Dear Parishioners
Some of you may already know that I have spoken to Abbot Geoffrey about the possibility of my having a sabbatical. In September of this year it will be 10 years since I came to St Anne’s and for me it has been a time of privileged ministry in Ormskirk and Scarisbrick. Not only is there plenty of work to occupy my time but I am also involved in work for the Archbishop in the Archdiocese. Last year Bishop Vincent encouraged priests in the Archdiocese to take up the opportunity of a sabbatical and some have done so for periods of time ranging from 3 months to 1 year. In the Church of England priests are requested to take a sabbatical every 7 years! My one and only sabbatical was 18 years ago after being a member of our monastic community for 33 years.
A sabbatical is a time of spiritual, academic and physical renewal and I shall be spending a couple of months, from 23 February, following a course of studies at Tantur Ecumenical Institute just outside Jerusalem. I gather that the weather is not particularly warm at this time of year and I have been advised to take warm clothes!
The reason for going at this time is that Fr Peter Bowe, a member of the Douai community, is available, between his assignments, to come and take my place here with Fr Boniface. Peter has much to offer us after having been in Douai, France, for the past six years, and after having spent some time in India in recent years. It will be good for our parishes to have some fresh blood!
It was suggested to me that I could write a blog to keep people informed of my movements, but a couple of days ago I received some information from Tantur including the following: It may be worth some of your meditation time to consider how much time you really wish to devote to computers while you are in the Holy Land… The Holy Land experience is very rich, complicated and, for most, intense. Spending time at the computer sending reports home may be better spent studying the situation and reflecting on it… A sombre thought for all of us about how we use blogs and Facebook, and much of present day technology!
Someone summed up the purpose of a sabbatical; it is not an opportunity for going back to school or catching up on one’s theology. It is a time to go forward! Please keep me in your prayers.
Fr Godric
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Parish Roof
A recent survey has been made of St. Anne’s Church roof and it is obvious that we need to undertake some major repairs to prevent further leaks. If any members of the parish have some expertise in this kind of work – practical, financial, surveying, etc., - I would be very grateful if you would contact me or ring the parish office. If we can form a small group I feel that would be a very helpful way forward.
Fr. Godric
St Anne's Church
St Anne's Priory
23 Prescot Road, Ormskirk, Lancs, L39 4TG
Telephone: 01695 572168
e-mail: admin@st-annes-ormskirk.org.uk
(for general enquiries)
St Elizabeth's Church
St Elizabeth’s Presbytery,
10 Hall Road, Scarisbrick, L40 9QE
Tel: 01704 880226
e-mail: stelizabethscar@btinternet.com
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