Model Railway - 1

Have just finished placing and glueing over 400 very small model people onto large HO layout.  

Feeling slightly light headed because of the fumes from the glue. Still have a few more to put into position but the beer garden, parkland, small circus, childrens play area, market garden, walkers and 5 stations are now complete.

Parish Mission

After attending the mission launch party on Sunday I decided to attend a couple of events.
The first one was the vigil mass for St. Peter & St. Paul on Tuesday night.
It was a lovely occasion, when we entered the church the Altar had been decorated and there was a loaf of bread on it as well.
Fr. Kieran Brady & Fr. Charles Corrigan led us in a delightful service which included a narrated act of the last supper, all the lights in the church were turned off except on the Altar. They were ably helped by 12 members of the congregation who had 'vollenteered'.
Wednesday night was “Lord, teach us to pray” after a sermon by Fr Corrigan, some members of the parish shared their experience of prayer.
Again the Altar was well decorated with more candles which helped create a nice atmosphere for us all to concentrate on our own prayers, we were also invited to sprinkle crystals onto charcoal to help our prayers on their journey.

I have really enjoyed my two mission experiences this week.

Strange Day

I started today by celebrating the Feast of CORPUS ET SANGUIS CHRISTI at the church of St. Thomas in Sevenoaks.
This was followed mid afternoon by attending the launch of the parish mission at the parish party in the garden of St. Thomas .
I then made my way across Sevenoaks to attend my old church St. John the Baptist for their Patronal Festival and had refreshments and chat with some old friends.
A strange busy day.

Sevenoaks Ordinariate Bar b que

What a lovely time we all had.
The rain made a brief appearance but the sun shone on the Sevenoaks Ordinariate.
As usual there was far too much food but we all tried our best to eat it all and just when we thought we had eaten far to much the deserts turned up !!
I can hardly move and I am now going to have a siesta.

Ordinariate Pilgrimage to Walsingham

Come and celebrate the day or stay overnight and make a weekend of it.

Seven new Catholic Priests via the Ordinariate

Personal Pilgrimage to Walsingham

31st  May Janice and I set off for Walsingham  (MORE TO COME )

Sevenoaks Ordinariate visit to Walsingham

The Walsingham Pilgrimage from Sevenoaks

 

Photo: Frances Smith

Mrs Janice Williams writes:
Friday April 29^th

39 Pilgrims from the Sevenoaks Ordinariate; St. Johns Sevenoaks and St. Thomas Sevenoaks journeyed to the National Shine of Our Lady of Walsingham, after prayers led by Fr James.

Fr Ivan could not join us this year as he was in Rome for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II.

As we arrived at Walsingham we all sung the Walsingham Pilgrim Hymn.

The first visit to the shrine was led by Roy Cavey, after which a group of us went to Vespers, the Rosary and Shrine prayers before supper.                          

Saturday 

At 9:30 the group attended Stations of the Cross which were led by Michael Payne and John Robinson from St. Johns. We then made our way on foot to the Slipper chapel a mile away for Mass and lunch. After lunch we joined with another group of pilgrims and walked back to the village along the old railway track saying the Rosary.

We arrived back in Walsingham in time for the 15.30 Benediction in the church of the Annunciation.

Members of St. Johns attended the 6pm Mass at the shrine church where Bishop Lindsay welcomed and said how good it was to have the first group from the Ordinariate visit Walsingham. After Supper, we joined with fellow pilgrims in the shrine church for the Procession of Our Lady of Walsingham in the garden.

Sunday

After breakfast the group split, with the Ordinariate group going to Mass at the church of the Annunciation and the group from St. John’s going to the Parish Church. Both groups rejoined for lunch and after lunch we all attended the service of Sprinkling at the Holy Well. It was really good to do this as one large group just like one big happy family. Later we attended the final visit to the Holy House.

So after a weekend of good food, souvenir buying, praying and refreshing the mind body and spirit it was time to say goodbye to Walsingham for another year.

We finally arrived back in Sevenoaks at 9:30 pm.

Please note that next year’s pilgrimage to Walsingham has already been booked for Friday 13^th April – Sunday 15^th April 2012.

Everyone is welcome to join us for next year’s pilgrimage to Walsingham from the Ordinariate, St. Thomas’, St. Johns, new friends, old friends and children, bookings are now being taken.

For more information you can contact me, Janice Williams, or see me after 11:15am Mass at St. Thomas’ most Sundays.

We are now with Rome

Arrived home from work and told by she who must be obeyed, not to sit down but to hurry up eat my dinner, then to have my shower and change as we had to be out and walking up to Sevenoaks ready for a practice at St. Thomas church for our confirmation from being Anglican to Catholic.
We left home just before six thirty arriving just before seven.
There we met other candidates (our friends) and were taken through the order of service by Father Harvey and Father Ivan.
We were now ready for the main service, just time for a photo call outside the church.

I have not seen a church so full apart from weddings and funerals AND I was in the front pew!!!

The service as always was well led by Father Harvey, row after row of us were confirmed into the Catholic church then the twelve had their feet washed.

It was now time for my first ever Communion. It was alright, nothing at all to be worried about. 

After the service the confirmed, their sponsors and members of the congregation all mingled and wished each other well, then some went their own way and others went back into the church to pray and hold a silent vigil. After a while Janice and I left the church and walked home. It was a totally moving evening, after weeks of preparation we have joined Rome.

We would also like to say that we have been made to feel most welcome and moved by the new friends that we have made.

                                             

I would like to thank the Sevenoaks Ordinariate web site for the photos.

Todays the Day

Today is the day that I and my immediate family will be confirmed into the Catholic Church.
We can not wait, we have chosen our confirmation names.
Mine is St. Francis as I am interested in nature and animals, I am also a merchant selling to people like St. Francis used to do before he saw the error of his ways.
Also St. Francis' feast day is the same day as my birthday.