Published on 25 August 2010
If Jesus had not been crucified for our salvation, if he had brought about our salvation in
some other way, the chief symbol of our Christian faith might still be pieces of wood—not a
cross but a table.
Luke's Gospel, which we hear throughout the Sunday of this year is “The Gospel of the Table”.
Table-fellowship features again and again as the place where Jesus teaches and ably
demonstrates the Kingdom of God. Jesus sits at table, talks about meals and in doing so fulfils
his prophecy that he is sent to bring good news to the poor. The Kingdom of God is like, a
banquet, he assures us. And - joyfully for us, he eats with sinners, he sits at table with them.
In this Sunday's Gospel he uses the seating arrangements at table to make a point about the
place of the poor and the helpless in our priorities.
Jesus liked tables (still does) because they remind him of home. If the Kingdom of God is
like a banquet, then we can imagine Jesus settling in a human table, gazing around his dining
companion and murmuring, “Now this is more like it”. In Jesus’ time, in addition to the invited
guests (some of whom were jostling for the places of honour) there was an audience of
the uninvited, whom social convention allowed just inside the door to admire the privileged.
No wonder the guests were startled when Jesus aid the group of the poor should be sitting at
the table. He was, as we sometimes sing, certainly turning the world upside down.
We gather this Sunday to celebrate the banquet of the Kingdom. In an aside during a homily a
couple of weeks ago I mentioned that hymns play a big part in our Catholic tradition because
they are a way of teaching us the faith, and a way of the faith being able to rest in our hearts
as well as our minds. This Sunday in our three churches we are singing hymns of welcome,
gathering, and banquet: Fill my house says the Lord—to the fullest—a wonderful reflection
of the inclusive nature of the love and salvation of Jesus expressed so vividly in the Gospel of
Luke.
This Sunday, at the preparation of gifts, we will sing the hymn Come to the feast. I invite you
as you sing it, to ponder each line as coming from the very mouth of God Each stanza is
rooted in the prophets, and would certainly find a home on the lips of the Jesus of Luke’s
Gospel.
We gather this Sunday, still trying to get right the atmosphere of the Kingdom. We display
the Cross to remind us that we are redeemed, but the Eucharist table reminds us that we are to
live that redemption; that if we cause divisions, or build barriers we undermine the Kingdom
Jesus is building through the Eucharist. Our community is not yet complete. As one of the
Bidding Prayers last Sunday said: May we not rest until wounds are healed and a welcome
return is offered to all.
The table or altar is a key symbol in this ministry of welcome that we have been given; look
at it as you listen to the Gospel. It is both our comfort that we are called to take our place at it,
(without jostling to put ourselves first), and it is our reproach should we forget those outside.
Published on 25 August 2010
Monday 30 August 6pm St Anne’s 6.45pm in St Bride’s 7.30pm in St Thomas’
Tuesday 31 August 8am in St Thomas’ 9.30am in St Anne’s 10.30am in St Bride’s
Wednesday 1 September
9am in St Bride’s 10am in St. Thomas’ 6pm in St Mary’s Home 7pm in St Anne’s
Thursday 2 September 8am in St Thomas’ 9.30am in St Anne’s 10.30am in St Bride’s
Friday 3 September 8am in St Thomas’ 9.30am in St Anne’s 10.30am in St Bride’s
Saturday 4 September 9.30am in St Bride’s [Liturgy of Word & Communion] 10am in St Thomas’ [Mass]
Published on 25 August 2010
All Are Welcome to dance the evening away
to the music of the Dundee Strathspey & Reel Society
at the Meadowbank Inn, Arbroath. Stovie Supper included!
Tickets now on sale Adults £6 - children free
Transport will be provided
Published on 25 August 2010
Adoration St Bride’s begins again
this Monday 30 August at 9am.
Daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a
hallmark of this Church, enabling the church to
be open for prayer, and have a human as well as
divine presence in it every day.
Again I appeal to you to give an hour a week to
adoration, so that the programme can continue.
At present, too often a person is left alone in the
church, and this makes them very vulnerable.
We also hope to introduce a scheme in the near
future where you can sign up as a volunteer for
one week only, in addition to those who give an
hour each week.
I look forward to speaking with you about the
adoration programme when next I celebrate
Sunday Mass in Monifieth.
Published on 25 August 2010
The lists of names of those who have chosen to go to Bellahouston is on the notice board at the back of
the church. Please check that your name is on that list TODAY.
As soon as I have details of the travel arrangements, you will be informed. In the meantime, please note:
the pilgrim pack and travel costs are £20 per person, regardless of age. Please do not hesitate to be in
touch with me if you are finding it difficult to find the £20, especially families with children going.
Some notes from the papal visit office to help you prepare for the event:
- When you arrive at the celebration there will be security checks and your cooperation would be much
appreciated. The security staff and stewards will try to make your entry as smooth as possible. Please bear with
them if there are queues. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes suitable for all weather conditions.
- To be a Pilgrim is a privileged opportunity to be present with the Holy Father and fellow Pilgrims in praying
together and celebrating the Church’s liturgy. You are also representing your local community and you will
return renewed, taking home the experience and message of the Holy Father. It is hoped that you will be
enriched by your Pilgrim Journey and that you will be sustained in your faith.
- Please be prepared for a very long and onerous journey to the celebration and home again. As there will be
many people attending the liturgy, it may take several hours for people to enter and to leave the site following
the Mass.
- You are welcome to bring a Picnic with you and please think about food and water for the whole of your
journey (water will be provided on site, but you may like to also bring your own).
- Please consider bringing non-perishable foods, and foods that do not need to be kept cool. Bring only plastic cutlery and
non-breakable cups and plates (no glassware or china), with food and drink being in plastic containers. Alcohol
is not permitted. Hampers and cool boxes should not exceed 20’’x13’’x8’’ (51cm x 33cm x 20cm).
There will be more guidelines to help you enjoy the day which I will pas on to you as soon as they
come to me. Kevin.
Published on 09 August 2010
Pope Paul VI made Joseph Ratzinger a Cardinal on 27 June 1977. In 1978 he took part in the
Conclave of 25 and 26 August which elected John Paul I. In the month of
October of the same year he took part in the Conclave that elected Pope John Paul II.
Pope John Paul II named him Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and
President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and of the International Theological Commission
on 25 November 1981. On 15 February 1982 he resigned the pastoral governance of the
Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. He was President of the Preparatory Commission for the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, which after six years of work (1986-1992) presented the
new Catechism to the Holy Father. This is the Catechism we use today.
On 6 November 1998 John Paul II approved the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Vice-Dean of the
College of Cardinals, submitted by the Cardinals of the Order of Bishops. On 30 November 2002 he
approved his election as Dean of the College of Cardinals In the Roman Curia he has been a member of
the Council of the Secretariat of State for Relations with States; of the Congregations for the Oriental
Churches, for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the
Sacraments, for Bishops, for the Evangelization of Peoples, for Catholic Education, for Clergy and for
the Causes of the Saints; of the Pontifical Councils for Promoting Christian Unity, and for Culture; of
the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and of the Pontifical Commissions for Latin
America, "Ecclesia Dei", for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law, and for the
Revision of the Code of Canon Law of the Oriental Churches.
Among his many publications are his "Introduction to Christianity", a compilation of University
lectures on the Apostolic Creed published in 1968; "Dogma and Preaching" (1973) an anthology of
essays, sermons and reflections dedicated to pastoral arguments. His address to the Catholic Academy
of Bavaria on "Why I am still in the Church" had a wide resonance; in it he stated with his usual
clarity: "one can only be a Christian in the Church, not beside the Church". His publications are spread
out over a number of years and are a point of reference for many people specially for those entering
deeper into the study of theology. In 1985 he published his interview-book on the situation of the faith
(The Ratzinger Report) and in 1996 "Salt of the Earth". On the occasion of his 70th birthday the
volume "At the School of Truth" was published, containing articles by several authors on different
aspects of his personality and production.
He has received numerous "Honoris Causa" Doctorates, in 1984 from the College of St. Thomas in St.
Paul, Minnesota; in 1986 from the Catholic University of Lima; in 1987 from the Catholic University
of Eichstätt; in 1988 from the Catholic University of Lublin; in 1998 from the University of Navarre; in
1999 from the LUMSA (Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta) of Rome and in 2000 from the
Faculty of Theology of the University of Wroc?aw in Poland.
On Tuesday 19 April 2005, the College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Ratzinger as successor
to Pope John Paul II - the 265th Bishop of Rome and Successor of St Peter. This Pope, a man
schooled in theology, scripture is respected as a profound thinker. He will come among us in
September and deliver a message to us, to the Catholics of our time, and to our nation. May
the light of the Kingdom of God, the love of Christ and power of the Holy Spirit to hold all
people together in dignity, justice and truth shine through him, his words and our experience
when we go to Bellahouston to meet him.
Published on 09 August 2010
Monday 9 August 9.30am in St Anne’s 10.30am in St Bride’s 11.30am in St Thomas’
Tuesday 10 August 8am in St Thomas’ 9.30am in St Anne’s 10.30am in St Bride’s
Wednesday 11 August
9am in St Bride’s 10am in St. Thomas’ 6pm in St Mary’s Home 7pm in St Anne’s
Thursday 12 August 9.30am in St Anne’s 10am in St. Thomas’ 10.30am in St Bride’s
Friday 13 August 9.30am in St Anne’s 10.30am in St Bride’s 6pm in St Thomas’
Saturday 14 August 9.30am in St Bride’s 10am in St Thomas’
Published on 09 August 2010
St Bride’s Parish Pastoral Council will meet on
Monday 23 August at 7pm in the Church Hall.
Any parishioner is welcome to attend. It is
helpful to have items for discussion in advance
— please give any to Father Kevin.
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