Clock changes

The dark days of Winter are not far away. Today in Paris it is a sunny almost summer's day! Long may it last like this. My own unscientific view is that the time should be left alone all year round. A few tourists were a little annoyed with me yesterday that the times of Masses at St Joseph's Church, Paris had not been changed by one hour to match the change of the clocks at the weekend. You don't follow that? Neither did I when it was first said nor have I gained any insight since! But, as we all know - the customer is always right! No travel this week. Last weekend I was at an Ordination of a Passionist student in Wales. During the week I attended meetings during visits to St Mungo's, Glasgow and Holy Cross, Belfast. Getting ready now for Feast of All Saints on Saturday and All Souls on Sunday. The year is slipping past. When shopping recently Chritmas fare was in evidence. A.T.

Feast of Saint Paul of the Cross - Founder of the Passionists

Today is special. All over the world the inspiration of St Paul of the Cross is being celebrated in Passionist Churches, Monasteries, Convents and in the hearts of believers touched by this saintly mystic. The Passionist ordination in Wales yesterday was a moment of great joy for Gareth, his family, and Passionist companions. I'm just back to Paris from Cardiff.

A few thoughts I penned during the week about St Paul of the Cross are in this week's St Joseph's Parish Bulletin distributed today. If you would like to read it go to www.stjoeparis.org and then click to enter the website. Go to 'Practical Information' and click on 'Links' and there is Aidan's Blog.
Happy Feastday to all!        A.T.

Ordination in Wales

Tomorrow, Gareth Thomas will be ordained a priest in his native Wales. I hope and pray that all will go well. This is the first time a Passionist student from Ireland/Scotland has been ordained in over 20 years. Blessing though the ordination tomorrow certainly is, the deaths and departures of priests during those years leaves gaps that will not be filled. My hope and prayer is that a thorough review and renewal of priesthood will be undertaken. The Synod on the Family ending in Rome this weekend may help the Church to begin asking about the critical situation regarding the priesthood especially in those countries that until recent years were sending missionaries to other local churches needing priests. A few weeks ago I passed the 50 year mark since taking vows as a Passionist. Maybe it wouldn't help to consult priests still engaged in ministry, but I find it a bit strange that nobody at 'official' church level has asked me, and I'm sure the vast majority of priests, for an opinion regarding the future of priesthood. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised after all these years. Pray for those good and honest priests trying to continue building the Kingdom among and with God's People.  A.T.

Odds and Ends

Had the anti-flu injection today. Got a parish banner put up on the area outside the church thanks to a most helpful friend. Planned coming weeks up to New Year with the other two priests who minister here. Read the daily Catholic newspaper La Croix on the Synod on the Family. My Skype connection is gone - my computer like myself is getting old! Pastoral Council met tonight. These busy parish members meet once a month out of care for the parish. They are stalwarts. Watched an old episode of Fools and Horses and went to bed. Maybe nobody will read this blog of mine but then people tell me that nobody reads the Parish Bulletin that I write 52 weeks of the year. Please don't laugh - but I take seriously the weekly Bulletin reflection and notices that I compile week in and week out. These take hours to research and compose. If no one else reads the Bulletin or this Blog, I have a certainty that Jesus knows about them. It is worth writing them for that reason alone! Deo gratias!

Nobel Peace Prize

Malala Yousafzai, the brave girl from Pakistan, is one worthy recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize - well done! Her campaigning for the right of girls to go to school is truly commendable. 220 very brave girls aged 4 - 11 years bravely walked to and from school in Belfast thirteen years ago despite efforts to stop them. These children and their Parents along with their Primary School stood up for the right of all children, especially girls, to receive an education without hindrance. They will always be heroes to me along with that great young lady, Malala.              A.T.

RCIA 2014 - 2015

Today, 9th October 2014, the first session of a new course of Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults begins at St Joseph's Church, Paris. A good number of people have enrolled. But, it is only when the day arrives that it will be known who is joining our group. What I find great is that since I got involved in 2008 at St Joseph's, not only have I had the privilege of celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation with Adults, but some have brought along a baby of theirs to have baptism. Two 'graduates' of RCIA over the years have married at St Joseph's and invited me to be present at the Sacrament of Marriage. Of course, some have moved on - approximately 33% of our parish move each summer. Among those who remain, I am privileged to have made some good friends. The most difficult part of RCIA is getting the administrative dossier of each candidate ready for the Archdiocese of Paris. No shortcuts are accepted! When I arrived here in 2008, the RCIA team was Siona and Gabriel and Joe. The present RCIA team still has Joe and in recent years, Joan and Arthur. We are blessed in having these parishioners to witness so strongly to their faith and to set out the teaching of Christ and the Church. Long may this continue to be a part of the life of the Mission Anglophone Paris!       A.T.

9th October

Since signing up on Facebook some years ago, the world and his wife know that it is my birthday on 9th October. When I turned 21 years of age, I was concerned about how old I was getting! Since then, I have not worried about my age - there is nothing I can do about it anyhow. God has blessed me with good health so far and as long as He does, I will keep going. To celebrate my birthday tomorrow, 9th October, I really look forward to welcoming a new class of candidates for RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). We will meet each Thursday evening until the Easter Vigil of 2015 when Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion will be celebrated. For the past six years at St Joseph's Paris, this has been a highlight of each year for me. Along with Joan, Arthur and Joe we will do our best to open up the love of Christ and His care for this group. While we are at class each Thursday evening, people are invited to come along to St Joseph's Church to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance on the Altar for our RCIA candidates.. Pray for us all, please.        A.T.