One of the Jesuit priests of the parish paid us a routine but surprise
and most welcome, home visit during the week.
Old fashioned approach
to parish life that may be but such friendly, ordinary, contact does more for developing a sense of community than any government inspired initiatives.
TX Father Michael.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Flora London Marathon 2007
A sharecrazy poster concerned at the record heat expected to affect this year's
London Marathon, queried whether the race should be called off altogether.
Logically a reasonable query but logic is not the main trait
of many a human spirit so I respond here and on SC:
"
The marathon rules do permit entrants to walk at any
time. One runner from my team a year or two back
decided to adopt a technique of the SAS which is
something along the lines of walking
half a mile for each 3 miles ran.
Also there are ample (free) supplies of glucose
drinks and water along the course. Thames Water
even provides sections of the course wih fine
cooling sprays of water to run through for cooling down.
StJohns ambulance volunters abound; public transport
is free for runners wearing their race numbers.
Then there are the £millions aised for charity.
Life is full of risks of course but without challenges
imho the human spirit is poorer.
A newspaper reporterfrom the "Sun" once wrote somthing
along the lines of his having been to Everest,
the Taj Mahal, etc. but the emotions they engendered
in him were not as moving as those he felt when
running that last half mile down the Mall at the end
of his 4 hours.
You have to remember as well that unlike most extreme
sports or expeditions to the Poles, the London marathon
is areal challenge which needs little money
to enter. The ordinary person of meagre money
is as able to enter as Bill Gates.
Even successful investors like yourself can enter
Why not give it a go next year"
Good luck to all runners tomorrow, especially to Paul Wilson
from PWW and all in the Jesuit Missions' team.
London Marathon, queried whether the race should be called off altogether.
Logically a reasonable query but logic is not the main trait
of many a human spirit so I respond here and on SC:
"
The marathon rules do permit entrants to walk at any
time. One runner from my team a year or two back
decided to adopt a technique of the SAS which is
something along the lines of walking
half a mile for each 3 miles ran.
Also there are ample (free) supplies of glucose
drinks and water along the course. Thames Water
even provides sections of the course wih fine
cooling sprays of water to run through for cooling down.
StJohns ambulance volunters abound; public transport
is free for runners wearing their race numbers.
Then there are the £millions aised for charity.
Life is full of risks of course but without challenges
imho the human spirit is poorer.
A newspaper reporterfrom the "Sun" once wrote somthing
along the lines of his having been to Everest,
the Taj Mahal, etc. but the emotions they engendered
in him were not as moving as those he felt when
running that last half mile down the Mall at the end
of his 4 hours.
You have to remember as well that unlike most extreme
sports or expeditions to the Poles, the London marathon
is areal challenge which needs little money
to enter. The ordinary person of meagre money
is as able to enter as Bill Gates.
Even successful investors like yourself can enter
Why not give it a go next year"
Good luck to all runners tomorrow, especially to Paul Wilson
from PWW and all in the Jesuit Missions' team.
Global Warning
A graphic report appeared in yesterday's Independent newspaper
about Australia possibly being the first developed country fundamentally
to be hit by global warming.
If their 6 year drought
does not end within the next few weeks, crop
irrigation will be banned as the remaining water
will be for drinking only. Crops, trees and cattle will
die and food supplies hit
Thursday's Independent newspaper had a more light hearted comment:
[quote] The flowering of the hawthorn bush has, for centuries, been an infallible sign in England that the month of May has arrived. But, this year, in our warm spring, its scented creamy-white flowers are appearing in many places a good three weeks earlier than normal [/quote]
Since my "maytrees" pseudonym is based
on the hawthorn trees maybe it needs to be changed to
"apriltrees".
about Australia possibly being the first developed country fundamentally
to be hit by global warming.
If their 6 year drought
does not end within the next few weeks, crop
irrigation will be banned as the remaining water
will be for drinking only. Crops, trees and cattle will
die and food supplies hit
Thursday's Independent newspaper had a more light hearted comment:
[quote] The flowering of the hawthorn bush has, for centuries, been an infallible sign in England that the month of May has arrived. But, this year, in our warm spring, its scented creamy-white flowers are appearing in many places a good three weeks earlier than normal [/quote]
Since my "maytrees" pseudonym is based
on the hawthorn trees maybe it needs to be changed to
"apriltrees".
Sunday, April 15, 2007
HCPT Mummies at Lourdes
Any helper travelling to Lourdes with the
HCPT over Easter Week, has to be ready to be be made a fool of one minute, be a star
at football the next; then a comedian and perhaps
in an instant, a peacemaker/diplomat. However the need to care for 10 children and at the same time give them a fun holiday with a spiritual dimension, quickly banishes any residual self consciousness felt by voluntary helpers.
HCPT's 2007 pilgrimage was no exception. An inaugurial sports day was held in the prairie opposite the grotto, for the children of the 5 HCPT Groups of the London Beaumont region. Wheelchair races were accompanied by much partisan shouting for the competitors from each group; eggs were soon scrambled in the egg and spoon races and hurdles of one kind or another tackled with gusto but the race by each Group to shroud its group leader from head to toe - Egyptian mummy fashion - in loo paper, attracted the most laughter, especially as each leader then had to hop to the finish to win.
Needless to add all 5 group leaders were soon disqualified but I am glad to report that Wimbledon's HCPT Group 35 won the cup for the Region's first sports day.
All the children were presented with winners' medals and the winner's cup duly
engraved with a large 35, was left at the cafe Cintra for next year.
Lighting candles at the Grotto, some quiet contemplation, the Trust Mass
attended by all 5200 HCPT pilgrims in the huge underground Church, the freezing "baths" and visiting "The Cachot", the old single room lock up
lived in by Bernadette's family 149 years ago after dad became bankrupt,
were among the spiritual highlights. The beach at Ste Jean de Luz;
the Group led by Neil on guitar and Felicity on flute, singing
inside a deserted cafe in Lourdes old town as torrential rain, thunder and
lightning, raged outside; our party on the last night at the Alba as well as the sports day, were among the fun highlights of this years journey.
We all bonded really well as a team of friends, workers, children and pilgrims.
The children were fantastic and a great privilege to look after.
Anecdotes abound.
One girl who was being supported arm and arm by helper Rachel and I,
decided to sit down just at the pinchpoint of the security section at Tarbes/Lourdes airport. The grin on her
face when the previously po-faced security officials became very human
and attentive, at once offering her a rather superior French wheelchair,
caused them, us and others the queue, to smile -
a human trait not normally associated with airports these days.
Many a head turned on the trains as 11 young(ish in the leader's case) helpers travelled back engroupe to Wimbledon, wearing the Group's light blue, dark blue and windsor brown shirts. "A rugby team?" asked one passenger; "sort of" I thought.
In addition to being unfazed by being the fall guy or girl, voluntary helpers
need to be CRB checked (easy for most to arrange) have imagination, energy and lots of patience.
Overseeing in the freezing Atlantic waters off St Jean de Luz beach, being dragged into rap dancing by children, hymn singing, ice cream ordering, listening, learning, torchlight processing or being away from all of those things helping a child who is sick or upset needing to be alone, are among the talents voluntary
helpers have to acquire.
If you are open, willing to learn and would like to
travel as a voluntary helper with Wimbledon's HCPT Group 35 in 2008
feel free to let me know.
HCPT over Easter Week, has to be ready to be be made a fool of one minute, be a star
at football the next; then a comedian and perhaps
in an instant, a peacemaker/diplomat. However the need to care for 10 children and at the same time give them a fun holiday with a spiritual dimension, quickly banishes any residual self consciousness felt by voluntary helpers.
HCPT's 2007 pilgrimage was no exception. An inaugurial sports day was held in the prairie opposite the grotto, for the children of the 5 HCPT Groups of the London Beaumont region. Wheelchair races were accompanied by much partisan shouting for the competitors from each group; eggs were soon scrambled in the egg and spoon races and hurdles of one kind or another tackled with gusto but the race by each Group to shroud its group leader from head to toe - Egyptian mummy fashion - in loo paper, attracted the most laughter, especially as each leader then had to hop to the finish to win.
Needless to add all 5 group leaders were soon disqualified but I am glad to report that Wimbledon's HCPT Group 35 won the cup for the Region's first sports day.
All the children were presented with winners' medals and the winner's cup duly
engraved with a large 35, was left at the cafe Cintra for next year.
Lighting candles at the Grotto, some quiet contemplation, the Trust Mass
attended by all 5200 HCPT pilgrims in the huge underground Church, the freezing "baths" and visiting "The Cachot", the old single room lock up
lived in by Bernadette's family 149 years ago after dad became bankrupt,
were among the spiritual highlights. The beach at Ste Jean de Luz;
the Group led by Neil on guitar and Felicity on flute, singing
inside a deserted cafe in Lourdes old town as torrential rain, thunder and
lightning, raged outside; our party on the last night at the Alba as well as the sports day, were among the fun highlights of this years journey.
We all bonded really well as a team of friends, workers, children and pilgrims.
The children were fantastic and a great privilege to look after.
Anecdotes abound.
One girl who was being supported arm and arm by helper Rachel and I,
decided to sit down just at the pinchpoint of the security section at Tarbes/Lourdes airport. The grin on her
face when the previously po-faced security officials became very human
and attentive, at once offering her a rather superior French wheelchair,
caused them, us and others the queue, to smile -
a human trait not normally associated with airports these days.
Many a head turned on the trains as 11 young(ish in the leader's case) helpers travelled back engroupe to Wimbledon, wearing the Group's light blue, dark blue and windsor brown shirts. "A rugby team?" asked one passenger; "sort of" I thought.
In addition to being unfazed by being the fall guy or girl, voluntary helpers
need to be CRB checked (easy for most to arrange) have imagination, energy and lots of patience.
Overseeing in the freezing Atlantic waters off St Jean de Luz beach, being dragged into rap dancing by children, hymn singing, ice cream ordering, listening, learning, torchlight processing or being away from all of those things helping a child who is sick or upset needing to be alone, are among the talents voluntary
helpers have to acquire.
If you are open, willing to learn and would like to
travel as a voluntary helper with Wimbledon's HCPT Group 35 in 2008
feel free to let me know.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Good Friday 2007
Time for reflection:
1. Dreadful News
Appalled to learn that all Catholic Bishops in Eritrea are threatened with imprisonment if they and the country's Catholic priests, do not join the army (to fight
rather than as army chaplains). Good though to see that despite the risks, they are taking a
stand against such dreadful politicians' orders but an outcome may be the
banning of the Catholic Church there.
2. Great News
My 39th Pilgrimage with HCPT to Lourdes over Easter Week is due to commence
on Easter Monday at 04;30 hours - with HCPT Group 35.
1. Dreadful News
Appalled to learn that all Catholic Bishops in Eritrea are threatened with imprisonment if they and the country's Catholic priests, do not join the army (to fight
rather than as army chaplains). Good though to see that despite the risks, they are taking a
stand against such dreadful politicians' orders but an outcome may be the
banning of the Catholic Church there.
2. Great News
My 39th Pilgrimage with HCPT to Lourdes over Easter Week is due to commence
on Easter Monday at 04;30 hours - with HCPT Group 35.
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