Llandudno -
Our Lady Star of
the Sea
Parish
Priest: Fr Antony Jones STL - Telephone: 01492 860546 [Email]
Fr
Andrew is now at Holywell
Dear Parishioner,
Fr Andrew, now assistant priest at Holywell, asked me before he left to
convey to you in this Newsletter his very sincere thanks for all your
kindnesses to him, not only at his departing, but throughout the years
that he has spent here. He is truly grateful to you all.
Last Sunday was a very ordinary Sunday. Nothing special at
all. But at the 9:30 am Mass there were eighteen altar servers –
I counted them. I didn’t count them at the Vigil Mass, but there
were several, and one server at the Welsh Mass. That adds up to a
lot of servers on a very ordinary Sunday.
These young people are experiencing something that will stay with them
for the rest of their lives. I can remember vividly my
experiences as Altar Server in Holywell, and that was a long time
ago. But it is not what remains in their memories that matters,
it is what remains in their hearts. To be involved, week after week in
the celebration of the Mass, to be so close to it, has a profound
effect on their maturing personalities, for what they are doing is
involving themselves in the celebration of the Eucharist, the Church’s
memorial of the Death and Resurrection of the Lord. They learn an
awareness of the mystery and a deep reverence for it. These are
the things that will stay with them. The chances of their
remaining faithful to Christ in later life are greatly enhanced by
their serving on the altar in their childhood and adolescence.
And not only that, but they learn confidence, a quality that is of
uttermost importance in a person’s life. They learn to operate
while in the eye of several hundred people. They learn, also, to
read aloud to those same several hundred people, to proclaim the Word
of the Lord.
And form the point of view of the rest of us, we have Mass celebrated
with great dignity, as it should always and everywhere be
celebrated. We are worshipping God, for the Mass is the supreme
act of worship, in a way that is dignified and in a way that involves
intimately all these young people.
Such a desirable effect, such as we experience every Sunday, does not
happen on its own. It needs to be worked at. And it has
been Sister Jennifer, of course, who has been doing all this
work. The great success of our Altar Serving Staff depends
heavily on her. But should she fall ill or be incapacitated, we
cannot afford to lose this treasure that we have.
Mrs Marie and Mr Stephen Watson have agreed to join Sr Jennifer in this
work of preparing and supervising the Altar Staff, and I am delighted
and most grateful to them. Stephen normally attends the Saturday
Evening Mass, so will have special responsibility towards those young
people who serve at that Mass; Marie, usually at the 9:30 am Mass, will
attend to the servers at this Mass. They will work alongside Sr
Jennifer and whenever Sr Jennifer is not present they will ensure that
her excellent work continues, for the glory of God, the benefit of the
children and the good of us all.
And now, here are some dates for your
diaries:
The 2007/2008 Catechumenate will begin on Tuesday, 29 May, at
7:30 pm. Now is the time for you to be inviting your friends to
consider joining. As I have said to you many times before, there
is nothing greater that you could give to anyone than access to the
Catholic Church. It is the “treasure of great price”, and it is
yours to bestow – with the Grace of God, of course.
On Saturday, 10 May at 10:00 am, the Children will make their First
Confession; and on Sunday, 10 June, they will make their First Holy
Communion at the 9:30 am Mass. Support them in every way you can.
God bless
you, Fr Antony Jones