Blogging - labels, tags . . .

I've just added a gadget to the side-bar which links to all the various 'tags' or 'labels' that you see underneath each post.  You'll find it right at the bottom of the side-bar at the right-hand side of the page.

I hope you'll find this useful.  The idea is that it will help you if you are looking for a post on a particular subject.

Rather a pleasing side-effect is that it shows how many posts have been written with the same 'label' and the more the subject has been blogged about, the larger the font of the label.

It was encouraging to see certain 'favourite' important topics that have been covered more frequently than others.  For example; 'Confession' 26 times! The same number for 'Feast Days'. And 'Liturgy', 'Holy Mass' and 'Marriage' all come in at 12 mentions each.

I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions . . . 

Why go to Mass on Sundays . . . ?

Matthew Warner of Fallible Blogma has an excellent article on why we should go to Mass on Sundays. This is a question that I'm often asked by parishioners. Matthew lays out the answer to this age-old question in a clear, very straightforward way in the light of the teaching of the Catholic Church.

If you're not familiar with Matthew's very readable blog (and even if you are) do pop on over and have a look at this post and any others that catch your eye.

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

'Happy Anniversary to us . . . '

Yesterday was two years to the day that I began this parish blog. I hope you find it helpful. I have tried to post on a variety of topics; the liturgical year, parish activities, the wider Church and also sometimes to highlight important aspects of Church teaching.

If you look at the 'archive' in the sidebar on the right-hand side of the page, you will see links to all earlier posts. I find it interesting to look back sometimes and see how busy we've been!

Also, there are usually 'labels' at the foot of each post. If you click on one of these 'labels' it will 'magically' (I don't pretend to understand how this technology works!) take you to all the other posts with the same label which can be useful if you're looking for an answer to something you read earlier on the blog.

Thank you to everyone who reads the blog and a special thanks to those who add comments from time to time. The comments are what makes a blog different to a newsletter or a parish web site.

I sometimes wonder if it is worthwhile. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Year for Priests . . .

Fr Trigilio has written a summary of his homily which he gave during 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotions in a friend's parish. You can read all about it on his blog The Black Biretta.

I won't attempt to describe the content but do encourage you to drop by and have a look for yourself.

Happy Birthday to us ...

Our parish blog is one year old today.

Very many thanks and God's blessing on all who dip into this blog from time to time, and special thanks to everyone who takes time to add a comment.

I hope you have found it interesting and helpful; and will continue to look in now and again.

Congratulations - 5,000 hits!

We've done the champagne celebration already so I thought we deserved fireworks for this achievement.

Thank you to everyone who reads this blog and a special thank you to all those of you who leave comments. I hope you’ll continue to ‘pop in’ from time to time to see what’s happening in our parish. Now … sit back … relax … and enjoy the fireworks! (Don’t forget to turn your speakers on – there’s music too!)

Intermission .....

I apologise for the rather intermittent blogging lately, what with being away and changing Internet provider in the presbytery I haven't always been able to access the Internet. If you have posted a comment to the blog and are wondering if I have seen it, the answer is 'maybe'. I shall catch up with the blog as soon as I can. Thank you for your patience.

New Diocesan Blog

I've just added a link on the side bar to the new blog set up by our Diocesan Communications Officer, Deacon Mark Woods.

Here is what he has to say about the new blog and what its aims are:

'The desire is that this blog will be another way of providing news and information from Arundel & Brighton Diocese as well as the Church in England and Wales and beyond primarily for the clergy and people of the diocese. We welcome comments and ideas from readers of the blog - all comments will be moderated. We hope this will prove another way in which we can share the good work taking place in the Church at home and elsewhere, so that the good news of Jesus Christ can continue to be shared with the world.'

I hope that those of you who follow our parish blog will also dip into this new blog to keep up to date on what is happening in our own diocese and further afield.

Another landmark - thanks to all readers

Well, I can hardly believe it! We've made the 2,000 'hits' mark much quicker than I would have anticipated. As we opened a bottle of champagne (metaphorically speaking) for the 1,000 hits, I thought it only fitting that we should have 2 bottles for the 2,000 mark. Please take a glass from the tray and enjoy a 'virtual' toast with me in celebration.

And, as I said in my earlier post, thank you to everyone who reads this blog and please say a prayer for the 'blogger' and for our parish.

Hooray, 1,000 visitors!

Well I thought I couldn't let this landmark pass without some comment.

When I started this blog somewhat tentatively just a few months ago, I had no idea if anybody would actually look at it but luckily they have. I must say, I think we reached the 1,000 mark a little bit earlier than we might have done thanks to a mention on Joanna Bogle's blog, auntie joanna writes. Do please return the favour and drop in to her excellent blog some time.

Meanwhile here's a picture of a very good way to celebrate!