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Holy
Week 2007
Holy Week started on
Palm Sunday and at 10.30 a.m.-
we assembled in
the garden with our palms and greenery.
After blessing
with Holy Water we processed into Church
through the porch decorated with pampas
grass and pussy willow.
The Church
itself was bare of adornment, statues
removed, and the Cross over the altar
shrouded in purple.
The account of
the Passion according to St. Luke was read
this year.
Fr. Charles
pointed out that of the four Gospel
accounts, Luke tones down on the violence
and emphasizes the forgiveness.
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On Holy (Maundy) Thursday
evening we had the first of a trio of services
celebrating the core of our faith.
A number of our
sacraments include anointing with holy oils.
These are blessed and
consecrated in Arundel Cathedral by the bishop the
evening before and are solemnly brought into
parishes on Holy Thursday.
“Maundy” comes from the
Latin “Mandatum” command because during the Mass the
priest follows the instruction and example of Jesus
and washes the feet of members of the congregation. |
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On Good Friday afternoon we had
the next stage when we again recalled the Passion,
this time through reading St. John’s Gospel where
the Crucifixion is not seen as humiliation but as
Jesus’ most glorious moment.
Fr. Charles spoke of how
we all carry our own particular burdens which we
bring to lay before Our Lord who carries all our
burdens.
A series of 10 formal
prayers are said which cover the needs of all people
throughout the world.
Then a cross is
processed through the Church and set in the
sanctuary for solemn veneration.
At the end all leave in
silence to begin the long wait for the Day of
Resurrection.
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Our Easter Celebration, like
Palm Sunday, begins with everyone assembled outside
the church, but after dark on Holy Saturday.
First comes the Service
of Light, with the blessing of the New Fire, from
which the Easter Candle is lit and then blessed.
Our individual candles
are lit from the Easter Candle and we all process
into the dark church.
The Candle is set in the
sanctuary and a unique hymn of exultation tracing
the history of salvation is sung by the celebrant.
A series of readings
from the Old and New Testament expand on this theme.
All lights go on and the
Church is revealed bedecked with flowers.
The sermon concentrated
on proclaiming the gospel through all channels
available, and explained that photographs had been
taken with the purpose of sharing our faith through
the internet.
Much of
our publicity had shown
the community partying, but Fr. Charles pointed out
that we know how to party and celebrate because we
know how to support and comfort one another in
difficulties and generously contribute financially
to appeals for help.
We then gathered round the font
for the Liturgy of Baptism
It is newly filled with
water which is then blessed and the Easter Candle
lowered
into it symbolizing
death to sin, birth and resurrection through the
waters of baptism.
The liturgy of saints is
recited and then, with our candles re-lit, we all
renewed our baptismal promises.
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The fire is
blessed |
Inscribing the
candle |
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Lighting the
candle |
The Font is filled |
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The Candle is
plunged into the Font |
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On Easter Sunday morning our celebration high point
was the baptism of baby Jennifer Caroline.
All the symbolism of the resurrection were
encapsulated in this ceremony.
She is clothed in a white garment, anointed
with the Holy Oils, baptismal promises made by her
parents, godparents and whole congregation too, and
her parents and godparents are presented with her
baptismal candle lit from the Easter Candle.
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Ann Lardeur |
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Photographs by Janet Franklin |
Mary and Carolyn Rayner
It was with sadness we said farewell to two
longstanding stalwart members of our
community, Mary and Carolyn Rayner, who have
moved to Norfolk. They contributed to
parish life in many ways, but most
significantly as Eucharistic Ministers,
Readers and with their talent for
stunning flower arrangements.
They received a special blessing at the end
of their last Mass with us on 10th February,
followed by a presentation and party in the
Community Room.
Ann Lardeur
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The
Blessing of Mary and carol |
Mary &
Carol cut their cake |
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Photographs by Janet Franklin |
Great Expectations
The conjunction of three
stars, focussing on the "Great Expectations" to
come, was the highlight of Advent at St.
Teresa's. "Great Expectations", an evening of
seasonal music from five centuries was performed
by Sally Johnson and our own Fr. Charles
together with Robert Munns on the
organ. Included in the varied programme were
"Adam lay ybounden" set by Peter Warlock,
excerpts from Handel's "Messiah", pieces by
Bach, Vaughan Williams and Messiaen.
Sally, whose beautiful soprano voice soared
through the Church, and Fr. Charles displaying
the strength of his rich baritone, perfectly
complimented one another. Robert
Munns, an organist of international renown,
having performed in venues spread across the
world from Salt Lake City, in the West to Hong
Kong in the East, including major churches in
England and Europe did wonders with our
instrument. With not a single carol
before the first Mass of Christmas, it was an
ideal preparation for the Feast of the Nativity.
Over eighty comfortably filled the Church and
the Community Room afterwards where we partook
of wine, canapés and an Advent Wreath cake.
Whilst not intentionally a fundraiser, donations
amounting to over £500 (expenses yet to be
deducted) reflected the appreciation of the
event
Ann Lardeur
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The
Final Bow |
Sally
Johnson, Robert Munns & Fr. Charles |
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The
'Great Expectations' Cake |
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Photographs by Janet Franklin |
3rd October 2006
Patronal Feast at St. Teresa's
Our patronal feast, on 3rd October, was a
special one this year. We have been given
a beautiful new statue of St. Therese of
Lisieux by an anonymous benefactor who is
not one of our parishioners. The rite for
installing a new statue consists of a prayer
of blessing, sprinkling with Holy Water, and
censing with incense. The tradition is
that St. Teresa promised that after her
death she would send from heaven blessings
like a shower of roses, and taking
inspiration from this Mary Rayner, who
organises the flower team, created an
arrangement of roses falling from the
Statue. It was roses all the way ..... the
children carried individual roses and the
font and side chapels were all adorned with
roses too. We feasted appropriately
afterwards in the Community Room where the
chocolate cake, ceremonially cut by Fr.
Charles, was also decorated with a shower of
pink iced roses.
St. Teresa, was born Therese Martin in
Alencon, France, in 1873. At a young age
became a Carmelite Nun in Lisieux where she
took the name Teresa of The Child Jesus.
She was noted for the simplicity of her
approach to, and firm confidence in God.
We are accustomed to 'vanity'
autobiographies by young celebrities.
Therese was ordered by her superior to write
hers in order to help and teach other young
nuns. She taught what she called 'her
little way'. The depth of this work has
led to her being declared a Doctor of the
Church, a rare title and a rarer one still
for women. She died at the age of 24. Our
statue shows her dressed in her Carmelite
habit with her crucifix, rosary and the
roses. She is also known as The Little
Flower.
Ann Lardeur
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Fr.
Charles sprinkles the statue with Holy Water |
Prayer
of Blessing |
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Incensing |
Children's Offerings |
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Cake
Cutting |
Photographs by Janet Franklin
Cake photo Beth Lardeur
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