Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Looking ahead
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Thankyou again for the prayerful and joyful celebration of Advent and Christmas.  It was a bit sad to see that the Christmas trees had gone!  There is an argument that the Christmas season doesn’t end until the 2nd of February with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (40 days after the Saviour’s birth) so if your tree is still up you have a good reason to explain it.
 
However I have been thinking ahead to the year to come and considering how we can deepen the prayer life of our parish community which will then overflow into our wider engagement with the local community and there are a few thoughts below.
 
A number of you have spoken of the processions which used to be part of Parish life.  Processions have always formed a part of wider Christian life, be they longer Pilgrimages or simply within the life of the local Church.  We have echoes in the Liturgy as on the Feast of the Presentation when process with lighted Candles, on Palm Sunday, at the Easter Vigil, and others.   So I would like to restore the Procession of Our Lady which will take place in May when we will rededicate our Parish to the intercession and protection of the Mother of God.   As July is the month traditionally dedicated to the Most Precious Blood it would seem appropriate to restore the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament at this time.
 
Our Parish School will also be holding a Jubilee Celebration and processing to the Church during the coming year.  More widely the local Pastoral Area is looking to organise a pilgrimage walking from Downside to Glastonbury in July during this Holy Year.  With all these details to follow and of course help will be needed.
 
In July I would also like us to have a meeting to consider the Pastoral Priorities looking further ahead, and would like a Pastoral Council to develop from this.  Its all very well for me to have thoughts but we are all involved in developing parish life and it is important that we come together to identify priorities and how these can, through the grace of God, be bought to a fulfilment. 
 
For me this also means discovering the living meaning of “Parishes in Communion”, the term used to describe the relationship between Our Lady’s and St Joseph’s parishes.   Bishop Declan reminds me regularly that the actual term is “Parishes in Communion for Mission” and the meaning of Mission which both communities need to consider jointly. 
 
And speaking of Bishop Declan, this year he will celebrate  his Golden Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood.  Since his move to Bath we have been blessed to have him as part of our communities and I am sure we will want to mark this special occasion with him.  He did say that he wasn’t going to do anything to mark this Jubilee, but I am afraid I wouldn’t, on your behalf, take no for an answer.  Again details to follow and requests for help as well!
 
This time last year I was just beginning another term with Cadets at Sandhurst and wondering where I would end up with boxes everywhere ready to pack.  The same now empty boxes are in the garage and I have no plans to use them any time soon. Rather as I said after Christmas I feel blessed to be part of the life of our Parishes and look forward to the year to come with you. 
 
The words of Our Lady are clear in Gospel this Sunday , that we are to listen to her Son and “do whatever he tells you”.  As we hear the Lord speaking to us this coming year may we respond generously and willingly to the paths he calls us to walk