Latin is sooooo hard to learn . . .

I was very taken with this post by Mulier Fortis, I thought I'd share it with you.

Quite often one hears the comment when discussing Mass settings, choice of music etc. 'Oh, but Latin is so difficult for our young people to learn.' 'They aren't used to it'. 'They don't learn it in school any more' and so on . . .

Well, here is a delightful clip of a very gifted young man, just four years old, singing the Salve Regina and obviously enjoying it too.

See and hear for yourself here. Well done Edward! We look forward to your rendition of the Alma Redemptoris Mater very soon!

News from across the Irish Sea . . .

I gather that you've been having a little bit of snow in Banstead! I'm sure you're all aware that I haven't escaped the bad weather by being over here for a few days. Luckily I got home before the snow arrived and the airport was closed for a while.

I just thought I'd write a few lines to let you all know that I was delighted to offer Mass for all at St Ann's today and ask God's blessings on the families of our parish.

Sing, Choirs of Angels . . .

Our choir stayed behind after Mass today to make a recording of Schubert's 'Ave Maria'. Our parish secretary also stayed behind to take a few photos which I've just received so I thought you might like to see a few of them.

Our choir has been practising this piece for some time and when they first sang it at Mass a little while ago, there was a marvellous response - you could have heard a pin drop after the last notes had died away.



Now, we're all waiting eagerly to hear the results of today's recording session.

By the way, I know our musical director is always delighted to welcome new members to our choir. You don't need to be an expert, so I'm told; the main qualities needed are enthusiasm and a love of singing.

A very successful evening . . .

Last night we welcomed Fr Emmanuel CFR to the parish. He is a member of the Community of Friars of the Renewal based in Canning Town and had kindly agreed to come and talk to us about the Mass.

I was delighted to see that our parish hall was nearly full. Among the parishioners were parents of our First Holy Communion children and, especially pleasing, a good turnout of young people from our Confirmation group.

Fr Emmanuel gave a very interesting, lively and, at times, amusing talk about the Mass; looking at the importance of preparing well for Sunday Mass, the Eucharistic Fast, the importance of being in a suitable condition to receive Holy Communion and reverence and respect for the Real Presence.

He also looked at the various parts of the Liturgy of the Mass.

There was time afterwards for questions and it was apparent that everyone had found the evening very interesting and helpful.

We look forward to a similar evening next month when one of the Friars will be talking to us about the Sacrament of Reconciliation on

Tuesday 3rd November at 8pm.

Back to school . . .

I hope you all had a good summer holiday whether you went away or just took things a little easier at home.

Now that we are in September, things are beginning anew for many of us in many different ways. I expect a lot of families have children moving on to a new school, beginning school for the first time or just going back to school to get to know a new teacher.

I would just like to remind everyone that I shall be offering Mass on the first and third Fridays of each month at 8am in our parish school. Everyone is welcome, of course. The first of these Masses will be tomorrow, 4th September. I look forward to seeing you there.

What better way to begin a new term than in prayer, placing the care of our children in the hands of Our Lord in a special way at Mass.

A lovely surprise at Mass today . . .

We had a lovely surprise at Mass today. Fr Paul Brandon who often celebrates Mass at St Ann's when he is in the area visiting family, brought with him a relic of Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God (Father Dominic Barberi, Passionist Priest).

Dominic was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1963, during the Second Vatican Council. Later popes also admired Dominic; on his visit to England in 1982 Pope John Paul II described Blessed Dominic as
"One example of the countless other priests who continue to serve as models of holiness for the clergy of today"

Dominic is best remembered for his part in Newman's conversion, but is also commemorated for his exhausting work in the efforts to return England to the Catholic faith in the nineteenth century.

Naturally we celebrated the Memorial in his honour and after a beautiful Mass during which the relic had lain upon the altar, Fr Paul blessed those present with the relic.

Tempus fugit . . .

I'm speechless! (I know that's not like me!)

I was overwhelmed by so many aspects of yesterday's celebration; the beautiful Mass; being surrounded by my some of my brother priests from the Deanery and further afield and the presence of some of the Friars of the Renewal who travelled all the way from Canning Town especially for the Mass of thanksgiving; by Fr Emmanuel's marvellous homily and by the sheer number of people who were there to celebrate with me.

Amongst the sea of faces I spotted many friends from my former parishes of St John the Evangelist, Horsham and St Joseph's, Epsom plus a huge number from our own parish and some of the ministers from the Banstead Five Churches.

I was very moved by the genuine warmth and affection of everyone present.

I have already thanked everyone of course but can never repeat if often enough. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who was involved in this anniversary celebration of this most special event in my life - my Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood.

Here is a slideshow of the photos taken last night which I think captures the spirit of the evening. Here's to the next 10 years!

Laborare est orare ..

Even a humble priest has to get out there with his shovel and clear a pathway.

Despite the snow a few courageous souls managed to make it to Mass on Monday and Tuesday. Today we celebrated the optional Memorial of St Blaise and we followed tradition with the blessing of throats at the end of Mass.

As there were only a few at Mass and they had made such an effort to get here, we all enjoyed a cup of coffee together afterwards to help them on their homeward journey.