Llandudno -
Our Lady Star of
the Sea
Parish Priest: Fr Antony Jones STL - Telephone: 01492 860546
Sunday, October 7th 2007
Twentyseventh of Ordinary Time (C)
Parish Priest: Fr Antony Jones STL - Telephone: 01492 860546
Sunday, October 7th 2007
Twentyseventh of Ordinary Time (C)
Dear
Parishioner,
There are three important matters that were discussed at the Pastoral Council Meeting held last Tuesday, and I would ask you, please, to read this Newsletter carefully.
First, the topic: The Home is a Holy Place. This is the subject the Diocese is pursuing at the moment; and indeed, not just the Diocese but the Catholic Church throughout England and Wales.
Every year some such topic is discussed. It should be discussed first at parish level. The thoughts of each parish are then passed up to the Deanery Pastoral Council, where they are discussed at Deanery level. Finally these deliberations are passed up to the Diocesan Pastoral Council where they are finalised, with recommendations being made to the Bishop for his final say.
Up to now, these deliberations have been carried on at the Parish Council. But as this Council has always a busy agenda and as the deliberations should be open to a wider public, it was decided that in future these topics will be discussed at an open parish meeting one week before the Parish Council Meeting. These meetings will not be an alternative Parish Council and will only discuss the current topic proposed by the Diocese. The meeting to discuss the Home is a Holy Place will be Thursday 11 October, at 7:30pm at Stella Maris. All are welcome.
The second matter arising from the Pastoral Council is the use of the Welsh Language within the Church.
The three Welsh Bishops have decided that Welsh should be in evidence in the running of our parishes. Bishop Regan stressed, and stressed again, that this is not an attempt to promote the language but an effort to proclaim more effectively the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are all children of our own culture. Wales has a particularly rich one, rooted in Christianity and with a language older than any other European tongue. Recognising the existence and richness of this culture is to recognise the glory of God as he works in us and through our human societies. To ignore this culture would be an affront to Him. Please try always to keep in mind Bishop Regan’s compelling logic.
The Bishops want to see Welsh more in evidence in four areas in the life of the Catholic Church: in our Catholic Schools; in the Liturgy; in public notices; and in the headings of notepaper etc. But the area that will concern us most is the further use of Welsh in the Liturgy.
First and foremost, let me assure you that any further use of Welsh in the Liturgy will not be forced upon you. It will be there to help those who want it; not to hinder those who don’t. Therefore whenever any part of the Mass is led in Welsh, you will be most welcome to say it in English if you prefer. Very many people who have been born and bred in Wales but who do not speak the language will delight in the opportunity of leaning to use their national tongue in the worship of God.
In our case, you may say: we have a Welsh Mass; surely that is enough! It is indeed a great step in the right direction, but it doesn’t help those who attend the other parish Masses.
What I propose for this Parish is to produce a laminated sheet printed with the parts of the Mass which we are likely to use in Welsh. The English will be in one column; the Welsh in the other (like the old Latin/English missals). At each Mass I will invite you to say a particular prayer in Welsh. It will be said slowly and distinctly, giving people the chance to learn how to say it. Those who want to say that particular prayer in English are as free to do so as ever they were. We will achieve this change in all charity and loving-kindness.
And the third matter I want to report back to you is a bit of very good news. We have received three legacies (two in hand, one promised) totalling about £66,000. But also totalling about £66,000 are the works that need to be done on our properties! Being now in a position of strength, we are going to petition the Trustees of the Diocese for permission to get on with this work without delay.
Mr John Dennison, our Property Manager, explained to the Council the works that are currently in real need of being addressed. Taking up about ten thousand of our sixty-six thousand pounds will be the restoration of the stone work around the clerestory windows. Taking up another ten will be the treatment of the beams that support the roof (which, if you look carefully, you will see are splitting). Then comes the reordering of the interior lighting of the Church, a job desperately necessary. This will cost in the region of twenty-thousand pounds. And then, yes, the car-park, the drive alongside the church and the parking in front of the Presbytery. The Parish Council approved this expenditure. We look forward to it happening.
God bless you,
Fr Antony Jones
There are three important matters that were discussed at the Pastoral Council Meeting held last Tuesday, and I would ask you, please, to read this Newsletter carefully.
First, the topic: The Home is a Holy Place. This is the subject the Diocese is pursuing at the moment; and indeed, not just the Diocese but the Catholic Church throughout England and Wales.
Every year some such topic is discussed. It should be discussed first at parish level. The thoughts of each parish are then passed up to the Deanery Pastoral Council, where they are discussed at Deanery level. Finally these deliberations are passed up to the Diocesan Pastoral Council where they are finalised, with recommendations being made to the Bishop for his final say.
Up to now, these deliberations have been carried on at the Parish Council. But as this Council has always a busy agenda and as the deliberations should be open to a wider public, it was decided that in future these topics will be discussed at an open parish meeting one week before the Parish Council Meeting. These meetings will not be an alternative Parish Council and will only discuss the current topic proposed by the Diocese. The meeting to discuss the Home is a Holy Place will be Thursday 11 October, at 7:30pm at Stella Maris. All are welcome.
The second matter arising from the Pastoral Council is the use of the Welsh Language within the Church.
The three Welsh Bishops have decided that Welsh should be in evidence in the running of our parishes. Bishop Regan stressed, and stressed again, that this is not an attempt to promote the language but an effort to proclaim more effectively the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are all children of our own culture. Wales has a particularly rich one, rooted in Christianity and with a language older than any other European tongue. Recognising the existence and richness of this culture is to recognise the glory of God as he works in us and through our human societies. To ignore this culture would be an affront to Him. Please try always to keep in mind Bishop Regan’s compelling logic.
The Bishops want to see Welsh more in evidence in four areas in the life of the Catholic Church: in our Catholic Schools; in the Liturgy; in public notices; and in the headings of notepaper etc. But the area that will concern us most is the further use of Welsh in the Liturgy.
First and foremost, let me assure you that any further use of Welsh in the Liturgy will not be forced upon you. It will be there to help those who want it; not to hinder those who don’t. Therefore whenever any part of the Mass is led in Welsh, you will be most welcome to say it in English if you prefer. Very many people who have been born and bred in Wales but who do not speak the language will delight in the opportunity of leaning to use their national tongue in the worship of God.
In our case, you may say: we have a Welsh Mass; surely that is enough! It is indeed a great step in the right direction, but it doesn’t help those who attend the other parish Masses.
What I propose for this Parish is to produce a laminated sheet printed with the parts of the Mass which we are likely to use in Welsh. The English will be in one column; the Welsh in the other (like the old Latin/English missals). At each Mass I will invite you to say a particular prayer in Welsh. It will be said slowly and distinctly, giving people the chance to learn how to say it. Those who want to say that particular prayer in English are as free to do so as ever they were. We will achieve this change in all charity and loving-kindness.
And the third matter I want to report back to you is a bit of very good news. We have received three legacies (two in hand, one promised) totalling about £66,000. But also totalling about £66,000 are the works that need to be done on our properties! Being now in a position of strength, we are going to petition the Trustees of the Diocese for permission to get on with this work without delay.
Mr John Dennison, our Property Manager, explained to the Council the works that are currently in real need of being addressed. Taking up about ten thousand of our sixty-six thousand pounds will be the restoration of the stone work around the clerestory windows. Taking up another ten will be the treatment of the beams that support the roof (which, if you look carefully, you will see are splitting). Then comes the reordering of the interior lighting of the Church, a job desperately necessary. This will cost in the region of twenty-thousand pounds. And then, yes, the car-park, the drive alongside the church and the parking in front of the Presbytery. The Parish Council approved this expenditure. We look forward to it happening.
God bless you,
Fr Antony Jones