Fr Austin's Holy Thought
Corpus Christi:
Puzzle, Presence and Passion
Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ) is a new feast. Though we’ve kept it for nearly 800 years, the church did live happily for a millennium without it! So how did it come about?
It began with the vision of an obscure Belgian mystic, Juliana of Liege, a nun who believed that the church lacked a feast of the Blessed Sacrament. For years she pestered the local Bishop to have this feast kept in Liege. The Bishop soon became Pope Urban IV and in 1250 declared Corpus Christi as feast for all the church.
The background? For years saints, bishops & theologians argued about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Is Jesus really present if I come to communion as a Sinner? And will Jesus be present if the priest is a Sinner? Conservative clerics argued that Jesus is only present if priest & congregation were holy.
But the church decided that Jesus is present, not because of our individual holiness, but because of the promises he made to us all at the Last Supper. Like the apostles we are flawed people but he never breaks his promises. St. Thomas Aquinas then wrote prayers & hymns for the feast still in use today.
100 yrs ago a Yorkshire Irishman added another angle: Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy was a WWI army chaplain who’d seen terrible things in the trenches: young men dying in a hail of bullets.... exploding shells & body parts flying through the air. So after the war he tried to answer the cry of poor soldiers: Where is God in all this terrible suffering?
A firm believer in the importance of the eucharist & the real presence he argued that the crucified Jesus is right in the midst of human suffering. Where men & women are in pain, the suffering Jesus is there. Can we too learn to reverence his real presence in suffering humanity all around us?
Fr.Austin scj
Weekly Diary
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22nd June - 29th June 2025 |
Week of Corpus Christi 2025 |
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Corpus Christi 22nd June Gn 14:18-20 1Co 11:23-26 Lk 9:11-17 9.00am -June & James Eccles * 11.00am-Stephanie Pyne * 12.30 Baptism 6.00pm Mass People of the Parish * Exit Collection Sacred Heart Missions |
Dear Brothers & Sisters This feast of the real presence of Jesus is like ‘Holy Thursday in happy times’. We feast the real presence of Jesus in our eucharist in a way that is not possible during the sorrows of Holy Week. * Today we have a short Benediction * after each mass to celebrate the feast. Corpus et Sanguis Christi (body & blood of Christ-full title) began 800 yrs ago because of fears about the real presence. Confusion about the words but mostly about our worthiness to receive Jesus. St.Thomas Aquinas a great enthusiast for this new feast wrote prayers & hymns for the feast still in use today. St Ethelreda (Monday) 8th century Saxon princess was twice married in political unions before founding Ely Abbey where she is now buried. Popular in the middle ages, Audrey is a form of her name. St John the Baptist (Tuesday) is one of 3 Saints whose birthday we keep as well as their date of death. (The others are Jesus & Mary) Keeping his birthday is a way of saying that he was chosen right from the very beginning of his life. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a major feast for all of us. Our OLC children will join in church for the 10.15 mass. Everyone is also invited to mass at our Sacred Heart Droitwich at 5.30 & teas St.Peregrine Prayer Group also meets for prayer at 2.00pm Friday in the Day Chapel with tea & chat afterwards. Our Parish Council AGM follows in the evening at 7.45pm Sts. Peter & Paul feast: next Sunday a Presentation is to be made to long serving parishioners Gerry & Denise Poole 29th June 2025 at 11.00am Mass. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This week the church is floodlit in memory of Mike Brighton RIP
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Monday - 23rd June St.Ethelreda Gn 12:1-9 Mt 7:1-5 7.00am Mass - Private Intention 10.15 Mass Maureen Taylor & June Hall RIP |
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Tuesday - 24th June Birthday of St.John the Baptist Is 49:1-6 Ac 13:22-26 Lk 1:57-66,80 7.00am Mass Pat Gray & family 10.15 Mass Tony Holland 7.00pm Prayer before Blessed Sacrament |
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Wednesday - 25th June Gn 15:1-12,17-18 Mt 7:15-20 7.00 Mass - Special Birthday intention 10.15 Mass Tommie, Alice & Family 11.00-12.00 Prayer Group (Day Chapel) 5.30pm – Vigil John Larkin RIP |
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Thursday - 26th June Gn 16:1-12,15-16 Mt 7:21-29 7.00 Brother Gerard Sutherland SCJ 10.15 Mass Eddie Handley RIP 11.00-12.00 Prayer before Blessed Sacrament 12.00 – Funeral John Larkin RIP 6.00 Evening Prayer & Exposition |
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Friday - 27th June Sacred Heart of Jesus Ezk 24:11-16 Rm 5:5-11 Lk 15:3-7 7.00 Mass - Special Intention (G. family) 10.15 Mass - Barry Taylor RIP |
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Saturday 28th June Immaculate heart of Mary Gn 18:1-15 Lk 1:46-55 9.30 Confessions 10.15 Mass Annie, Petie, Jude, Billly, Peter Daly RIP |
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Saints Peter & Paul 29th June Ac 12:1-11 2Tm 4:6-8,17-18 Mt 16:13-19 9.00am -Patricia Hopps RIP 11.00am-Denise & Gerry Poole 12.30 Baptism 6.00pm Mass People of the Parish Exit Collection Peter’s Pence |
Notices
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thanks to all who made Summer Fayre such a big success yesterday. Despite a few little drops of rain it was a social and financial success. Almost £5k was raised, to be divided between school and parish. Who will give £50 to make up the total?
Our Parish Pastoral Council AGM – open meeting comes this Friday 27 June 7.45pm in the Parish Hall. All are most welcome.
If anyone would like to join the PPC please take a form from the trolley in the narthex as new members are welcome.
With a mix of spiritual, Social & practical events we all nourish the faith & spirit of our community. Some are gifted at leading prayer...others gifted at listening. As St.Paul put it: there are many different gifts but always one spirit. If St. Paul wrote in 2025 he’d surely have included the gift of IT.
Bingo night comes on Saturday 5 July.
Join us for a fun evening in the parish hall! This a non-threatening way of encouraging community spirit.
On July 6 we have a 16+ 7-a-side football tournament for our own & neighbour parishes, with rolling substitutes...a repetition of last years successful contest. £2 per player. All profits to local parishes.
Our Jubilee Flower Festival October 11 & 12 to honour the Jubilee & Season of Creation, is now in serious planning mode. Theme? Pilgrims in Hope So our parish groups are invited to mount displays (call parish office for info)
Our Cemetery Mass to honour the faithful departed is on the 12th July at 10.15 am with blessings of the graves afterwards
May Mary our Mother watch over us this week & keep us close to Jesus.
Fr.Biju Parish Priest
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SCJ News:
Droitwich UK: All Friary parishioners are invited to the Sacred Heart Church Droitwich this Friday for the feast of the Sacred Heart of Fesus. Mass at 5.30pm followed by refreshments in the parish hall. Also an opportunity to see the recently restored mosaics, now gleaming in their original colours of 100 years ago. The north wall features the story of local saint St.Richard of Droitwich, while the south wall features the nativity story.
Midland Catholic History Society: hosts a special event at the Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday 2 July. Spend more time there and hear from an expert guide about the beautiful mosaics, modelled in part on the famous San Vitale Church of Ravenna. Must book: 01905 773258
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Friary Snippets
Friends of the Holy Land thank all parishioners for £487.15 raised for Christians in the Holy Land, at a time when they desperately need our help. Please continue to remember our work in your prayers, giving our brothers & sisters strength to continue.
Our Health and Safety Group met again last month. They are a small body of dedicated hard-workers who toil to keep us safe in Church & Hall and Campus. Part of their work is about complying with the law. But they are also vigilant about safety on church premises. Last month’s business included:
* wasps & ladybirds in the gallery
* broken kneelers in church
* new diocesan system to record accidents
* new shelves for supplies for flower team
* Security of the building
* Hire of parish hall & parish kitchen hygiene
* Portable Appliance Testing
* Issues concerning children in the grounds
They are always open to focus on health & safety issues brought to their attention by people in the parish. They work to professional standards but are entirely voluntary, and unpaid.
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Marriage matters: Corpus Christi
Genesis14:18-20; 1Cor11:23-26; Luke9:11-17
At family gatherings we remember things we’ve shared together. At funerals we recall all that the person meant to us. At the family Eucharist, past is made present as we recall what Abraham, Melchizedek, Moses & Jesus did. Let us seek to create God/good memories for ourselves & our children.
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Big thanks to the secret army of cleaners who keep our church tidy all year round: Week starting 22nd June: Group F
Rest in Peace: John Larkin-funeral 26 June 12.00 Pray too for Noel Minihan-funeral 7 July at 10.15am & Doreen Cotton-funeral July 2 11am St.Augustine’s. May they rest in peace
Please remember in your prayers, Ruaidhri Bennett &Hannah Smart due to be married at the Friary on Saturday 28th June.
Red Mission Boxes Please return Red Boxes
* Thanks to all who supported Missio last year, esp 25 new box holders & DD’s.
* Last year your gifts raised £1562.90
* Box to be emptied? Put name & tel. on label & return or bring contents in envelope
* New box ready. Next collection in Nov.
Right-to-life: Sadly we have had two set-backs in Parliament this last week: The Tuesday vote to legalise abortion up to childbirth, & the Friday vote to legalise assisted suicide. +John Sherrington Archbp of Liverpool and bishop for Life issues said: ‘We are alarmed by this, but we can’t lose hope. We will not desert vulnerable people’
Join March for life UK Sat 6 Sept London. Join 1,000s at family-friendly event to value life from conception & stand up for those impacted by abortion. Coach from Holy Souls £25. call Alice 07845 706362. E-mail alice.grennan@googlemail.com
Diocesan Job: Birmingham Diocese seeks General Practice Chartered Surveyor to join Property Team. Location: Bham Diocese & remote work Terms Permanent/Full-Time or part time for right candidate. Salary: £50,000 to £55,000 p.a. pro-rata
Inter-Church Football Sunday 6 July2 pm Friary Church Lawn. Teams so far: Friary, Holy Souls, St Augustine, Ambrose Barlow. 7-a-side/Rolling subs/Age 16+. Funds for your parish. £2 per player–sign up with PP. Spectators welcome..plus Refreshments
St.Peter’s Golden Jubilee 50 years since St.Peter’s School foundation to be marked with a Jubilee mass, June 30 in school at 6.00pm followed by refreshments. Call school office if coming. Also a fun fair in school July 4th ...4pm-7pm. All welcome. Book at lakins@st-peters.solihull.sch.uk
DAY FOR CATECHISTS SATURDAY 28 JUNE 10am - 4pm St.Ambrose Barlow parish hall
School Foundation Governors needed for Catholic schools across the Diocese. Archbp Longley & others speak on a video about this ministry. See website for info: https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/
You can bless the friary from heaven ..
* Leave a legacy to our parish in your will
* An easy way to give. 1% of any estate, makes a big difference. No need to be rich
* Gifts exempt from inheritance tax
GIFT AID…More pennies from heaven!
* We can reclaim tax on all gifts to parish
* Each £1 given nets the parish an extra 25p
* No charge or extra tax. Just complete a Gift Aid Declaration form in the narthex.
* Give by standing order, weekly envelope or DONA card reader or online via QR code. If you no longer pay tax? Just alert office.
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REGULAR ACTIVITIES IN OUR PARISH HALL
Monday Zumba 1.30 - 2.30 & 7 - 8pm
Tuesday Latin & Ballroom Dancing 10.30 -12 noon & 7.30 - 9.30pm. Yoga 5:45 - 7:00pm
Tuesday U3A (2nd Tuesday, monthly)
Wednesday Stroke Club 9am - 1.30pm. Slimming World 2.30 - 8.30
Thursday Zumba 11am - 12 Noon. U3A Quiz (2nd Thursday monthly) Fitness Pilates (term time) 6.30 - 8.30pm
Friday Yoga 10.45am - 12.00 noon
PARISH CENSUS: Please fill in details online or manually. Info? Email:
martin.hayden@oltonfriary.org.uk or call office 0121 706 0505.
https://forms.office.com/e/dHWqGN3HG2
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Safeguarding: Our Parish follows correct safeguarding policy & practice at all times. Safeguarding Parish Reps: Carol Foster & Maureen Treanor: sg.oltonfriary.solihull@rcaob.org.uk Diocese Rep: Claire Reay: safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk Call 0121 230 6240 for any concern or query
The Parish operates in accordance with Statutory Safeguarding Guidance and the National and Archdioceses policies & procedures at all times. Our Parish Safeguarding Representative is Carol Foster and Maureen Treanor. They can be contacted at: sg.oltonfriary.solihull@rcaob.org.uk or alternatively the Diocesan Safeguarding team can be contacted on 0121 230 6240
safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk if you have any concern.
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PARISH GROUPS—Please check your information posted on the Parish website. Any updates/corrections/alterations, please email the parish office.
SOLIHULL/HEARTLANDS HOSPITAL Please ask hospital Switchboard for on-call Catholic Priest 0121 424 2000, & they will call the duty Priest. Catholic Chaplain at Solihull & Heartlands is Fr Roger Raven. Data Protection law means visit from priest must be actively sought. He doesn't have access to patient files.
CAR PARK - Please be considerate when parking/manoeuvring your car and please note the disabled parking bays are for the use of those with disabled badges, there is no parking in either the Community and Staff designated areas and the front & rear of The Friary Residential block. When parking on a Sunday, please do not park on or drive over the grass adjacent to the gate leading into the graveyard. Only authorised cars to park at other times, by arrangement with the Parish Priest.
GOING TO HOSPITAL -Please let your parish priest know if you’re going into hospital. On admission ask for the Catholic chaplain as Chaplains no longer receive names of Catholic patients unless they opt in.
SECURITY NOTICE - Please ensure Friary doors are kept closed & locked when necessary. If you attend a meeting please make sure that the last one out has secured the outside doors. The front door should not be left on the hook unattended. Besides Church security, the Friary is home to priests & brothers who need to know they are safe.
FLOODLIGHT DEDICATION—You are able to have the Church floodlit in memory of someone. A suggested donation is £10 a week, the name of the person in whose memory it is in would appear in the newsletter. Forms are available in narthex, or from parish office.
THE SICK OF OUR PARISH - If your name or the name of a friend or relative was on the parish list of prayers for the sick, and you would like that name to remain on the list, would you please contact the Parish Office on 0121 706 0505. Data protection law obliges us to ensure that you or your friend or family member has consented to being on the list, as it can be seen by many, (e.g. church notice board) and is available for anyone to pick up. We make great efforts to ensure the church abides by new data protection and privacy law.
VEHICLE CRIME ALERT - The neighbourhood Policing Team would like to draw your attention to an increase in vehicle crime in the area. 5 crime reduction tips—ALWAYS close the windows and doors in your vehicle, DON'T leave any valuables on display and where possible do not leave ANY valuables in the vehicle such as Satnavs, Mobile Phones, Wallets, Purses, Bags or iPods, ENSURE your registration plates are fixed using 'anti tamper screws', KEEP your car keys in a safe place in your house.
KEEP YOUR VALUABLES SAFE - Please do not leave bags unattended in Church, even at Communion time. Bags and valuables should not be left on display in cars as this can present a target for thieves.