Big in Leicester

Critics who moan that little happens here note
DMU's annual culture fest
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/humanities/cultural-exchanges/
The music
http://www.leicesterinternationalmusicfestival.org.uk/
and even Friday nights at The Leicester Theological Society
http://www.leicestertheologicalsociety.org.uk/

What do you read?

Among my paid-for subscriptions are the following:
The New Statesman - currently on good form in keeping tabs on the ConDem  http://www.newstatesman.com/
The Tablet - lay Catholic, liberal, literate, gracious
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/
London Review of Books - for me, essential. Added bonus my copies are recycled to a country east of here, by a brave friend, where democracy does not flourish
http://www.lrb.co.uk/

and The Guardian, which I have read since 1959, when it was The Manchester Guardian. My mother thought it anti-clerical, non-conformist and anti-labour. Any change?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Please tell me what you read....

Whispers in the loggia

Rocco Palmo is a professional blogger keeping a watch, from the USA, on the Vatican especially in terms of appointments. A RC rather than Anglican Barchester watcher. He has a gift for the smart call. http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/
He has been off air this week so it is good to have him back.

Sunday Mass in a suburban Catholic church in Leicester

This was my first time back at St Joseph's since last July. I had forgotten that the 10.30 Sunday mass always starts at least ten minutes late. By 10.30 only about 25% of what will be the total attendance had turned up. In fact at 10.30 those present are largely white, elderly and female. I have come to think of the native population of Leicester not as standoffish or rude but actually quite shy. I am welcomed by the early arrivals with gentle nods. The asian and black later comers are much more able to approach me and say how nice it is to see me again. My Italian friends arrive and wave and I feel safer for their presence.

By 10.40 the gathered people of God look more like the diversity of the human race: young (lots), middle aged, old, asian, non-UK white, black and the rest. The mass starts, surprisingly for me, by the priest welcoming me back. I feel overwhelmed.

The singing is not to my taste but it is well led. The only time the music comes to life is when the Zimbabwean Catholic Community Choir of Leicester attend. They dance as well. As I sit there in my wheel chair I muse what stopped English (sic.) RC's from singing - the answer remains the reformation, sadly.

Today, fourth sunday of the year of Matthew we are treated to an excellent, if long, homily on the beatitudes Mt 5, 12 which has an in introduction based on the priest's over hearing his parents talking at what might have been the death of his father. The whole homily hung on the shift from listening into to a conversation to be addressed directly as happens in the end of the Gospel reading. The congregation, shorn of children who were at their own liturgy, were attentive.

Fr John, the pastor, is Welsh first and Rosminian, second. An excellent scholar, he has that rare gift of wearing his scholarship lightly and reaching into the hearts of his audience. Even better than his sermons are his asides when, for example, he adresses Our Lady, as the Jewish woman that she was.

The contrast with Notre Dame de Paris where I have been in the gap, on the TV, could not be further yet it is the same mass, the same people, the same words (English not French) and the same diversity of human kind. It was very moving. It is the kind of parish that welcomes people as they are. They look like ordinary human beings.

I am sure many liturgical bloggers would be very critical at what happened at St Joseph's this morning. (Here I mention but not indite http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/). It was not Brompton or any other Oratory, the music was neither Gregorian nor polyphonic, the people were not harangued by the priest. It was ordinary, it was Catholic, it was hopeful and it was nourishing. It was or is not the Ordinariat but all are welcome of course.

Next time, or soon, something about the building.

Bed and breakfast news

Just to show how even handed this blog is here is a link to the Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8288916/Inside-a-most-un-PC-BandB.html

John Pawson show ends soon at Design Museum

There is so much to say about minimalist aesthetics in many spheres. Pawson's new Cisterican monastery in Bohemia seems to be so powerful. His speech at its dedication can be found on his own website. I found it moving and clear. The impact of St Bernard's rules about the design of his monasteries left their mark over 9 centuries. see

http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2010/2010-john-pawson

Gay marriage v civil partnership

No self respecting blog can avoid this issue at the moment. So here is the latest news from across the Channel:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12305858

Inside the Leicester High Cross Apple store

Life starts to come back to normal. Back in the centre of Leicester for the first time since July last year. Seeing the demographic of Leicester actually reflected in the profile of the customers of this shop.

Ugandan deportation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/28/archbishop-gay-asylum-seekers
Rowan still has to make the link between toxic versions of Christianity and what is going on in Uganda.

Queer bedfellows?

The Torygraph awakens to the threat? Or its readers' knees and hips perhaps.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8289566/Patient-care-at-risk-under-NHS-reforms-experts-warn.html

GOOD MORNING

As if we did not have enough opinions, thank you, here is one more.