The end of the Easter season.

The feast of Pentecost brings to a close the Easter season. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. He has returned to His Father in heaven. He now sends the Holy Spirit onto the apostles and marks them out for spreading the Gospel to all people. The church now turns Her attention to what is called Ordinary Time. The colour of vestments turns to Green ( except for Holy Days and saints feast days). It is a time for the Church to reflect on her mission to the world.

48th day of Easter

For those who may be counting, today is the 48th day of Easter. More to the point the Easter season is drawing to a close. Today’s first reading from Acts of the Apostles ( chapter 25 vv 13 -21), also draws this book to a conclusion. The splendidly named King Agrippa and his Queen Bernice arrive in Caesarea to be informed about St Paul’s difficulties with the Jews. His case is sent to Rome. In Rome Paul will, eventually suffer martyrdom.

However, one could say that the end of the Acts of the Apostles also marked a beginning. When Paul arrives in Rome there is already a small Christian community there. Moreover, after the death of Paul, the faith not only grows in numbers but also continues to spread throughout the Roman Empire. The end of Easter comes with the celebration of Pentecost and the sending of the Holy Spirit. That sending marked the beginning of the Church and Her mission. So an end and a beginning!

Come Holy Spirit – Pentecost is near

Holy Spirit

This Sunday coming marks the great feast of Pentecost. We celebrate that day when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. In some circles,  this is seen as an opportunity to pray for a “fresh out pouring of the Holy Spirit”. Whilst this is very laudable, I some times feel they are missing the point. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation we have been given the Holy Spirit as a gift. What we should be praying for is that the Holy Spirit is awakened within us. The Holy Spirit has given all gifts. This Pentecost we pray that we use them for the Church and the spreading of God’s good news.

Day off at Silloth

On Monday I had my day off. I decided the spend the day in Silloth. There is a flat attached to the Catholic Church. I had  pleasant relaxing day in glorious sunny weather. On the way back to Workington I stopped briefly at Allonby and took a couple of photos taking advantage of a lovely clear evening.

 

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The mountain is Criffell, which near to Dumfries in Scotland.
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Left center is the Grassmoor range, right center the High Stile range

Welcome to my Blog

Once again welcome to my personal blog. I am a Catholic Priest based in Workington, Cumbria, England. The parish is that of Christ the Good Shepherd and takes in three former parishes: Our Lady& St Michael’s Workington, St Gregory’s Workington and St Mary’s Harrington. Currently we are also linked with Maryport and Silloth.

The blog will be a mixture of the Catholic Faith, as well as my own interests namely railways and trains, hiking, Catholic History classical music and sport. I will not ( hopefully) be engaging in controversy, that is not my style, besides others are better at it than me!. I’m sure I will make some errors, but I am hoping it will a good experience for me and anyone who cares to read my blog.