Getting to Mass is getting to be a bit of a trial!
I realise that road works are generally necessary but it really mucks up the bus routes and shortens the preparation time for Mass! The Brighton Oratory currently rents a hall to use as the Sanctuary but there are other activities that go on during the day aisde from the two daily Masses and so the Altar etc has to be put up and taken down. The Sanctuary is arranged and prepared before the evening Mass after 4.30/5pm ideally to create a prayerful atmosphere before Mass at 6pm. It only takes twenty/thirty mintutes to transform a typical community hall into a “sacred space”. Once arranged it can generally remain as it is for the rest of the evening after Mass and overnight, so it is ready for the morning Mass. Afterwhich it has to be taken down and stowed away for the day’s community activities that range from a Child Contact Centre and SCOPE day centre to Weightwatchers and Al Anon.
The fact that such community groups use the same space is great for outreach and advertising. Times of Masses etc are clearly displayed around the building and I make a point whenever possible of being in the cafe at the front of the building for an hour after Mass until about 10am, thus being visible and approachable. Many of the regular hall users and cafe customers stop and chat and not a few have sought me out to discuss personal or family issues of a spiritual nature. It also provides an informal space to meet various people from potential/volunteers to partners in our various local apostolates. For the Whitsun term we’ll relaunch our “Break-fast with Father” too for students and enquirers.
Via Crucis
I received our new Stations of the Cross yesterday evening after Mass and arranged them today. I immediately texted the artist to remark on how they transform the Sanctuary, the room feels now somehow “complete”. I know these were something of a spiritual journey for Shirley whilst sketching them and a lot of prayer and emotion has gone into these depictions of the Via Crucis and in a somehow deceptively simple way they seem to express and convey that and the very deep emotion of the events. The Crucifixion itself is my particular favourite, though I have a feeling that each in turn will become special and reveal insight and depth anew on each meditation. I’m offering “Stations” every Friday evening from 5pm… I hope not a few people will come along and share in the experience that I know these pictures will lend to the careful meditation of the final moments of the passion of Our Lord. The SA Major popped in on his way home and was quite obviously impressed, his opening gambit proffering his reaction being… “I’m not going to say I’m envious…”!
Writing of the Crucifixion, I had a meeting yesterday with the organist for our Churches Together endeavour on Spy Wednesday (in Holy Week, this year April 4th) performing Sir John Stainer’s powerful musical meditation, “The Crucifixion” (at 7.30pm St Mary’s Upper Rock Gardens, Kemptown). I conducted this oratorio whilst reading Divinity at Aberystwyth, a “town and gown” as well as ecumenical chorus with the Revd Dr John Tudno-Williams (then Dean of the Divinity Faculty) singing the Bass solo and Dr Rhidian Griffiths (then Director of Public Services, National Library of Wales) the challenging tenor solo. This performance however will be a “from scratch” though we’re hoping that previous annual participants of this formerly popular citywide endeavour will return! Previously it had taken place at All Saints, Hove and before that at St Mary’s where it is now returning, a tradition going back some thirty years at least! The previous conducter “retired” at 90+ and I’m taking up the baton. I’m really looking forward to it and I know “Fling wide the gates” and the beautiful and ever emotive tenor solo “Thou art the King” will just sound incredible in the locally exceptional St Mary’s accoustic supported by the wonderful Bevington Pipe Organ! The hymns too are just wonderful – “All for Jesus” of course being perhaps one of the most Catholic and evangelical hymns one could ever hope to wish for!
Tomorrow of course is Ember Saturday. Mass is at 8am as opposed to 10.30 as we have a Bric a Brac sale in the hall raising funds for the Salvation Army’s apostolate. Today was a long day itself and tomorrow is not looking any less so with various bits and pieces not accomplished today being transferred!
You must be logged in to post a comment.