Birds

Our first Blackbird has fledged from the nest.
He is doing a lot of walking around the garden which is making it hard work for his parents to keep track of where he is.  The rest are moving around the shrub but not brave enough to leave it yet.
The Starlings are making a lot of noise so they may be next to go.

26th Wedding Anniversary

Horah
Today is our 26th wedding anniversary, it only seems like yesterday.

One Year Old

A year ago, approx 60 clergy and 1000 lay people took the brave decision to leave the Church of England and join the Ordinariate.

For the laity this meant leaving behind friends & buildings, for the Clergy they had to give up much more, their homes, their salary, job security, pensions and much more.

The road hasn’t been smooth or plane sailing. There have been, and still are people who don’t want the Ordinariate to succeed and seem to take pleasure in highlighting the difficulties, but despite all this the Ordinariate is here and will get stronger and stronger.

From small acorns giant oaks grow.

There are more people joining this year in England and Wales, a new Ordinariate has been set up in America with Canada and Australia to follow.

So tomorrow if you can, you can help celebrate the First Anniversary of the erection of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham at St. James, Spanish Place, London. at 5pm.

The Sevenoaks Ordinariate are having a 10.30am Mass at St. Johns the Baptist, Westerham.

The year has been emotional; we have joined the Catholic Church and made new friends.

The Sevenoaks Ordinariate is going to be the first Ordinariate group to have a pilgrimage to Walsingham and be greeted by Bishop Lindsay (there are only 4 places left on this Pilgrimage so if you want to go please get in touch quickly).

Everyone should be happy for each other, no matter what decisions have been made ultimately there is one God, one church.

We should all love each other no matter what path we have taken or choose to take.

Here's to the next year and many more.

Alice in wonderland - Pantomime

Tonight  Saturday 7th January 6:00 pm
St. Johns Church, Sevenoaks

A Busy Weekend

We have come to the end of an enjoyable and busy weekend.
Adam came back from uni with lots of dirty washing and we all celebrated the Nine Lessons and Carols at St. Johns Sevenoaks.
It was nice to meet up with old friends, we were made to feel very welcome and we all enjoyed mince pies and a drink afterwards.
We are looking forward to next week as we prepare for Christmas and more Carols on Chritmas Eve before midnight mass at St. Thomas' Sevenoaks.
Just a small request, if possible rather than spending money on the excess of Christmas why not donate to a charity like Shelter to help provide food and clothing to those in need.

Just because you can't see the air doesn't mean you stop breathing.
And just because you can't see God doesn't mean you stop believing

Ordinariate trip to Walsingham

There are still a few places left on the
Sevenoaks Ordinariate Pilgrimage to Walsingham.
Coach pick up from St. Thomas Church Sevenoaks at 10:00

Walsingham Pilgrimage 2012
Friday 13th April 2012 to Sunday 15th April 2012
Prices: Adult: £130.00 approx
Age 5 to 15 years : £90.00
Price includes coach from Sevenoaks, room and most food
Only 40 places Available Names and a non-refundable deposit of £50.00 required by
A great family weekend for spiritual renewal and relaxation.
All Welcome Contact: Janice Williams  E-mail: barnabythebear@hotmail.co.uk 4th December 2011 or before.

Ordinariate - Good times ahead !!

Hello To all my new followers and visitors.

You are all most welcome to view my blog and please do leave comments.

I would especially welcome your views regarding the Ordinariate.
Are you a member of the Ordinariate?
Is the Ordinariate all that you believed it would be?
Are you thinking of joining?
Do you think it is a good idea?
Have you had members of the Ordinariate join your church?

I am a member of an Ordinariate group. However, the group I joined has left my local area and I along with a few others have stayed with our local Catholic church  where we have been made most welcome.

I look forward to hearing from you all and hopefully we can have some good comments and discussions.

Sunny Sunday

What a good Sunday.
Adam was home from Uni, Beverley had the weekend off and the Sun was shinning.
I tried a real ale made with Lemon & Lime, we had roast pork for lunch and we had cheese on toast for dinner, two of my favourites.
Mass was celebrated by Fr Ivan, we had a choir who sang beautifully and the church was full.
Janice signed up another couple for the Walsingham trip next year ( places are going quickly ) and we met young George who was brought along by Cecilia and her Husband. He slept right through the service that's George not Cecilias' husband.
Now we are getting ready for a short break in Wales, we will be attending a Catholic service in Brecon and spread good news about the Ordinariate.

Feast day of St. Francis of Assisi - & my birthday

Today is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, it also happens to be my birthday.
This is why I have always had an infinity with St. Francis and when I joined the Catholic Church through the Ordinariate I chose St. Francis as my Catholic name.
So today when you read this or later when you are relaxing don't wish me a happy birthday but offer a prayer to St. Francis of Assisi.
Thank You.

A Women prerogative

After my previous blog I arrived home this evening and Janice has changed her mind about our 25th anniversary.
I guess that's a woman's prerogative.
But I also think it has something to do with Fr Ivan - Thank You

Sad Sundays

I think I'll try to aviod Sundays for a while (if only I could).For the last four Sundays have all been a mixture of emotions, for various reasons but always sadness.
Children going to university,saying good bye to dear friends and now Janice has decided not to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary because of various reasons to do with church.
She was looking forward to celebrating our 25th in church with friends & family and had already started making plans, because 25 years ago due to family reasons we were married in a registry office with no family and just 4 freinds but she has now decided not to bother.
Like a typical male it doesn't really matter to me but to Janice it did and for her to change her mind over matters to do with church does upset me. Saturday evening she was talking to a friend we had round for dinner about how she was looking forward to next April, Sunday evening she no longer wanted the celebration at all.
Very sad.

Ordinariate Pilgrimage to Walsingham

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