A bit of a different experience for me last weekend.
People across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and our Diocese are is in the midst of the official mourning period following the sad death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. However, in parish churches everywhere much of normal church life also continues, including in a Spanish speaking parish in the Diocese of Southwark, San Mateo where I was invited by the Bishop of Southwark to preside at baptism and confirmations last weekend. The candidates had waited close to two years as the visit was necessarily postponed due to the COVID pandemic. They came from Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina and Uruguay.
It was a joyful celebration, and particularly good to be
alongside the parish priest, Fr Hugo Adán, a citizen of Spain, whose candidacy
for priesthood in the Church of England was handled through our Diocese in
Europe.
