Today’s Scripture Readings are about “counting the cost” of following Christ, in terms of commitment and personal sacrifice:

Great crowds accompanied Jesus on His way, and He turned and spoke to them… ‘Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple’.

Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, comes among us in person. In 1982 Pope John Paul II paid a Pastoral Visit to this island. Pope Benedict pays the first ever Papal STATE visit. He comes as Successor of St Peter, and will have a message for both the State and for the Church in our land. His words will be significant. Like Jesus, in whose Name he speaks, he will challenge us to live the Gospel, to stand up for and proclaim the truths of the Catholic Faith. Are we ready to be challenged?

The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, this Friday 11th June, is the close of the Year for Priests. Pope Benedict inaugurated this Year for Priests from the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart in 2009 until the same occasion in 2010 to support Priests and pray for them in their sacred ministry of the Priesthood.

Your priests are profoundly grateful for your prayers and the support which you show us in ways which touch our hearts and sustain our lives. Please do not cease to pray for us, and for those in formation for the Priesthood, and for Vocations to the Priestly Ministry. It is especially encouraging to see an increase in our own diocese and beyond, of those offering themselves for this life of sacrifice and joy.

Please pray especially for Alan Burgess (at the Beda College, Rome), and for Philip Andrews (beginning in September at the Venerable English College, Rome).

6th Sunday of Easter

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed the Most Reverend Peter Smith (until now, Archbishop of Cardiff) as the new Archbishop of Southwark

Archbishop Smith was named the 10th Archbishop of Southwark on 30th April 2010; he succeeds Archbishop Emeritus Kevin McDonald (2003 – 2009). Archbishop Smith was born on 21st October 1943, ordained priest on 15th Jul 1972, ordained Bishop of East Anglia on 27th May 1995, and translated to Cardiff on 26th October 2001.

After receiving news of his appointment, Archbishop Smith said:

After eight very happy years in the Archdiocese of Cardiff, I am very sad to be leaving Wales … However, my sadness at leaving is tempered by the prospect of returning to my roots in South London and going home to the Archdiocese in which I was born and for which I was ordained a priest in 1972. I am very much looking forward to that and to serving the people, religious, deacons and priests of the Archdiocese of Southwark as their Bishop. It is good to be returning home, although I feel there is part of me which will always have a ‘second home’ in Wales.

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Presidents of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said:

I am delighted at the appointment of Archbishop Peter Smith as Archbishop of Southwark, while at the same time sympathising with the priests, religious and people of Cardiff. Archbishop Peter is an outstanding and experienced leader. He will be warmly welcomed back to his home diocese, just as he will be sorely missed in Cardiff. I can assure him of the prayers and good wishes of us all.

Bishop John Hine (who continues as Diocesan Administrator in Southwark until the installation of Archbishop Peter Smith on 10th June) said:

The priests and people of Southwark are absolutely delighted about the news of the appointment of Archbishop Peter Smith to our Diocese. He is, of course, well known to so many of us and we can hardly believe our good fortune that he will be back here leading us at this very significant phase of our Diocesan story.

Archbishop Smith will be installed as Archbishop of Southwark at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, on Thursday 10th June 2010.

As I leave St Joseph’s to take up my new appointment in Mortlake, I would like to say a very sincere and heartfelt ‘THANK YOU’ to the many, many people who have made my three and a half years here such happy and fulfilling ones. I have spent longer in this parish than any other, thus far, and I know it will always have a particular place in my affections.

Sadly, since my move is happening so quickly, I will not be able to say a personal word to all of you (there may be more time for that on June 13th!), but please do know that I am very grateful for all I have received here.

Lastly, the one person I must thank above all is Fr Peter, who has guided and encouraged me throughout my time in the parish. His great commitment, sincerity and zeal are gifts I very much hope to emulate. I know that you will keep us both in your prayers during the busy months ahead!

Today, Sunday 25th, is Fr Richard’s last Sunday in the parish. He moves over the next few days, and his final weekday Masses in St Joseph’s are this Wednesday 28th at 7am and 10am, and then on Thursday 29th at 10am.

He returns as Guest of Honour for a celebratory buffect luncheon on Sunday 13th June which will be the occasion to thank him for his Priestly ministry in New Malden.

3rd Sunday of Easter

Next Sunday (4th Sunday of Easter) is also known as ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’ because, in the Gospel, we hear Jesus speak of Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. That is why it is the day chosen as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life.

Pope Benedict has written to us this year on the theme “Witness Awakens Vocations”. He cites the examples of the Prophets of the Old Testament dedicating their entire existence to bearing witness to God. Jesus, he says, is the “supreme Witness to God and His concern or the salvation of all.” As we look forward to the visit of Pope Benedict to our shores this September please continue to pray for our Holy Father and for all those who may be considering a vocation to the Priesthood or Religious Life. Please also pray for the success of our Vocation Discernment Weekend in July.

Links to check out:

• The special Invocation website: www.invocation.org.uk
• The National Vocations Office website: www.ukvocation.org
  where you can also explore the Catholic Gap Year experience:  www.catholicgapyear.com
  view  a trailer of the new film No Greater Love, about the Enclosed Order of Carmelite Nuns in the silence of their Notting Hill Convent: www.nogreaterlove.co.uk
• For news and information about Vocations in our own Diocese visit the Southwark Vocations blog at www.southwarkvocations.blogspot.uk
  and www.ukpriest.org

Please pray for Alan Burgess (our Seminarian at the Beda College, Rome), and for Philip Andrews (resident in our Presbytery) who attends next week’s annual Selection Conference at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, and for other vocations from our Parish.

Shortly before Easter we were informed that Bishop John Hine (Diocesan Administrator during the vacancy of the Archbishopric of Southwark), in consultation with other Auxiliary Bishops, has appointed Fr Richard to the Parish of St Mary Magdalene, Mortlake, where he will be Parochial Administrator (awaiting confirmation as Parish Priest, when the Pope appoints a new Archbishop of Southwark).

He moves at the end of this month, so that Sunday 25th April will be his last Sunday here. Fr Richard will be our Guest of Honour at a celebratory buffet luncheon (as is usual after priests move) on Sunday 13th June. This will be the occasion to thank him for his Priestly ministry in New Malden. Meanwhile, as he prepares to take up this well-deserved preferment, we pray for him and wish him well in his new parish.

Future Priestly Staff for our Parish

While we had hoped that such a move would not happen until the summer recess (his predecessor’s age and illness has necessitated this more urgent move), there is no suitable priest available in the diocese or an immediate replacement at St Joseph’s. Our Area Bishop has said that there should be some availability for the new academic year, and recognises that someone competent and reliable is needed not only for our parish, schools and hospital duties, but also to assist Fr Peter while he continues with his diocesan, regional and national responsibilities. During the months that Fr Peter is the only priest in the parish we trust that parishioners will accept inevitable adjustments, rather than expecting him to perfect the art of bilocation!!

On Wednesday 3rd March, His Eminence John Cardinal Foley conferred the Ministry of Acolyte on our Seminarian Alan Burgess, along with six of his second-year colleages from the Pontifical Beda College.

Unlike temporary commisioning of Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, this is a permanent ‘minor order’ authorising Alan to “aid the deacon and minister to the priest in liturgical celebrations … to distribute Holy Communion as an auxiliary minister (in the usual circumstances) … to expose and depose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration” and to instruct altar servers and others in their temporary liturgical duties.

Alan is excited about his Acolytate and looks forward to his second pastoral placement this coming summer (elsewhere in our diocese). While visiting us at his diocesan base here in New Malden, he will now be able to assist in these ways and in taking Communion to the housebound and hospitalised.

The next major step for Alan, God willing, is his Candidacy for Ordination to the Diaconate which normally takes place in November of the third year of semiary formation (ie. 2010).

The Parish congratulates Alan on this second step on the road to Priestly Ordination. We continue to pray for him, and for our resident potential seminarian, Philip Andrews who is away from us this weekend, in Retreat at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, in preparation for attending the Selection Conference next month.

Alan Burgess will be with us again for the weekends before and after Christmas, during his short vacation from the Bede College in Rome where he began his 2nd year (of 4) of formation for the Priesthood after completing his Pastoral Placement at St Joseph’s last summer.  As an instituted Lector he takes precedence over our commissioned Readers.

Philip Andrews, whom many of you met a few months ago, will be living with us from January 2010 until the autumn (when, like Alan, he will continue to have a base here). Philip is scheduled to attend the annual Selection Conference at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh in April and, if accepted for Priestly Forma-tion, will begin his time at Seminary in September, Deo volente.

Next Sunday, the 1st November, we celebrate All Saints Day. In old English the name for this feast was ‘All Hallows’ – ‘hallow’ meaning ‘holy’, since the saints are those holy people whose lives have been touched by God.

The evening before All Hallows, Halloween, should be a time of prayer and preparation for the great feast which falls the next day. Unfortunately, in recent times, it has become a festival which celebrates evil spirits, ghouls, ghosts and other horrors. This has been largely driven by commercial concerns – just walk into any supermarket currently and see the ‘halloween’ goods for sale! – but also taps into some older folk customs, many of which have unhealthy pagan overtones to them.

No doubt, most ‘halloween parties’ are intended to be nothing but harmless fun, but it is always dangerous to open the door – however unintentional – to the spirit of evil which is a very real presence in the world. Catholics are well advised to have nothing to do with the modern celebration of ‘halloween’, which has come to overshadow our own great celebration of God’s holy ones. Rather, we should recover the true meaning of ‘All Hallows Eve’, making it again a preparation for the Feast of All Saints.

Most years, St Joseph’s organises a ‘Night of Light’ on ‘All Hallows’ Eve. Intended particularly for younger children, this event helps to commemorate the saints and acts as a counter-point to the pagan celebration of ‘halloween’.

Unfortunately, since this years October 31st falls on a Saturday, and during half-term, the ‘Night of Light’ is not able to take place (another event for younger children is planned just before Advent – details will go on the Event Page asap). However, families could organise their own celebration on that evening instead – light a candle for family prayers, read the stories of some favourite saints (our bookshop has many saints’ lives for children!) and perhaps make a cake or enjoy a special meal together.

As we prepare to celebrate the heroes of our faith, let us rejoice in all that is good in the world – and not revel in the darkness.

Is the Church Fit for Mission – the Church of our Parish?

This was the question which we asked ourselves at this year’s Annual General Meeting of the Parish earlier this month.

The AGM, on Friday 2nd October, began with Receiving of Reports from our many and varied parish groups and organisations. The Chairman of the Parish Finance and Fabric Committee then presented their annual report (financial details as on page 13 of the current edition of the Parish Magazine), after which Fr Peter gave the Parish Priest’s annual report which included thanks to his colleagues Fr Richard, Deacon John Sampson and Deacon John-Simon Lawson, as well as to Agnes Vella (Parish Secretary), David Roberts (Treasurer) and many others who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the efficient and smooth-running of our parish.

He went on to list the many extra-parochial responsibilities and involvements which our two priests have in the parish, the diocese, and for the wider Church, and gave statistics of our parish’s liturgical celebrations (eg. 68 Baptisms, 50 First Communions, 34 Confirmations, 5 Receptions into the Church, 10 Marriages including 4 Convalidations, 25 funerals, and an ever-increasing number of Confessions).

A sample list of the groups using the new Pastoral Centre highlighted our extensive community provisions – the most recent initiative being for Korean Catholic Families. Father gave a month-by-month snap-shot of our Priests’ activities and involvements and how they spend their time (always an eye-opener!) and concluded by listing various pastoral and other initiatives, enhancements, and a preview of various aspects of parish forward-planning.

Fit for Mission? Church was then the main focus of the AGM, beginning with a masterly overview of the four key documents of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) from Fr Richard, who drew us into the particular insights of Bishop Patrick O’Donaghue (author of the Fit for Mission? documents which have been so highly praised by the Vatican) as outlined on this attachment to the bulletin.

Parishioners at the AGM then broke into groups to discuss and respond to specific questions raised in Fit for Mission? Church, from which proposals emerged including

1. inviting parishioners to a further exploration of the key teachings of Vatican II
2. our parish clergy, catechists and others undertaking a thorough review of sacramental programmes and related areas of parish life, to ensure we are all Fit for Mission!

from the Webmaster… the Fit for Mission? Church insert is now up on the website, www.stjoseph-newmalden.org.uk/articles.