St James's Roman Catholic Church

THE VIEW FROM THE RECTORY

4 May 2008

This year, for the first time in England, the Feast of the Ascension has been transferred to the Sunday. This is in line with many other countries and it allows us to celebrate the feast with full solemnity. The Ascension is the next great movement in the symphony of redemption and the Paschal Mystery will come to its completion next Sunday with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Let us pray that the Lord, who is “risen, ascended, glorified” and the Holy Spirit may lead us closer to the Father.
Monday of this week, 5 May, is a Bank Holiday and following our usual custom we shall have only one mass at 10.00am, and the church will be closed after that mass. Apologies for any inconvenience.
As mentioned in the notices last week, there will be a second collection at all masses this weekend for the work of the Catholic Communications Network. This body, which is part of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, does important work for the Church in the area of the media and communications. There are so many issues nowadays, ranging from Human Embryology to Catholic Schools, which receive media attention and the CCN assists the bishops and their staff in finding the best way to respond. Please give what you can. There are envelopes and cards on the table at the back of the church.
We thank Bishop Longley, who came to administer the sacrament of Confirmation to the young people from this parish and St John’s Wood parish on Saturday evening. Please continue to pray for all of these young people as they continue their journey of faith. And pray too for those who are preparing for First Holy Communion on 14 June. It is a great moment in their lives when they receive the body of the Lord sacramentally for the first time .
As I write this, I am expecting the final visit of the decorators to do some retouching after the lino has been laid on the stairs of the Rectory. Since we started this project on 10 December I have to say I am quite relieved to see it come to an end. However, there are many other jobs to do, including the repair of a leak in the church’s central heating, which is falling into the Parish Centre below and a major repair of the Rectory roof. It all makes work for the working man to do, as Flanders and Swann so wittily remarked.

God bless

Fr Terry

Our Church

Our Church is right in the heart of London. It is a spiritual oasis to many people who come in for silent prayers and personal devotion. It serves the deep needs of those who desire to get away from the hurly burly of city life. On the other hand, the various parish liturgical services reflect the richness of catholic traditions and its pastoral orientation caters for all categories of people especially the young and those searching for truth.
The location of the church is not actually in Spanish Place as its predecessor used to be, but in George Street, almost at the corner of George Street and Marylebone High Street. Nearest Subway or Underground stations are Baker Street and Bond Street. For directions click here.

Access to the Church: The entrance to the Church is in George Street. The Blandford Street door does not give access to the Church.
There is no wheelchair access to the Church as yet. This has been put in hand, but there has been a considerable delay, while negotiations take place about the architecture of the Church and the best way to install the lifts that would be necessary.