{"id":209,"date":"2009-09-06T14:37:33","date_gmt":"2009-09-06T14:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/wordpress\/?page_id=209"},"modified":"2009-09-06T14:37:33","modified_gmt":"2009-09-06T14:37:33","slug":"blog-august-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/?p=209","title":{"rendered":"Blog – August 2009"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sun Aug 2 – Pentecost 9<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another warm Sunday morning, with good attendances. Guest organist at 10 am\u2026..we missed Bob! Sermon was about the Eucharist. We have John 6 all thru Aug – a gr8 subject for preaching \ud83d\ude42\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tues 4 – St John Vianney<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cure de Ars is the patron of parish priests.\u00a0Today Pope Benedict inaugurates the year of the Priest, exhorting the faithful to pray for their priests. Where would I be without the prayers of my people? At 1.20 pm I go with Jim (business admin) & Homero (sexton) to be finger-printed for the school\u2019s legal requirements. This will be the 6th time I have been\u00a0finger-printed by a US govt agency\u2026.they have\u00a0more on me than Australia! In the evening I had dinner at the White\u2019s, whom we farewell on Sunday \":-(\"<\/p>\n

Wed 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Visiting today included a vigorous discussion on the Eucharistic sacrifice\u2026how many priests can say that! The parish magazine was distributed today. Lots of positive responses to my statement on Gen Conv – incl from the bishop. Dinner with Ogden\u2019s, which concluded with sitting in his marvellous antique car!<\/p>\n

Thurs 6 – Transfiguration<\/strong><\/p>\n

The warm weather continues. Holy Unction for Bob at 11 am. My weekly visit to Christine Wallace. Finance c\/tee at 5.30 pm, followed by Mass<\/p>\n

Fri 7<\/strong><\/p>\n

The weekly bible study today was very helpful for my sermon!<\/p>\n

Sat 8 – St Dominic<\/strong><\/p>\n

10 am Baptism meeting, 11 am Rosary, 11.30 am Mass, followed by the usual nice lunch for Societies of Mary. 23\u00a0came. Aftewards Ralph presented me with a decadent pure chocolate cake\u2026\u2026\u2026in the shape of a cat!<\/p>\n

Sun 9 – Pentecost 10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another warm day! 55 at 8 am & 100+ at 10 am. Baptism of Finn Schreiber, son of Marcus & Anne,\u00a0at High Mass. I married Marcus & Anne in 2005, so it is special for me. On a sadder note, we said farewell to the White\u2019s & gave them a special blessing. Cityfest is on today – the annual Hillcrest street fair. We\u00a0have a parish booth, where I am spending the a\/noon\u00a0with other parishioners\u00a0promoting All SS \ud83d\ude42\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mon 10 – St Laurence<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was my day-off. In the morning I\u00a0did practical things: laundry, cleaning, bank, gym. After lunch I went for a walk around the bay & then came home & finished a book I have been trying to read all year. This is The History of Australian Football <\/em>– a huge 396 page book published last year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Aussie Rules football! Summer is the only time I get to read non-religious books!<\/p>\n

Wed 12<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have been waking up at 4 am in order to adjust to UK time for my trip to Walsingham next week. This means I am tired by midday! Holy Unction & several HC visits this a\/noon, then supper at 5 pm with some 8 am parishioners.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thurs 13<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today is the anniversary of the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961. I was 14 at the time & studying German in High School. The news from Berlin both apalled & intrigued me, & since then I have had a gr8 interest in German history & politics. In 1974, when I travelled around Europe with my friend Waine (in a Volkswagen) it was\u00a0awesome to drive thru East Germany to Berlin. We had a day in E\u00a0 Berlin & walked along the edge of the wall – causing a bit of a fuss with some E German\u00a0soldiers! In 1989 I sat transfixed before the TV watching the Wall fall. 5 years later I returned to Berlin to see it for myself\u2026.& I have kept returning to what is one of\u00a0my favourite cities.<\/p>\n

Fri 14 – St Maximilian Kolbe<\/strong><\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t been feeling gr8 the past few days. Thought it was because I am getting up early to adjust to UK time – but it\u2019s a mild virus. Didn\u2019t really feel like preparing a sermon this morning. By the a\/noon I was better – & produced what I think is a good sermon for the Assumption \":-)\"<\/p>\n

Sat 15 – The Assumption<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of my favourite feasts – we will keep it with\u00a0splendour tomorrow! I am remembering that this time last year I was in Sicily – & 2 years ago in Walsingham with my parish pilgrimage. Was up early, & prepared my sermon for Sun week in Norwich. 9 at\u00a0Mass this morning – incl Norma (altar guild director) with her arm in a sling. A quiet day at home for me as I get over this virus & prepare for my pilgrimage next week.<\/p>\n

Sun 16<\/strong><\/p>\n

We celebrated the Assumption again today. There were extra acolytes at\u00a08 am & 10 am, & both Masses were lovely. I had a relaxing a\/noon, & at 8pm will be driven to the airport by Karl for my 10 pm flight to Washington DC – the \u201cred eye\u201d, which gets in at 6 am Monday. Then I catch the 9.30 am flight to London, arriving at 10 pm.<\/p>\n

Tues 18<\/strong><\/p>\n

A day in London. My hotel room has a balcony with a marvellous view of Westminster Abbey & Big Ben. The perfect place to say Morning & Evening Prayer!\u00a0I tried to do some ecclesiastical shopping, without success. In the a\/noon I visited my friends at the office of the diocese in Europe & at 6 pm had dinner to celebrate the 40th birthday of an old friend from Fitzroy, Alan.<\/p>\n

Wed 19<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the morning I walked to Chelsea. I wanted to see a monument to all the Marian shrines destroyed at the Reformation – but it is not erected yet! Then I walked around the famous Royal Hospital. Even tho I lived nearby in \u201875, I had never visited it.\u00a0 In the a\/noon I\u00a0caught the\u00a0train to Crickhowell in Wales. I am going to visit Jill Bishop, whose husband, Fr John\u00a0Bishop, died in 2007. Fr John had a 3 month sabattical in Melbourne\u00a0in 1991 & spent time with me at St Mark\u2019s. John & Gill returned twice after that & I visited them twice, incl a lovely few days in 2004, after he retired & they moved to Wales.\u00a0It was gr8 to see Jill again. She cooked me a lovely dinner & we chatted & chatted!<\/p>\n

Thurs 20<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today Jill drove me to 3 interesting places: Brecon, where we visited the ancient cathedral, Hay-on-Wye, a village known for its\u00a0large collection of book-shops & Dore Abbey. This proved a stunning climax, for the church is an 11th cent Cistercian monastery rebuilt into a handsome parish church by command of Archbishop Laud.\u00a0The ancient stone altar is till used for Mass. Another wonderful dinner from Jill, & more chatting!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fri 21<\/strong><\/p>\n

I returned to London by train, & checked into the hotel where our 2007 pilgrims had a delicious dinner on our last night. In the evening I watched a bit of the Proms on TV, then had drinks with\u00a0friends.<\/p>\n

Sat 22<\/strong><\/p>\n

I got up early enough to catch the train in time to attend the 11.30 am Mass at St Mary\u2019s, Kenton. Afterwards my friend, Joan,\u00a0drove us to Norwich – a pleasant 2.5 hr trip. Joan\u00a0is staying with her brother, who lives in the city, & I am staying with my old friend, Fr Martin Smith. It was gr8 to see him again. When I was at St Mark\u2019s he & I regularly visited each other. His wonderful parish – St John\u2019s, Timberhill –\u00a0was so hospitable to our parish pilgrimage 2 years ago.\u00a0It is good to be back in Norwich as I remember that wonderful pilgrimage!<\/p>\n

Sun 23<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mass at 11 am at St John\u2019s was lovely. I preached & many were glad to seee me again.\u00a0To my surprise, the Bishop of Norwich was in the congregation.\u00a0He was very pleasant & even made nice remarks about my sermon!\u00a0For lunch Joan, Fr Martin & I drove to a nearby village. We had\u00a0a lovely lunch on a warm, sunny a\/noon. Tonight Fr Martin is providing supper for Fr Adrian Ling & me. Fr Adrian was a member of St John\u2019s when I 1st visited 12 years ago. Now ordained, he has a parish in Norfolk\u2026it will be nice to see him again.<\/p>\n

Mon 24 – St Bartholomew<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joan & I\u00a0drove to Walsingham at 9.30 am, & arrived an hour later. After settling in I\u00a0said Mass in the shrine at 11.30 am. It was good to see the sisters & other staff again. The new Welcome Center (which All SS contributed to) is magnicent. The whole Shrine has been transformed in the past 10 years, & is wonderful. After Mass I went shopping. In the a\/noon I addressed 150 postcards to parishioners. Tomorrow the cards will be on the altar when I offer Mass in the Holy House for the parish\u2026.a tradition of mine going back to 1989! So now I have begun my pilgrimage. EP at 5.30 pm, followed by shrine prayers. Drinks with Joan after supper \":-)\"<\/p>\n

Tues 25<\/strong><\/p>\n

I had a good sleep. Mass at 10.00 am, followed by Stations &\u00a0Rosary at the 15 Shrine altars. After lunch I met with Sr Teresa – our relationship goes back to 1996. Later I walked to the Slipper Chapel. At 8.15 pm I took part in the Service of Healing & Reconciliation. I had not experienced this before\u2026.it consists of sprinkling from the holy well, exposition of the Sacrament, followed by Laying-on of hands, anointing & confession. I was one of the priests who anointed, & it was very moving for me.\u00a0Afterwards I\u00a0made my confession – but had to wait until 9.45 pm!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wed 26<\/strong><\/p>\n

I said Mass at 9.30 am, after which we had coffee with the sisters & said our farewells. We left at 10.45 am & were back at Joan\u2019s in\u00a0London at 1.30 pm. I caught the tube to my hotel in Gloucester Rd (same as Wed). To my delight I was given a suite with an upstairs bedroom! Having a few hours\u00a0free,\u00a0I went to the Museum of London – very interesting, but needing a\u00a0return visit. Tonight I will stay up late, to adjust back to SD time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thurs 27<\/strong><\/p>\n

I caught the tube to Heathrow at 10 am for my flight\u00a0at 1pm, flying via Denver. I got home at 8 pm. It was nice to be back – SD looks lovely as the sun sets over the harbor\u00a0\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Fri 28\u00a0 St Augustine of Hippo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Was up early (still on UK time). In the office at 8 am – a lot of mail, etc to catch up on. Most parishioners seem to have received their postcard from Walsingham – posted just 3 days ago! Terry is away for a week\u2019s vacation, but has left everything organised. Fortunately I did not have to do a sermon, as we have a guest preacher – Archdeacon David Lowman from Chelmsford, UK. Fr David is here for a week\u2019s holiday with his friend, Fr Philip. I\u00a0met David in 1975 in London – we were 2 young men at St Saviour\u2019s, Pimlico on our way to ordination. We re-established contact\u00a012 years ago. He came here in 2006 & our parish pilgrimage visited him on our way to Norwich in 2007.<\/p>\n

Sat\u00a0 29\u00a0 Beheading of John Baptist<\/strong><\/p>\n

Up early again! 9 am Mass was followed by baptism prep. Weather continues to be hot. At 5 pm I hosted a supper for\u00a0our pilgrims with Frs David & Philip – very nice.<\/p>\n

Sun 30 – Pent 13<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite the heat we had good attendances: 55 at 8 am & 100 at 10 am. The baptism at 10 am swelled the numbers! It was a lovely baptism & something happened I had never experienced with a baptism – when the parents came up for HC, as I blessed little Roland he looked at me with the most wonderful smile, like an old friend.<\/p>\n

Drinks for Frs David & Philip after Mass, then a relaxing a\/noon in the heat.<\/p>\n

Mon 31<\/strong><\/p>\n

For my day-off I\u00a0took David & Philip to Coronado. Lunch at the Hotel Del, of course!\u00a0In the evening\u00a0we had dinner\u00a0at a local restaurant.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sun Aug 2 – Pentecost 9 Another warm Sunday morning, with good attendances. Guest organist at 10 am\u2026..we missed Bob! Sermon was about the Eucharist. We have John 6 all thru Aug – a gr8 subject for preaching \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Tues 4 – St John Vianney The Cure de Ars is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}