synthesis of the core of his message.
Twice in the course of the priestly prayer (see today’s Gospel reading) Jesus speaks of revealing God’s name. Jesus thus means to say that he is bringing to fulfilment what began with the burning bush; that in him God, who had made himself known to Moses, now reveals himself fully. And that in doing so he brings about reconciliation; that the love with which God loves his Son in the mystery of the Trinity now draws men and women into this divine circle of love.
To give one’s name means to enter into relationship with another. The revelation of the divine name then, means that God, infinite and self-subsistent, enters into the network of human relationships, that he comes out of himself, so to speak, and becomes one of us, present among us and for us.
May our risen, ascended and glorified Lord bless you today and always,
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
An elderly Scottish preacher always thanked God for the weather.
Even when it was awful he would pray: “We thank you, Lord, that every day is not as bad as this one.”
Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year B) World Day of Prayer for Vocations 22 April 2018
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
The Good Shepherd is one who ‘lays down his life for the sheep’. How can we fail to see in these words an implicit reference to the mystery of the Lord’s Death and Resurrection? For this reason the Church gives us this Gospel reading during the Easter Season.
It is Jesus who is the real Good Shepherd, in contrast to all those who solemnly claim to be leaders and guides of the people but actually are only in search of power and self-interest.
The only Good Shepherd is Jesus. The interest and care of this ‘Shepherd’ is not limited: there are many ‘sheep’ dispersed and far, which he wants to gather so that the Shepherd can be united to all his sheep. We are a world-wide Catholic Church made up of many peoples and nations, but made one through the saving love of Christ. This oneness needs to find its reality in each one of us through the love we have for one another – after all, every person on the face of the earth is God’s child (cf: 1 John 3:1-2).
The allegory of the Shepherd reflects directly the person and the mission of Christ. His voluntary offering of life for his sheep is the reason for which the Father loves him. The sheep definitively belong to the Father; he who gives his life for the sheep is loved by the Father. The principle of belonging to the sheepfold (a world-wide love-filled Church) is that of mutual belonging and true communion between the shepherd and the sheep. It should be a communion as deep and indissoluble as the communion between the Father and the Son.
May Christ the Good Shepherd lavish you with his care.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile: Driving too fast, the Rev Douglas barely missed a cyclist, and caused him to fall off his bicycle into the ditch. He stopped car, and apologised profusely. Then telling the man that if he could ever help him in any way, all he had to do was ask, he gave him his calling card. On the back was printed, “The Reverend Douglas Johnson is sorry he missed you today. He will try again another time.”
DOUBLE EDITION 8 April Second Sunday of Easter (Year B) and 15 April Third Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Of this day Pope St John Paul II writes:
“Peace be with you!” This is how Jesus greets his Apostles in the Gospel for this Sunday that closes the Octave of Easter.
Peace is the gift of God. Only God can redirect hearts to thoughts of peace. Only he can give the energies that are necessary to be freed from hatred and the thirst for revenge and to undertake the process of negotiation for an agreement and for peace.
The liturgy today invites us to see in Divine Mercy the source of that authentic peace that the risen Christ offers us. The wounds of the risen and glorious Lord are the permanent sign of God’s merciful love for humanity. From them flows a spiritual light that enlightens consciences and pours into hearts comfort and hope.
I am grateful to Fr Michael Rear for celebrating the Sunday Masses at Frinton during my absence, and, as ever, to Fr Bill for celebrating the Masses at Dovercourt.
May God grant you a happy and blessed Eastertide.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Elton John hates talking about Indian clothing. Sari seems to be the hardest word.
I don’t live too far from here. As the crow flies it’s between 400 and 24,000 miles. Depending on which direction the crow takes.
I’m allergic to dogs and peanuts. I’ve never made it through an episode of Snoopy without having an asthma attack.
DOUBLE EDITION Palm Sunday 24/25 March and The Resurrection of the Lord 31 March/1 April 2018
THE EASTER TRIDUUM 2018.
Harwich & Dovercourt:
Holy Thursday, 29 March: Mass of the Lord’s Supper with Watch until 9.00pm, begins at 7.00pm
Good Friday, 30 March: Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday, 5.00pm
Holy Saturday, 31 March: Easter Vigil, 6.00pm
Frinton & Walton:
Holy Thursday, 29 March: Mass of the Lord’s Supper with Watch until 9.00pm, begins at 7.00pm
Good Friday, 30 March: Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday, 3.00pm
Holy Saturday, 31 March: Easter Vigil, 6.00pm
During the Sacred Triduum, please pray for our catechumens/candidates: Alex Baxter (to be received on Easter Day, Harwich and Dovercourt) and Paul Bray, Rachel Hunt, Edward Lewis, Carolyn Meikle, John Scott and Tracey Sibley (to be received on Holy Saturday, Frinton and Walton)
I shall be taking a short break and attending a family wedding during Easter Week. I am grateful to Fr Michael Rear for celebrating the Sunday Masses at Frinton and, as ever, to Fr Bill for celebrating the Masses at Dovercourt.
May God grant you a happy and blessed Easter
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
My paper business has folded seven times so I’m pretty sure it can’t happen again.
Sushi is so healthy, even the food is on a treadmill.
I went to a really rough inner-city school. The kind where chances of being bullied grew exponentially every time you use the word “exponentially”.