EIN HARGLWYDDES SEREN Y MôR –

OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA – LLANDUDNO

Fr Jones’s Newsletter - Sunday 1 February 2009

Dear Parishioner,

The frequent reference to God and the part God plays in American national affairs, so evident in the Inauguration of President Baruk Obarma and which I referred to in my sermon last Sunday, caught up with me again in the course of the week.

There was an article in the Catholic Herald about a practising Anglican journalist who works for the BBC.   Jeremy Vine is a well recognised name on both Radio 2 and BBC 2.  Speaking about the current climate in Britain, he said that today “it is almost socially unacceptable to say that you believe in God”.

He doesn’t really need to tell us that, for each of us has experienced it for himself.  Britain is no longer a Christian country, but has become a place where atheism is rampant and what Christian faith people do still have is under constant attack and ridicule.  No wonder we have such a job keeping our young people, who are absorbing the toxic atmosphere of modern Britain, faithful to Christ.  

You may have read in the papers recently how Ed Stourton, a regular presenter of Radio 4’s flagship news programme “Today “ was suddenly sacked from his job with no explanation.  Brilliant at his profession, as all listeners to Radio 4 would agree, his dismissal can only be explained in terms of his personal faith. He is a practising Catholic.

In the same Catholic Herald article he makes some welcome observations; he says that it is not universally like this, that Britain is actually out of step with most other countries in the world.  “We think we are the norm”, he says, “but outside Britain, France and Germany most people are religious.  For the vast majority of people on this planet religion is a vastly important part of life”.

Anyone with half an eye can tell that this is true.  Just look at the dynamic significance of Islam in present world politics.  But it is good to be reminded that Christianity too is more vocal and more dynamic in other countries than it is here.

I was reminded of the time when the Apostolic Delegate visited our Diocese some years ago.  We were gloomily talking about the shortage of priests and he reminded us that we, as Catholics, have to have a world view; that there has never been a time in history when there were more priests in the Church than today.  It’s only here in Europe that the pinch is being felt.

And a Catholic (Universal) view we must make sure we have.  We belong to a Church that is spread throughout the world, which in terms of members is the biggest organisation on the planet, and which descends directly from Christ, with all the authority and self-confidence that that should inspire.  So…

So...what?  God does exist, even if the BBC, the British establishment and lots of Brits think He doesn’t; the Catholic Church is the Church Christ founded and which shall not be moved because it is founded upon the rock of Peter.  So let us behave as people who know they have the truth that liberates and who are not afraid of saying so.

I recalled in my sermon last Sunday the stir that Sir John Major caused when he first became prime Minister and when he ended his address to the nation with the words “Good night and God bless”. 

I suggest we all get into the habit of saying “God bless you” to one another and, more importantly, to our unbelieving friends and neighbours.  First it proclaims publicly your faith in God.  Secondly, it is a genuine prayer.  You are calling down God’s blessing on the person you are addressing.  If that person is an unbeliever, the greatest blessing he needs in his life is faith in the Lord Jesus, the Light of the World. 

Just a little thing; just three words.  By them, the truth and the blessing of God challenge both believer and unbeliever alike; and we ourselves become prophets of our time.

God bless you, 

                     Fr Antony Jones