RSS feeds

I really haven't been online much at all lately - I just about manage to check my emails. But today, I've actually had time to check my RSS feeds. And there are now EIGHT subscribers to Westminster Diocese's RSS feed. It's going up:)

Post World Youth Day

Came across a survey about the after affects of World Youth Day 2005 at the After Cologne blog (via Happy Catholic). Really interested to see the results of it. I know that I've felt and been a lot more involved in events across the Diocese and a lot more motivated to do things since WYD. And I know a few people who have done things or changed because of it.

Forward thinking...

So, I noticed the post over at Blogging the Catholic Church in the British Isles about the potential candidates for the next Archbishop of Westminster. Kind of interesting, but I've only heard of about six of the people on the list.

I'm not sure what I think about speculating on things like this. I followed all the stuff about the election of the Pope last year, and it wasn't an especially enriching process - more like depressing. When BXI was announced, the public response seemed to be based on his reputation in his previous post. My individual response certainly was. But I really liked his sermons at World Youth Day. And the more I read what he writes and says, the more I appreciate it (even though it is hard work).

New job

I love my new job!
I love my new job!
I love my new job!

Apologies for the total lack of anything over the past month. I've moved, I've started a new job, I've been doing lots of training and I spent a week in Wales. I've also had problems with my internet connection, which I've only resolved in the last couple of days. The bulk of my training is now over, so hopefully, I'll be getting into some kind of routine and keep up with what is happening elsewhere.

In the meantime, the latest Catholic Carnival is up at Luminous Miseries. I've noticed that 1dayin7 has had an idea for a UK Catholic Carnival, which sounds like a great idea.

OCT 06

It's a year ago this week we were celebrating World Youth Day in Germany. It's two years 'til the next one in Sydney. But, in the meantime, we have

OCT06
14th & 15th October 2006, Birmingham

24 hours, 4000 young adults, workshops, speakers, gigs, discussion, mass, vigil, networking, fun, time out and even Catholic speed dating. Oct.06 - quite simply the biggest gathering of 18-30’s Catholics from England and Wales in a quarter of a century.

Should be fun.

Quiz

What kind of Catholic are you?

I got 66 out of 100 which makes me...

You Are a Divine Office (Moderately Traditional) Catholic

The Second Vatican Council was much needed, as far as you're concerned, but you see no reason to push the church further in the direction of change, as many progressives urge. You like the dynamic combination of the traditional approach toward doctrine with the opening of the church to the world that Pope John Paul II (your favorite pope) represented. As far as liturgy is concerned, a reverent Mass in the vernacular is your favorite, as is a vernacular hymn with a feeling for the transcendent such as "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." When Nicole Kidman returned to her childhood Catholicism and regular Mass attendance, you were thrilled.

Hello!

So I'm kind of back to normal - whatever that may be. I've been sort of taking a break from "formal" Church/Parish stuff to get over all the politics of the past few months. I've spent lots of time talking about the 'good old days' and death (as you do) with the family.

Is it just me, or is talking about death a really Catholic thing to do? My colleagues at work are almost afraid to refer to death or old age.

I'm getting ready to leave my current job (9 working days to go) and begin my new one. I'm going to be taking a sort of gap year and work (volunteer, with expenses) with young people full time. The one thing I have learned over this past year is that I am not a 9-5 person. I need to do something a little different and I need to work out what that could be.

And onto some things I've been catching up on.

From my inbox...

We are now looking forward to the next Youth 2000 festival - Godsgift@Walsingham

It is taking place from 24th-28th August at the National Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham, Norfolk. It is the highlight of the Youth 2000 year! All the details are available on the website: http://www.youth2000.org/events/Godsgift.html

From my RSS feeds...

Bishop Alan Hopes has set the date for the next Young Adults in the West meeting as the first Sunday in Advent, 3rd December at St Margarets RC Church in Twickenham.
The event is organised and hosted entirely by Young Adults from the deaneries of the West of London. Musicians, singers and artists all contributed to making the Mass an inspirational celebration.

St Albans Deanery Catholic Young Adults (16-30)
If you’re a young adult, or know of young adults in your parish, come and meet other young Catholics in the St. Albans Deanery area for Mass followed by a social at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Harpenden, on Sunday 20th August at 6pm.

And this - Changes to Holy Days of Obligation
Okay, so I haven't really read up on this other than what was in the Catholic Herald a couple of weeks ago. But I'm really disappointed. I'm just getting into holy days and feast days and such, and I like that we 'have to' go to Mass to celebrate different things AND not just on a Sunday. It mixes things up and keeps us from getting (too) bored and compartmentalising our Christianity.

But what really takes the biscuit for me, is that it's three of the most interesting days - Epiphany, Ascension and Corpus Christi. For a start, the music for those days is good. And they're markers for other events like the end of phase 1 Christmastime, Pentecost and easing into Ordinary Time. Plus, we're going to reduce the occurance of the the Second-Sunday-after-Christmas-Day-that's-before-Epiphany, which is always fun (and thus remove another chance to sing Christmas music at Mass, during Christmastime phase 1).

Epiphany and Ascension are proper events (i.e. these events are in the Bible. The readings of the day are stories of what happened - unlike some other holy days). Corpus Christi I find a little problematic as a holy day (not quite seeing the point). However, since the whole push toward BS processions to mark the day out, I really don't see the logic in moving it to a 'routine' Sunday Mass.

I actually think that we should have more Holy Days of Obligation. What about the feast of St Benedict (patron of Europe)?