Please! Anyone! Please help me! It's terrible...

Ah, there you are! Don't worry about the title of this post.................I'm just trying to drive some traffic to the blog! Anyway, as your here, this is my current essay:

'In the Bible, the Trinity is an absent noun but an active mystery.' Discuss the validity of this statement with reference to one significant text from each of the Testaments.' Use the work of Biblical commentators as part of your answer.

Any thoughts? Anyone? 1500 words of thoughts appreciated actually!

Formation Update - Year 1 of 3 over Year 2 about to begin!

               I am in the second year of a three year formation programme, leading to ordination as a permanent deacon in the archdiocese of Westminster. Here’s my latest update. It’s an advance notification as it won’t be circulated in my parish until next Sunday. However, if I don’t upload it now that it’s done I’ll probably forget!

 The summer recess is well and truly over and I have started again at St John’s seminary, Wonersh. Formation days are now on a Saturday, instead of a Sunday. This is so that the formation team, mostly made up of priests and deacons, can be in their parishes. I have to get back into the routine and demands of the formation programme, with its cycle of essays, assignments, meetings with my academic tutor, spiritual director, pastoral director and programme director, along with preaching practice and all the other activities that make up the process known as formation. We are meant to grow, perhaps even change as persons, in the different development areas of formation, namely; intellectual, pastoral, spiritual and human as we simultaneously discern our way towards ordination and are formed for mission. When a man receives the Sacrament of Holy Orders, in this instance ordination as a deacon, he becomes configured to Christ the Servant. If you want to know what the model of service is, get your bible out and read John 13: 2-15. It’s the story of the washing of the apostles’ feet at the Last Supper by Jesus.  

In addition to completing the first year I have completed a couple of ‘milestones’ on the journey so far. They are, formal acceptance as a Candidate for Holy Orders by Archbishop Vincent, at Westminster Cathedral in December 2009, and the affirmation of my original institution as a Lector, by Bishop Alan at St Catherine’s church in West Drayton in July. I spent time at Allen Hall /in the early 1980s, following transfer from Campion House, and was originally instituted as a lector during that time. Should I successfully complete this year, then I will be instituted into the Ministry of Acolyte in the summer of 2011. More about Acolyte nearer the time, suffice to say that the ministries of Lector and Acolyte are ministries that those preparing for ordination as permanent deacons receive at the end of their first and second years.

The topics for study this year, as part of the degree in theology are: The Trinity, Incarnation, Atonement, Church History, Canon Law, Spiritual Direction, Mary, Catholic Social Teaching, Conscience, Scripture, Catechesis and RCIA..........and lots of preaching practice. I feel worn out just typing that list – and I haven’t even written any essays yet this year! There are other activities that I have to undertake this year, they are: Appointment and practice as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion/Presiding at a Eucharistic Service/Practice preparing the Altar for Mass and Serve at Mass/Presence at and Assistance with (including use of the Thurible) at least one of each of the following: Baptism, Wedding, Funeral Mass, Funeral Service, Ceremony at Graveside, Ceremony at Crematorium/Taking Holy Communion to the Housebound or Sick/Presiding at a time of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament/Meeting with Funeral Directors/Meet Local Dean and Hospital/Prison/School Chaplains.    I’d better go now as I’ve got a bit to be getting on with!

 Best wishes to everyone who is off to see the Holy Father.  I look forward to reading all the updates. God Bless Our Pope! Ad Multos Annos!

Ambulacrum at St John's Seminary, Wonersh  Date of attendance: 2009 to ?!

Campion House, Osterley Date of attendance: 1979 to 1981

Allen Hall...........pictured from the other side of Beaufort St, Chelsea Date of attendance: 1981 - 1983