I have written before about pilgrimage to Walsingham and the centrality of vision to the whole experience of being at the shrine and praying there in the company of others. By ‘vision’ I mean the substance of something that originates with God and comes to his people as revelation. I have said before in sermons that I use the word vision in this way rather than in the secular sense of an idea or intention. The secular sense tends to be that used by the managers of the church when setting their aims, objectives, goals or ecclesiastical shopping lists, but it is a worldly use rather than a spiritual one.
When Fr. Hope Patten became vicar of Little Walsingham in 1921 he had a vision for the restoration of the shrine of Our Lady which had been destroyed at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries. No doubt he had many thoughts and ideas around the subject, but his vision remained central giving him his creative drive and determination to succeed. It is in the nature of visions received from God for them to be entwined in the fabric of our human existence; it could not be otherwise.
Fr. Patten had a new image carved which was set up in the parish church in 1922, but inevitable pressure from the ecclesiastical authorities meant that it could not stay and so preparations were made for the building of a new shrine on land adjacent to the pilgrim hostel in the village, the Hospice of Our Lady, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris), where pilgrims often stay to this day.
The new building was erected in 1931 and the image translated from the parish church on October 15th, but before that circumstances confirmed to Fr. Patten the authenticity of his vision. A large area of land in the centre of the village became vacant and whilst the site was being prepared for the foundations a cobbled courtyard, a churchyard cross and a disused well of Saxon origin were uncovered. To my knowledge, there is no archaeological certainty that this is the site of the original holy house, although it might well be, but that is of little consequence except to the archaeologist. To those present it was a clear case of circumstances coinciding with a vision and Hope Patten know that this was where he had to build, not to recreate the past, but to build a living devotion rooted in the past and pointing the pilgrim to eternity.
If this aspect of Fr. Patten’s vision worked out even better than he had planned another aspect did not. He always maintained a vision of a community of priests living the religious life in a college at the shrine, hence the presence of the College on the site today. Patten was not the right man to hold together a group of priests living a rule of life and resident at the shrine. There were always tensions and few priests or religious stayed long. Despite this failure, by God’s grace, the College has become a residence for parish priests who come with their people. In this way priests share in the continuing work of the shrine church and pilgrims needs are met. To all Priests Associate, myself included, this will always be a privilege and joy. Visions work out in God’s way, not ours. That way we can appreciate and enjoy the fruits.
From the diary
Sunday 22nd September, Trinity 17
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Parish Mass
Wednesday 25th September, 10.00am Mass
Friday 27th September no service
Parish Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, Friday to Sunday
Sunday 29th September, St. Michael and All Angels
8.00am no service
9.30am Parish Mass (Father Mike Still)
Wednesday 2nd October, 10.00am Mass
Friday 4th October, 7.00pm Mass (St. Francis of Assisi)
Sunday 6th October, Trinity 19
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Parish Mass
no mid-week services
Sunday 13th October, Harvest Thanksgiving
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Parish Mass
11.15am Family Service
Wednesday 16th October 10.00am Mass
Friday 18th October, 7.00pm Mass (St. Luke, Evangelist)
Sunday 20th October, Trinity 21
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Parish Mass
Wednesday 23rd October, 10.00am Mass
Friday 25th October, 7.00pm Mass
Sunday 27th October, Trinity 22
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Parish Mass
Wednesday 30th October, 10.00am Mass
Friday 1st November, 7.00pm Mass (All Saints’ Day)
Saturday 2nd November, 12 noon Requiem Mass (All Souls’ Day)
Sunday 3rd November, Trinity 23
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Parish Mass
Wednesday 6th November, 10.00am Mass
8.00pm Guild of the Servants of the Sanctuary (Guild Office and Requiem)
Friday 8th November, 7.00pm Mass
Sunday 10th November, Trinity 24 (Remembrance Sunday)
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Parish Mass
11.30am Family Service (note later time)
Large Print Books
Should you require them large print hymn books and service books are available in church (by the South door). Just ask a sidesman when you arrive. We can also supply large print copies of the ‘New Testament and Psalms’ from the church library.
Quiz Night
A quick note to let you know that the overall profit from the Quiz Night was £953.09. Thank you to both Alan & Chris Hudson for a marvellous job in getting a record attendance and for running the show! Thanks go as well to Ranjan David and the Social Committee team for organising the catering…and much more.
Requiem for All Souls
Saturday 2nd November at 12 noon
There will be a sheet at the back of church from 13th October for the names of the departed to be remembered at the mass or hand your list to Father Andrew.
Harvest Flowers
We shall be decorating the church on the morning of Saturday 12th October from 10.00am – 12 noon in readiness for Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday 13th October. If you would like to help in any way, please contact Chris Hudson 020 8950 3451.
Harvest Festival Lunch
Sunday 13th October, 1.00 pm in St Peter’s Church Hall. Bring your own crockery, cutlery and drink. Cost £12 per head to be paid to Jenny Birch on or before latest Sunday 6th October. Please put names on the sign up sheet at the back of the church.
Volunteers able to assist with the cooking are most welcome! Please speak with Jenny or Ranjan (020 8950 1822).
Red Trust Bushey
Foodbank shopping list for Harvest 2024
Please help local people in need by buying or donating items from the list below. All items may be presented at the services on 13th October or alternatively left in the box at the back of church. Thank you!
o Cereals
o Pasta sauce
o Soup
o Tinned Fruit
o Tinned meat
o Tinned tuna
o Tinned tomatoes
o Tinned sweetcorn
o Cleaning spray
o Bleach
o Shampoo
o Conditioner
o Body Wash
o Sanitary products
Stewardship: pledges of time, talents and money
We would be grateful if you could return these at Harvest or soon after to help plan our year ahead. If you have not received one and would like one please get in touch with Alan Hudson (020 8950 3451).
Please look through your stewardship renewal pack carefully and think and pray about your response. It is not important how many ‘boxes you are able to tick’ on the response form. What is important is that you discern what it is that God wants of you and for you to make your response accordingly. Remember that you are primarily responding to God! Each of us needs to make a response which is appropriate to us, a response which is both generous and realistic.
Bushey Interfaith Forum
“How our faiths help us cope with loss & bereavement”
Thursday 28th November at 7.30pm
at the Parish Centre, Sacred Heart Church, London Road, Bushey, WD23 1BA.
Entrance is free and includes light refreshments.