By the middle of the nineteenth century, Kierkegaard had already advanced a new type of religious thinking, a philosophical theology that was not “study of God” but instead a study of the experiential experiences of faith, or of faith as the most radical existential experience. We should undoubtedly draw on that tradition. Out of all theological disciplines, that theological current is probably closest to spiritual theology; after all, spirituality is without doubt the dimension of Christian faith most relevant to the spiritual climate of the present day western society. However, if the theological impulses I have indicated are embodied in a lived faith & spirituality, then this liberation spirituality or exodus spirituality should not lead to shirking our responsibility for the society in which we have been placed. On the contrary, one of its essential tasks is sensitivity to the signs of the times in the cultural & political climate of today’s world. “Solidarity with seekers” implies sharing in their seeking & questioning. [“Patience with God” Fr Tomaz Halik ]
On Data Protection progress, thank you to those of you who have completed a Consent Form since the legislation was introduced on 25th May 2018. There has been ample opportunity for others to respond; some, like some weekend Mass attendees, still trickle in, & in both cases, it is never too late! I would continue to encourage you to ask members of your family who do not attend our Parish, or who attend elsewhere, to consider being registered with us here? We hold pastoral responsibility for all baptised Catholics who live within our parish boundaries, & it is vital for the spiritual, administrative & practical well-being of the Parish that we are fully aware of those to whom we owe the love & duty of care. As the summer holiday period draws to a close, certainly for those of you who are tied to College & School terms, I would like to thank you for your faithful service to our Parish over this last year, to those of you who serve in various ministries, & particularly to those who support us with their regular attendance & steady prayers. We hope you have had safe journeys & happy times. We welcome those who are on holiday in the locality & are joining us for our weekend Mass. It can be a source of concern to some who find it difficult or impossible to meet their Sunday Obligation whilst on holiday. In such genuine circumstance, please consider transferring your Obligation to a weekday Mass of your choice within a reasonable period of your return. To miss the moment is to miss the grace, rather than to incur a penalty.
Our Parish BBQ is next Sunday 2 Sept from 12noon. Please try to come along & bring food to cook on the bbq as well as salads if you wish. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible so that we can celebrate being together as a parish family. For Health & Safety reasons please could we bring some points to your attention?
The surface is a little uneven where the bbq will be situated, so please do watch where you walk. Don’t forget to bring a hat & sun cream if it’s a particularly hot day. If the weather is wet or windy, we will let you know before our 10am Mass if we need to cancel. Please keep a safe distance from the bbq itself . It fills us with joy that our Parish is blessed with so many children, as they bring fun & joy to every occasion. For their own safety, could we ask parents to take full responsibility for them when running around & playing, & to discourage them from climbing the trees in our grounds & graveyard?. As you bring food from home to contribute to the meal, please bring it directly to the Parish Hall as you arrive, so that it can be kept cool or cold until it is to be cooked & served. Please don’t leave food in your car for the duration of 10am Mass & risk it being a health hazard. Our designated Health & Safety Leader on the day will be Sophie Rowe. Our designated Safeguarding Lead [DSL] for the day will be Amanda Toone.