The local press has something to say about Kinnoull...

Our lovely monastery in Kinnoull Perth found itself in the local newspaper today - as it had been last week. People had written in to the "Perthshire Advertiser" last week to complain about the monastery's planning permission application for one of its fields.

The Perthshire Advertiser published three of their letters to the Editor. The headlines are of letters clearly in support of us. We thank the good people for taking the time to write.

See some of the headlines below from this week's correspondence:

The article below lays forth our fears...

Thanks to everyone for their support and their prayers!

Some news...

SCRIPTURE SCHOOL—JANUARY 2011

HAWKSTONE HALL

Six participants who joined the Spring Renewal course for an introduction to

St. Matthew’s gospel and the book of Psalms given by

Fr. Ciaran O’Callaghan C.SS.R.

The participants were a religious sister, a lay man, three married women and priest.

Some news about some of our Brothers...

Prayers are asked for....

Br Glynn Blackman C.Ss.R.,  has moved from the community at Bishop Eton, Liverpool, to a nursing home where he will get all the comfort and attention he needs at this time of his life. Brother Glynn is in his 84th year! 

The Bishop Eton community and staff are to be thanked and recognised for all their commitment to Br. Glynn.

Br Malachy Kelly C.Ss.R.,  who normally is busy maintaining and developing the grounds at the monastery in Kinnoull, Perth, is currently not well. Brother Malachy is in his 86th year! 

Fr Joseph Musendami C.Ss.R., one of our young priests recently ordained in Zimbabwe, was involved in a road accident while on a trip to South Africa. Fr Joseph has had surgery and hopes to be back in Zimbabwe very soon.

Your prayers are a great comfort for all who are sick.

Benedict XVI urged consecrated men and women in the Church to be "assiduous listeners of the Word" as he offered Simeon and Anna as examples of lives "dedicated totally to the search for the face of God."

The Pope said this today (2nd February) during evening vespers in St. Peter's Basilica on the occasion of the World Day of Consecrated Life, which is observed on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Reflecting on the Gospel passage that recounts the entrance of the Child Jesus into the Temple, the Holy Father noted that only "two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, discovered the great novelty" of Christ's presence.

"Led by the Holy Spirit, they see in that Child the fulfillment of their long expectation and vigilance," the Pontiff said. "Both contemplate the light of God that comes to illumine the world, with their prophetic gaze open to the future, as proclamation of the Messiah: 'Lumen ad revelationem gentium (a light for revelation to the Gentiles)!'"

"The evangelical icon of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple," he continued, "contains the essential symbol of light; the light that, coming from Christ, shines on Mary and Joseph, on Simeon and Anna and, through them, on everyone."

The Holy Father noted that the Fathers of the Church "linked this radiation to the spiritual journey," and he added that consecrated life "expresses this journey, in a special way as 'philocalia,' love of divine beauty, reflection of the goodness of God."

Benedict XVI said the evangelical icon also "manifests the prophecy, gift of the Holy Spirit." He explained: "Simeon and Anna, contemplating the Child Jesus, perceive his destiny of death and resurrection for the salvation of all peoples and proclaim this mystery as universal salvation. 

"Consecrated life is called to this prophetic witness, linked to its twofold attitude, contemplative and active. Given to consecrated men and women, in fact, is to manifest the primacy of God, passion for the Gospel practiced as a way of life and proclaimed to the poor and to the last of the earth."

"In this way," he added, "consecrated life, in its daily living on the paths of humanity, manifests the Gospel and the Kingdom already present and operative."

Finally, the Holy Father said that the evangelical icon of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple "manifests the wisdom of Simeon and Anna, the wisdom of a life dedicated totally to the search for the face of God, of his signs, of his will; a life dedicated to listening and to proclaiming his Word."

"Dear brothers and sisters," the Pope urged, "be assiduous listeners of the Word, because the wisdom of life is born from the Word of the Lord!"

News from our American confreres...

Mount St Alphonsus retreat centre will close next year. The site, which sits on the Hudson River has been functioning for 101 years - 75 years as our own seminary, and then as a retreat centre for 26 years.

"Mount St. Alphonsus, which sits on several hundred acres on the west shore of the Hudson, will continue to conduct retreats and host weddings, conferences and receptions through the end of 2011, the Redemptorists said."

“The Redemptorists have been at Mount St. Alphonsus for more than 100 years, since it opened as our North American seminary,”  the Very Rev. Kevin Moley, provincial of the Baltimore Province, said in the e-mail. “Many of our confreres have wonderful memories of their years here, so the decision to close was not an easy one."

“We are grateful to have spent so many years in Esopus and to have served so many people through our retreats and conferences,” Moley added. “The Mount will always hold a special place in the heart of all Redemptorists in the Baltimore Province.”

We know it must be very difficult for the confreres of the Baltimore Province to make this decision and our thoughts and prayers are with them.

On Saturday 29th January 2011 Bishop Eton held a fundraiser for the Mavambo Trust. The tombola was overflowing with donated items (aka unwanted Christmas presents). A good time was had by all.

The Movambo Trust is run by Brother Benjamin Posvo C.Ss.R and helps 20,000 vulnerable children in the Tafara and Mavuku Townships.

To see photos of the event please click here

An article on the trust can be found by clicking here

Virtue and Patron Saint for the month of February...

Go up to the "Preaching and Prayer" button on the main menu, when it opens you'll find a "Virtue" click on that and you'll find out more!

Bishop Eton's Parish Magazine BE Alive has now been around for 10 years. To celebrate a beautiful full colour brochure containing articles from past issues has been produced. From next Sunday copies will go on sale. A minimum donation of £4.99 will be asked for, with all proceeds going to Project Zimbabwe. If anyone is interested in a copy then please contact Kris at the parish office.

Fr. Molloy C.Ss.R. meets the Pope...

Few people can say that they casually bumped into the pope!

Well Fr Molloy did when he was at the Papal Mass in Bellahouston, Glasgow last September. 

He said, "I didn't say a word to him as I was totally transfixed by his smile! It was really something else."

We are glad this photo came into our possession recently. 

Do you know where this piece of art is...

 Here is a wider picture which may help you...

Is it getting any clearer? St. Alphonsus is the figure on the bottom on the right hand side.

The picture should make it all clearer...

Here is a better picture....Westminster Cathedral.

St. Alphonsus' head is by the door way, under the bell tower.

Check it out the next time you go into the cathedral for prayer.

Not bad for our Doctor of the Church!

A Hidden Mystic...

A new book has come out on the life and spirituality of the Venerable Maria Celeste Crostarosa O.Ss.R.,

the Foundress of our Sisters, the Redemptoristines.

The book is called "A Hidden Mystic" written by a Dominican Sister, Honor McCabe OP.

In the book she focuses on the mystical spirituality as found in the Venerable Maria Celeste's life.

It is published by Dominican Publications.

Sr. Gabrielle O.Ss.R., the Prioress of the Dublin Monastery asked Honor McCabe to write this book.

From the back cover it says:

"This book is a brief account of the life and spirituality of the foundress of the Redemptoristine Order - the Venerable Maria Celeste Crostarosa, an eighteenth century Italian mystic -

who is still little known outside the Order she inspired.

The author, Honor McCabe OP, was impressed by the fact that much of Maria Celeste's mystical doctrine resembled the teaching on prayer of saints already Doctors of the Church,

Teresa of Avila and Catherine of Siena."