Anniversary Cake

I had a big surpise at the party held after Mass on my 10th anniversary - a cake!

Here it is! It is cross shaped and backed by two candles marking my double figures years of service - 1 and 0! But what was the cake like? You will have to wait for my next post to find out - unless you are one of the lucky people to have eaten it!

Friends at my Anniversary

I was delighted to have a number of friends with Latymer connections present at Mass on my anniversary.

Mr Malcolm Smith represented the Head, and Helen came with two of her three sons. The person to my right in the alb is Edward Henley.

Edward has just completed his first year of formation for the priesthood at Allen Hall. He is a former pupil of Latymer Upper School.

10th Anniversary of Ordination

I celebrated the tenth anniversary of my ordination as a deacon on Thursday 5 July. I acted as deacon at the Solemn Mass at Westminster Cathedral and gave the homily.

I was delighted that Monsignor Mark Langham was the principal celebrant. Not only is he the Cathedral Administrator, he was my spiritual director during my years of formation, and was one of the main concelebrants at my Ordination Mass on Saturday 5 July 1997.

Here I am pictured with Fr Mark at the end of the Mass last Thursday.

Martha and Mary

Today is the last day of the School Year at Latymer. We have all been frantically busy during the past few weeks - we have all been like Martha, so preoccupied with our tasks. As we start the School holidays we have a chance to learn more from Mary - to take some time out from our duties so as to sit at the Master's feet.

Today we think particuarly of Chris Hammond and Andy Leake - two of our Assistant Heads who leave us after many years of faithful service. We wish them both happy and blessed retirements.

Holy Saviour, calm our fears
When earth's brightness disappears;
Grant us in our latter years
Light at evening time.

Jesus calms the storm

We've been thinking much about the weather recently - it has been very wet, and whilst this has not pleased visitors to Wimbledon, it has caused much more serious heartache to those whose homes have been flooded in Sheffield and other towns and villages. We keep them in our prayers.

Jesus calmed the storm that suddenly threatened the lives of his disciples those 2,000 years ago. Sometimes we too feel threatened by the storms of life. Let us turn with confidence to Jesus who can still save us today.

I think of these words in the hymn 'Sweet Sacrament divine.'

Sweet Sacrament of rest,
Ark from the ocean's roar,
Within thy shelter blest
Soon may we reach the shore;
Save us, for still the tempest raves,
Save, lest we sink beneath the waves:
Sweet Sacrament of rest;
Sweet Sacrament of rest.

Let the children come to me!

What a lovely picture for a School Chapel. Admittedly these children are far younger than those at Latymer - but the message is clear - Jesus welcomes us all, young and old.

The adults who come to the Chapel of the Resurrection are always happy when the pupils come joyfully and reverently to worship - and one knows how pleased Jesus is to see them.

However, I know some churches where children are not always made to feel welcome - I wonder what Jesus must think? For he said 'unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!'

And some fell on good soil

We all know the parable of the sower!

The Word of God has been sown in our lives - but what sort of ground has it fallen on? Has it fallen on good soil? Is it going to yield a rich harvest?

Let's take the Word of God to heart and ensure that we give 'Glory to God in the highest' by the way we live our lives.