What can a stuffed olive teach us about the meaning of life?

Tomorrow is the feast day of St Ignatius of Loyola. I was brought up in South Tottenham, which is the area covered by the Jesuit parish named after St Ignatius, in Stamford Hill, north London. When I was much younger I thought of joining the Jesuits...but changed my mind after one of the young priests I used to play football with when I was a teenager and he was a student, ended up getting shot on the Missions in what was then Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, in 1977. His name was Father Christopher Shepherd-Smith, SJ. He was only 34. I remember him as a shy,gentle and compassionate man. I very much looked up to him as a role model. There were a couple of other Jesuits as well. In particular Fr Alphonse Pollet, SJ, who was highly charismatic and had a great voice to accompany his authoritative preaching style. If I was to identify a particular 'spirituality' that I follow, it would be Ignatian. I hope very much to one day make the 30 day retreat. The most famous work authored by Ignatius is known as 'The Spiritual Exercises.' Ignatius for me is a role model.

At the start of his Spiritual Exercises is The First Principle and Foundation.

Here is a comtemporary translation of it. Follow this and you will discover the meaning of your life and personal happiness. You won't need anymore of those self-help books or 'pop' psychologies.

(St. Ignatius of Loyola, as paraphrased by David L. Fleming, S.J.)
St. Ignatius begins his Spiritual Exercises with The First Principle and Foundation. While not typically thought of as a prayer, it still contains much that is worth reflecting on.

The Goal of our life is to live with God forever.
God, who loves us, gave us life.
Our own response of love allows God's life
to flow into us without limit.

All the things in this world are gifts from God,
Presented to us so that we can know God more easily
and make a return of love more readily.
As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God
Insofar as they help us to develop as loving persons.
But if any of these gifts become the center of our lives,
They displace God
And so hinder our growth toward our goal.

In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance
Before all of these created gifts insofar as we have a choice
And are not bound by some obligation.
We should not fix our desires on health or sickness,
Wealth or poverty, success or failure, a long life or a short one.
For everything has the potential of calling forth in us
A deeper response to our life in God.

Our only desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better leads
To God's deepening his life in me.


A happy feast day to Ignatians everywhere!

Archbishop Vincent speaks up for the poor.

Read here:


http://www.thetablet.co.uk/images/Archbishop%20Nichols%20Letter-1.pdf


I hope the Government listens...

Westminster archdiocese permanent deacons renew diaconal commitment with Archbishop Vincent at Westminster Cathedral today.

Permanent deacons in the archdiocese of Westminster renewed their commitment to diaconal service today, with Archbishop Vincent at Westminster Cathedral. The deacons met with Archbishop Vincent in the morning and following Mass there was a gathering in Cathedral Hall with families and men in formation.


RENEWAL OF COMMITMENT TO DIACONAL SERVICE

Archbishop: My brothers the night before he died Jesus our Master and Lord washed the feet of his disciples as an example of true and loving service. Later to ensure that such loving service was built into the very structure of the Church the Apostles chose seven men filled with the Spirit and with wisdom and laid hands on them and entrusted them with this duty. In the same way you, my brothers, through the prayer of the Church and the laying-on of hands, have been entrusted with this duty. Today in the presence of me your bishop and God's Holy People are you ready to renew your own dedication to serve Christ as deacons in his Church?
Deacons: I am.

Archbishop: At your ordination you accepted the responsibilities of the diaconate out of love for the Lord Jesus and his Church.
Are you resolved to unite yourselves more closely to Christ by trying to
become more like him who came not to be served but to serve?
Deacons: I am.
Archbishop: Are you resolved to be faithful ministers of the mysteries of God to assist at the Eucharist and other liturgical services with sincere devotion? Are you resolved to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you are by believing the Gospel you read, teaching what you believe and practising what you preach?
Deacons: I am.
Archbishop: Are you resolved to continue in and deepen a spirit of prayer appropriate to your way of life, and to celebrate faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours for the Church and the whole world?
Deacons: I am.
Archbishop: Are you resolved in union with your bishop faithfully to proclaim the Kingdom of God by working for peace and unity both within and beyond the Christian Community seeking always to ensure that the love of Christ is made visible in your actions?
Deacons: I am.

Then the Archbishop addresses the people:

Archbishop: My brothers and sisters pray for your deacons, that together with your priests they may be faithful ministers of Christ the High Priest who laid down his life for us and commanded us to love one another as he had loved us.
All: Lord Jesus hear us and answer our prayer.
Archbishop: Pray too for me and the other bishops of the diocese that despite our own unworthiness we may faithfully fulfil the office of Apostles which Jesus Christ has entrusted to us. Pray that we may become like our Good Shepherd the teacher and servant of all and so be a genuine sign of Christ's loving presence among you.
All: Lord Jesus hear us and answer our prayer.
Archbishop: May the Lord in his love keep you close to him always and may he bring all of us, his bishops, priests, deacons and people, to eternal life.
All: Amen

Well Done Deacon Don!

Ordination of Rev Don Hopkins as a Permanent Deacon
posted on 13 July 2011

Rev Don Hopkins and Archbishop Vincent Nichols

The Diocese of Westminster welcomes Rev Don Hopkins as a new Permanent Deacon.
The ordination of Rev Hopkins took place at his home parish of Our Lady and St Vincent, Potters Bar, Herefordshire on Sunday 10 July 2011.

The Ordination Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Vincent Nichols who was joined by many visiting priests and deacons. Followed the ordination, Rev Hopkins and friends and family celebrated his ordination at a reception in the Parish Hall.

Rev Hopkins said:

'It was a privilege to welcome Archbishop Vincent Nichols to the parish for my ordination. I have been a member of the parish community of Our Lady and St Vincent for many years, and to be accepted four years ago to go forward to the Permanent Diaconate Programme was a tremendous and exciting challenge. It was also a challenge for my wife Marian, and it has only been possible to continue because of her love and support. The support of my parish community and my parish priest Father Tim O’Connor have also been key factors. '

'One special moment of my ordination rite which stands out vividly, is that of the prostration on the floor during the Litany of the Saints. I felt a profound sense of deep gratitude for everyone who had walked along the way with me to that point - those who were present and those who were not; those who are still alive and those who have passed away. They were all with me, or rather I should say, I was present to them at that moment. As the voices soared higher, I remembered what my Spiritual Director had said to me “you will be a new man in Christ”, how true it felt as I stood up. Many people present shared how moving that moment was for them also.'

'The greatest challenge for me were the words spoken by Archbishop Vincent as he placed the book of Gospels in my hands and said the words “believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you preach”.'

'It was lovely to have so many family members and friends present on this double celebration, as it was also my birthday. '

'I wish to express my sincere thanks to all who have been involved in my formation. The formation team at Wonersh seminary, St Marys University Twickenham and especially the formation team in Westminster Diocese, also my friends who travelled and are still travelling the same journey with me. '

Could you become a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Westminster?

The guidelines below provide some general information.

• Single men over 35 who feel a call to service of the Church and the World who also feel called to a celibate life.
• Married men over 40. Most of these candidates will be in the world of work and will continue there after ordination - indeed it is the role of the permanent deacon to have one foot in the sanctuary and the other in the workplace.
• The men will have demonstrated the necessary maturity for a life-long commitment.
• They will be prepared to embark on a 3 year course of formation.
• They will be already working collaboratively with priests and lay-people in the local church in works of service and exercising some leadership roles.

Above all, they will be men of faith and prayer with a desire to serve others for the sake of God’s Kingdom

Link: http://www.rcdow.org.uk/

Acolyte Institution

Sunday: Along with other men in my Formation year I am to be instituted as an Acolyte. Instituted I said, not institutionalised!

Progress so far: 1. Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders: 2. Ministry of Lector. Now 3. Ministry of Acolyte prior to 4. Ordination as a Catholic Deacon next summer at Westminster Cathedral...deo volente!





The acolyte is appointed in order to aid the deacon and to minister to the priest. It is his duty therefore to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, especially in the celebration of Mass; he is also to distribute communion as a special minister when the ministers spoken of in the Codex Iuris Canonici can. 845 are not available or are prevented by ill health, age, or another pastoral ministry from performing this function, or when the number of communicants is so great that the celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged. In the same extraordinary circumstances an acolyte may be entrusted with publicly exposing the blessed sacrament for adoration by the faithful and afterward replacing it, but not with blessing the people. He may also, to the extent needed, take care of instructing other faithful who on a temporary basis are appointed to assist the priest or deacon in liturgical celebrations by carrying the missal, cross, candles, etc., or by performing other such duties. He will perform these functions more worthily if he participates in the holy eucharist with increasingly fervent devotion, receives nourishment from it, and deepens his knowledge about it.

As one set aside in a special way for the service of the altar, the acolyte should learn all matters concerning public divine worship and strive to grasp their inner spiritual meaning: in that way he will be able each day to offer himself entirely to God, be an example to all by his gravity and reverence in church, and have a sincere love for the Mystical Body of Christ, the people of God, especially for the weak and the sick.



In accordance with the ancient tradition of the Church, institution to the ministries of reader and acolyte is reserved to men.



The following are requirements for admission to the ministries:

. the presentation of a petition that has been freely made out and signed by the aspirant to the Ordinary (the bishop and, in clerical institutes, the major superior) who has the right to accept the petition; . a suitable age and special qualities to be determined by the conference of bishops; a firm will to give faithful service to God and the Christian people.

The ministries are conferred by the Ordinary (the bishop and, in clerical institutes, the major superior) through the liturgical rite De institutione lectoris and De institutione acolythi as revised by the Apostolic See.

An interval, determined by the Holy See or the conferences of bishops, shall be observed between the conferring of the ministries of reader and acolyte whenever more than one ministry is conferred on the same person.

Unless they have already done so, candidates for ordination as deacons and priests are to receive the ministries of reader and acolyte and are to exercise them for a suitable time, in order to be better disposed for the future service of the word and of the altar. Dispensation from receiving these ministries on the part of such candidates is reserved to the Holy See.

The conferring of ministries does not bring with it the right to support or remuneration from the Church.

Will you and your family still be alive to hear the new translation of the Latin Roman Missal?

GO CHECK NOW TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE!

BEKO frost free fridge freezers safety warning 05 July 2011

London Fire Brigade is urging people to check if they own one of the models of BEKO frost free fridge freezers which are subject to a safety warning.

For more information visit the Trading Standard website .

BERMONDSEY ‘LIGHTNING’ FIRE CAUSED BY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FRIDGE FREEZER – UP TO 500,000 PRODUCTS AFFECTED
A week after a tower block caught fire in what was widely believed to be a blaze caused by a lightning strike, fire investigators have discovered that the fire was actually caused by a faulty BEKO fridge freezer that is at the centre of a product safety warning.

The London Fire Brigade believes the incident serves as an urgent warning of the potentially serious danger of a failure in the appliances that has been flagged up by the company as a cause for concern. It is believed there could be as many as 500,000 of the potentially faulty fridge freezers in homes and businesses across the country.

Fire chiefs are urging people to check if they own the particular models of BEKO fridge freezer which were manufactured between January 2000 and October 2006. Click here for a full list. There are believed to have been 20 fires in the capital alone involving the fridge freezers since 2008. These fires have seen 15 people injured and one person die.

People who own any of the appliances should contact BEKO by calling their free phone number on 0800 009 4837 between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday.

Over the last three years the London Fire Brigade’s fire investigation team has been working to establish the link between a faulty defroster timer switch on the appliances and a number of house fires the Brigade has attended. The problem occurs when water gets into the defrost timer switch in the fridge freezer, which can lead to an electrical malfunction resulting in plastic components and other highly flammable insulation inside the appliance catching on fire.

The Brigade formally alerted BEKO to the problem in June 2010 and following meetings between BEKO and fire investigators, the manufacturer has now begun trying to locate the products so that the fault can be corrected. However, the Brigade believes more needs to be done to alert people to the potential danger.

London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety Regulation, Steve Turek, said:

“Any fire can be lethal but the London Fire Brigade is particularly concerned about this because fires involving any sort of fridge freezer develop rapidly and produce an enormous amount of toxic smoke.

“Expert fire investigators have had to work for a long time to confidently establish these faulty fridge freezers as the cause of a number of serious fires. Having established this link, we have worked closely with BEKO to ensure the public is kept safe. However, the Brigade urges everyone who has a BEKO fridge freezer to check it is not one of those highlighted by the company as potentially faulty. I would also urge everyone to make sure they have a working smoke alarm in their house.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The same recall applies to a model badged LEC fridge freezer.
Fire safety advice:

If you have a fire call 999 and ask for the fire brigade.
Make a fire action plan so that everyone in your home knows how to escape if there is a fire.
Fit a smoke alarm on each level of your home and check them regularly to make sure they work.
Take care when cooking as a large percentage of fires start in the kitchen. Never leave cooking unattended.

SOLT News: Press Release Concerning Fr John Corapi from SOLT ...

Let's offer up a prayer for everyone involved, perhaps especially for the many good folk who have followed him faithfully over the years, and now will be mighty distressed.

SOLT News: Press Release Concerning Fr John Corapi from SOLT ...: "July 5, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE From: Rev. Gerard Sheehan, SOLT Regional Priest Servant Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Ro..."

Treasures of Heaven @ the British Museum

Treasures of Heaven at the British Museum from Catholic Westminster on Vimeo.