To be read out at all Masses on the weekend of 2/3rd November 2002
Dear brothers and sisters of our diocese,
As I'm writing this, I can see outside the window a Mulberry tree that's begun to shed its leaves as the days get colder. Looking at that particular tree always creates a little worry in me because one day last year it shed a lot of leaves all at once. It wasn't the leaves that were the problem, it was the large branch that they were all attached to at the time. So the tree surgeons had to come and lop off another large branch to balance the tree again. The branch that fell off just missed a car. If, now minus the weight of that branch, the tree toppled the other way, it would probably come through the window just beside me.
But the tree has survived. It's not perfect. It's damaged, but it's getting ready for its winter hibernation to preserve its strength to come back to life again in the Spring.
The cycle of life through each year is not only a beautiful thing to see, but an incredible mystery. How do the birds know when to gather for the flight south, and how do they know where south is? I'm sure that David Attenborough has explained all of this, but not entirely.
One of the interesting bits of the creation story in Genesis is that God creates light first (logically - he needs to see what he's doing) but he doesn't create the sun and moon till the fourth day. And the first reason given for the creation of the sun and moon is that they regulate the festivals, days and years. The cycles of the sun and moon lay down the pattern of this yearly renewal of life on the earth. And the great Christian festivals (sometimes through their pagan origins) remind us of that renewal process. Christmas as a pagan festival celebrates the passing of the lowest point of winter, and as a Christian festival echoes that with the coming of the Light into our world. But now that light is Christ. The Jewish Passover, celebrated long before the night when the angel passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, was a celebration of the return of life emerging from the earth again in Spring, just as Christ came out of his tomb in the earth to restore life again.
The Church offers us two powerful opportunities for renewal as we prepare to celebrate these two great festivals. In a few weeks' time we begin the celebration of Advent, and even in the readings today, from the prophet Malachi and in Jesus' words to the Pharisees, we hear the call to the renewal of people's religious belief and practices.
Over the next few weeks, however, we are being offered a further opportunity for renewal through the programme called Preparing Together. You are being asked to take in part in three sessions within the parish, asking you what your faith means to you. If it does mean anything - and it must do or you wouldn't be here - then it might be time to look at it again. It has probably grown a bit like that Mulberry tree. Bits have fallen off, some small, some perhaps more significant.
The sessions will ask you to think about what belonging to a parish means. Is it just the place you come to Mass? Is it the place where the children go to school? Is it a place where you find some sort of comfort in meeting other people who share your ideas about decency and respect? It might also be a place where you put into practice your genuine concern for others and for the Church, where you sing in the music group and help plan the liturgy. Some of you will have read at this Mass or later on will help to give communion to your fellow parishioners. Some people are not hearing this because they are somewhere else with the children and their own special liturgy of the word. You may be one of the people who give up their time to help others learn, either through the RCIA or with people preparing for marriage, First Communion or Confirmation. You might remind the parish of its obligation to people far away and ensure that CAFOD's work is carried on here. You may give time to helping with the important task of managing the parish finances. Or you might have made this church a clean and tidy place for people to come into today. One group that has committed itself very publicly to service in the Church are the Religious women and men whose witness is so powerful. And some, perhaps whoever is reading this letter if it's being read out, will be serving the parish as a Deacon. Have others thought of this particular ministry?
What will happen when one day you come here and there might not be a priest living in the house next door? For some parishes this is already the case. Does it mean that all this will stop? Of course not. The priest was ordained to celebrate the sacraments, above all. Allow him to do that, and to have time to do it well. But ensure that the life of the parish continues and flourishes. I ask you to come along for these Preparing Together Groups in your parish and to give what time you can to the nurturing of the life of your Catholic community. I know that in many parishes you are being asked to sign up today and I would encourage you to be open to this invitation. I appreciate that many of you have so many other calls on your time, especially if you have a family, but your children will need a community to experience for themselves what has shaped your faith.
Finally, don't look for perfection. The first gathering of the Eucharistic community at the Last Supper was not - on the surface at least - a great success. We struggle with our own weaknesses, and we need to struggle with one another's weaknesses. We will struggle with the community's weaknesses, too. But the struggle is worth it, because the Lord has called us, as baptised people, to share with him in the mighty work of transforming the world we live in.
The Mulberry tree outside is struggling on. But it will come back to life again. It's doing what is in its nature to do. The nature of the parish is to be a living witness to God's reconciling power in our world.
On a personal note, if I may: many of you will have heard that I'm confined to the house at the moment and have had to cancel a few things. I heard a rumour that I had hurt my foot climbing over a wall. I can't confirm this since I wasn't there at the time. What has happened is that the ligament in my right hip is inflamed. I'm fixing an appointment with an Orthopaedic Consultant and hope to be on the road again soon. Thank you for all the prayers you have said and the good wishes you have sent me
I wish you joy and courage as you face the challenges and opportunities. May God bless you in all you do and all you aspire to do.
Rt. Rev. Kieran Conry
Bishop of Arundel and Brighton
For more information on Preparing Together click here
