tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745802165150874712024-03-13T07:07:13.196+00:00EurobishopThe blog of Bishop David Hamid. David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.comBlogger1407125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-26813494036570054492024-03-01T13:34:00.000+00:002024-03-01T13:34:18.495+00:00Farewell to the Diocese in Europe<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Deacon Frances and I packed up our office yesterday and turned over our official files, emails and equipment. Thus a close working together for 22 years comes to an end.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUY0Tgiks55QpaI8TBmoY_S3CoLy3z8dPppZ6E1LUL-SxFeOcKzY6jAVdE7Or-_7FI__HLkMQvB_JQ4upd7zc8cQxHLadqTpWk62KuCwFtPiKDKF4W8dWGTGINFhA-vApjTPhqMV2klopkhlp_BYl1rHq37HwieS_Tj3jRoY2jKEQAvtb-txWsAAOi9oI/s3441/IMG_0276.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3441" data-original-width="2782" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUY0Tgiks55QpaI8TBmoY_S3CoLy3z8dPppZ6E1LUL-SxFeOcKzY6jAVdE7Or-_7FI__HLkMQvB_JQ4upd7zc8cQxHLadqTpWk62KuCwFtPiKDKF4W8dWGTGINFhA-vApjTPhqMV2klopkhlp_BYl1rHq37HwieS_Tj3jRoY2jKEQAvtb-txWsAAOi9oI/w518-h640/IMG_0276.jpeg" width="518" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So it is hard to believe that today, St David's day, a new chapter begins, after 44 years of stipendiary ministry, 22 years as deacon then priest and 22 as a bishop. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpS9LHnwaNALyPrv1pv0kVu3m4JbufTqdM_SmMwHrc88TVlgrHRhnxB1c5NNPzy6QtSkfF024Q8RkWhd34WT-A1soDpidHAClRwMYnKbVYQ_6QasiEoeLO3poiJ914igHmtNlg0HyhACgMAS0za_BaQMRREczoM-2xWKtODTnEwkbna5wMvqZTp7MQ0Q/s4032/IMG_0074%20(1).HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpS9LHnwaNALyPrv1pv0kVu3m4JbufTqdM_SmMwHrc88TVlgrHRhnxB1c5NNPzy6QtSkfF024Q8RkWhd34WT-A1soDpidHAClRwMYnKbVYQ_6QasiEoeLO3poiJ914igHmtNlg0HyhACgMAS0za_BaQMRREczoM-2xWKtODTnEwkbna5wMvqZTp7MQ0Q/w480-h640/IMG_0074%20(1).HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNs6mlNEl5svtlVKBEBnUc0tByn5QfEIa_Fe38LCRo5NdGXya6Hj_MbyijLbHE-0rnIGp7xUyWPqayg0ygb61XWSKetBq62QiGvOQi7s8kZ-rGLa9FagbTXk4cux1yAGKoAqPbU-y10Cu1mi1w-_8XPeqqnOLiBvpF2OYqG7miGsfVw5gQxWLytWlz2M/s2160/Consecration.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNs6mlNEl5svtlVKBEBnUc0tByn5QfEIa_Fe38LCRo5NdGXya6Hj_MbyijLbHE-0rnIGp7xUyWPqayg0ygb61XWSKetBq62QiGvOQi7s8kZ-rGLa9FagbTXk4cux1yAGKoAqPbU-y10Cu1mi1w-_8XPeqqnOLiBvpF2OYqG7miGsfVw5gQxWLytWlz2M/w426-h640/Consecration.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sUmA_gSzyejrv9utiQ4IpU4F47x84cmEPfb_VIXiEOhxKqW_GEfKxybwydAGEcrAAmFSSJOrvaAo7MKKf4wbVtaVqu6hK7HFQgb5zXPEhFpzUE9x0czjMUe7DbQf6GVnIpL179F8nf8b2Vvz7rsY4GBhcLlHK5gLlseOf351gM1Gv6RwVqYumu2ducg/s2160/consecration%202.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2160" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sUmA_gSzyejrv9utiQ4IpU4F47x84cmEPfb_VIXiEOhxKqW_GEfKxybwydAGEcrAAmFSSJOrvaAo7MKKf4wbVtaVqu6hK7HFQgb5zXPEhFpzUE9x0czjMUe7DbQf6GVnIpL179F8nf8b2Vvz7rsY4GBhcLlHK5gLlseOf351gM1Gv6RwVqYumu2ducg/w640-h426/consecration%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuetqAAGQwoCI6FoxT-irmBa4lHLBcw6MDa7kqhx-hl3x2CGLJcqiItV1Y9dHBuh0L4msoWEzsdbc9TOvtnwsDAcX66x_712pu1ljtCfCtsAyrHY7KTn70xMNZPHj9FxNzn6aoFYmyhoJlrNlc7M3nSWVtmwYd19E9mTh_QSMMiVUmdDATs7cCZSKK3s/s2160/consecration%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuetqAAGQwoCI6FoxT-irmBa4lHLBcw6MDa7kqhx-hl3x2CGLJcqiItV1Y9dHBuh0L4msoWEzsdbc9TOvtnwsDAcX66x_712pu1ljtCfCtsAyrHY7KTn70xMNZPHj9FxNzn6aoFYmyhoJlrNlc7M3nSWVtmwYd19E9mTh_QSMMiVUmdDATs7cCZSKK3s/w426-h640/consecration%204.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are just a few memories from the last couple of months...</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpj4pjdZXX1QaZATIrGOJGB80fuiAvwX8wpD1VqhQ6Bj_BeRMWnAF5_rntyV9p4quK1yn0PPX2dx-yLO6IQ1a19feb21msGUP2jj6-2TC9R5iZVnHpGr0EwY0PUAYSwN_PPo4LtP1OJ6V3tw9DkSdxZ1x3dMCsQUd_t6l_5FA3Im0EbHVDKskNn6uVtU/s3333/image%2016.png" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But now it is time to begin a new chapter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUbj_QZRVQkZY2W-Ww4IcAaAn7cv0davrQf-AiI-gxgnJUP4MwrTQyAFHzhNZJJRze2pVsAOiKXVPo3oc6z16E3pX9jGkd_1dUzgNQhplcZ-QvMrA_mfSu5ZW-KSB9Dq_toqpwSj2aYPJ79tnGJ4qdFViSn-zpwU794Gn05utm6Da_hprf2rWeGon63k/s836/IMG_0678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="833" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUbj_QZRVQkZY2W-Ww4IcAaAn7cv0davrQf-AiI-gxgnJUP4MwrTQyAFHzhNZJJRze2pVsAOiKXVPo3oc6z16E3pX9jGkd_1dUzgNQhplcZ-QvMrA_mfSu5ZW-KSB9Dq_toqpwSj2aYPJ79tnGJ4qdFViSn-zpwU794Gn05utm6Da_hprf2rWeGon63k/w638-h640/IMG_0678.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUYLkgD1Cdclnjpvithjxbx8390sjMpFTn5GdityzVNnSug9c6xijVhBUzdg8ZdXjCLZCjGz-8OsAbj3fgvLINhUI6ZFWuVGvQOZnAz3Eotj5qlvWWGGJWH6kDJZisxLxkERT9lxgAg5X-NTuqIrgJxvq6EJXcQEclFAZ3cgs0nsNjoGwQwGrElualq4/s1464/retirement.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1464" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUYLkgD1Cdclnjpvithjxbx8390sjMpFTn5GdityzVNnSug9c6xijVhBUzdg8ZdXjCLZCjGz-8OsAbj3fgvLINhUI6ZFWuVGvQOZnAz3Eotj5qlvWWGGJWH6kDJZisxLxkERT9lxgAg5X-NTuqIrgJxvq6EJXcQEclFAZ3cgs0nsNjoGwQwGrElualq4/w640-h284/retirement.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">O God, by whose command the order of time runs its course:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">forgive our impatience, perfect our faith</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and, while we await the fulfilment of your promise,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">grant us to have a good hope because of your Word, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">even Jesus Christ our Lord.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>(St Gregory Nazianzus, 330 - 390)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-91577221700253642872023-12-09T10:19:00.002+00:002023-12-09T10:24:14.252+00:00Advent in Helsinki: Mary, the Church's calling, and the One who brings us out of darkness to light<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnswgclwmVDM9xssL_TUK8D1hTg79S63QlFigjzywAu7_Qg8X_CAae43EHnVkdYgvf1H3myJrTQbAGuJPYXszQCrvx0ucLkqAWZLO8Hm9kvNmeY2Ori4QybkB3pvvJJQEQ0DOTUkcjtlJSC5T2Agxj4bgR2Jvpy_5kL296K1rhER8UXPjXG_ipLN72KOQ/s960/IMG_6170.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnswgclwmVDM9xssL_TUK8D1hTg79S63QlFigjzywAu7_Qg8X_CAae43EHnVkdYgvf1H3myJrTQbAGuJPYXszQCrvx0ucLkqAWZLO8Hm9kvNmeY2Ori4QybkB3pvvJJQEQ0DOTUkcjtlJSC5T2Agxj4bgR2Jvpy_5kL296K1rhER8UXPjXG_ipLN72KOQ/w640-h480/IMG_6170.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Cathedral in Helsinki<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday, 8 December, was a very full Advent day, with activities redolent of the themes of the season. It was, of course, the Feast of the [Immaculate] Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary when we contemplate the mystery of the one who was prepared, through grace, to become the Mother of the Redeemer. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTxhWFIvSXVF9S7GAFfXurOlcCibfh9QHqPyseQrDk7d_ude2eL2lqxC1Q8wdguG1hPy2WGQKXGo8bcOasemUAywmjR2i0QFfatjJaDp-Bhq7rRbD8ejmRmFwt5HsIQ7sgaY5QS3O2XLWjnCABclLJeTxw1NoODp4-_RDJZopK5UKFEbG3H-vIyIdshM/s4032/IMG_6158.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTxhWFIvSXVF9S7GAFfXurOlcCibfh9QHqPyseQrDk7d_ude2eL2lqxC1Q8wdguG1hPy2WGQKXGo8bcOasemUAywmjR2i0QFfatjJaDp-Bhq7rRbD8ejmRmFwt5HsIQ7sgaY5QS3O2XLWjnCABclLJeTxw1NoODp4-_RDJZopK5UKFEbG3H-vIyIdshM/w640-h480/IMG_6158.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0SWX91vPAlMsWlzEwJ-9770E0ZvoAnTySb8yz9VB9nDYyAzBsakZz4M2IuUNljUUyPw9w-TvUGoZJXTiM3M_K1FbTOXd0w5wT-B72IusB6YpwuD859ulG7QDxOQLFWVR0Y5JoLrK_NQHBPuKMgUqdsuQTKvH0gWF-pFkLffjcp3ENpVgwPU-rRe7sdY/s4032/IMG_6157.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0SWX91vPAlMsWlzEwJ-9770E0ZvoAnTySb8yz9VB9nDYyAzBsakZz4M2IuUNljUUyPw9w-TvUGoZJXTiM3M_K1FbTOXd0w5wT-B72IusB6YpwuD859ulG7QDxOQLFWVR0Y5JoLrK_NQHBPuKMgUqdsuQTKvH0gWF-pFkLffjcp3ENpVgwPU-rRe7sdY/w640-h480/IMG_6157.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Vallila Help Centre (above, with Coordinator Eeva and Fr Tuomas)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">St Ambrose of Milan (whose feast we also celebrated this past week) was the first to refer to the Blessed Virgin as the Mother of the Church, <i>Mater Ecclesiae, </i>a title which helps us consider not only her role in giving birth to the Redeemer from whom the Church itself was born, but also how in her own life she responded to God's call in faith and love, as the Church today is also called to respond to the needs of the world. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />It was with this in mind that I was so moved by a visit to the Ukraine Vallila Help Centre, a project supported by USPG and this diocese, which provides holistic support to so many of the thousands of refugees, mainly women and children, who have fled their native Ukraine due to the war. It is heroic work, largely led by tireless volunteers, who express love and charity to those in need. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dxhWtO74Eugk-QqwYxoITgf9XswPGaKcF_SemY0Jc4q8yadW7JK07qFLLPGMGoe_pcbm-27vZpTeWmodx-Rj5rRcyzNLyC9AitxXFHMZst3TY2R7eCdy7h9nnXIM1bvqnjxPbH4ZAZTeYCrs92_QSR9WDYsN-2mmxSlaHSZ4phJ6uiDlw1d9oysJLRc/s4032/IMG_6165.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dxhWtO74Eugk-QqwYxoITgf9XswPGaKcF_SemY0Jc4q8yadW7JK07qFLLPGMGoe_pcbm-27vZpTeWmodx-Rj5rRcyzNLyC9AitxXFHMZst3TY2R7eCdy7h9nnXIM1bvqnjxPbH4ZAZTeYCrs92_QSR9WDYsN-2mmxSlaHSZ4phJ6uiDlw1d9oysJLRc/w640-h480/IMG_6165.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Lucia, Finnish Orthodox Style</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the early evening I joined with Finnish ecumenical partners in the chapel of the headquarters of the Orthodox Church of Finland for vespers and a celebration of Lucia, Finnish Orthodox style. With the liturgy in Finnish, Swedish and some English, we commemorated St Lucy, the fourth century Sicilian martyr, so beloved of Nordic peoples. In the darkness of Advent in the northern hemisphere, Santa Lucia, with the crown of candles and the red sash of martyrdom, reminds us of the Light which pierces the powers of darkness. </span></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc6D6IHKXIi05AjX9wtpaMxLR8chTq4T6X2ec-SkrKflU4vNYCxBhcpZWnClNRJSI5zj1MSXwwlDvtbikRobbdXFGu26KeJ1mpMTMt3IZqr2a3ZjZ298A7FImBtxDcn1beEcJnnc9uR8NL5IQ7ndZ4VQuCPdQWSUnRexkIFdQD-BTfmiSFefgka1ZtKY/s4032/IMG_6166.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc6D6IHKXIi05AjX9wtpaMxLR8chTq4T6X2ec-SkrKflU4vNYCxBhcpZWnClNRJSI5zj1MSXwwlDvtbikRobbdXFGu26KeJ1mpMTMt3IZqr2a3ZjZ298A7FImBtxDcn1beEcJnnc9uR8NL5IQ7ndZ4VQuCPdQWSUnRexkIFdQD-BTfmiSFefgka1ZtKY/w640-h480/IMG_6166.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bishop Daniel (2nd from left) and Metropolitan Leo (right, Finnish Orthodox Church)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, at the end of the day the Cathedral of Helsinki was filled with more than 500 people attending the Carol Service of the Anglican Chaplaincy of St Nicholas. Led by the Chaplain, Fr Tuomas Mäkipää, clergy and laity of the congregation and many visitors joined in that great service which recalls God's plan of salvation for humanity, culminating in the birth of the Word Made Flesh. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />A special guest at that service was Bishop Daniel from the Ancient Church of the East who is based in Erbil, Iraq, and who ministers to one of the oldest continuously existing Christian groups in the world. Christians in Iraq continue to encounter many difficulties, including persecution and terrorism. It was a special moment to ask a bishop from the Middle East to pronounce the blessing at the conclusion of the service marking the advent of the Holy One, born in the Holy Land.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLPeuX0f6YhiKzi8GD_GeL3mU_EpuK4jOsvlyHtYE20LBfsptYEfVC54S0e7lHvruun3QtYl4Z9n7uRvqtezV7TTqsR9hZ1c2F88fMhanlcQLFrosLt2z_Q78G1ZVeOGf9yDNMpFalt5JmmunMhPH2uQJ4BZu5eYJVK2FT7POwaFTjqzvnVYMx_jUW3k/s2048/IMG_6168.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="2048" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLPeuX0f6YhiKzi8GD_GeL3mU_EpuK4jOsvlyHtYE20LBfsptYEfVC54S0e7lHvruun3QtYl4Z9n7uRvqtezV7TTqsR9hZ1c2F88fMhanlcQLFrosLt2z_Q78G1ZVeOGf9yDNMpFalt5JmmunMhPH2uQJ4BZu5eYJVK2FT7POwaFTjqzvnVYMx_jUW3k/w640-h328/IMG_6168.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wS522Z4hSt8lo3yDMP62SBez5hNFrALhogCdZrBZOyLz6X-SiJpzf2xanik9WWXTpoBWnAftF75BeOyuwkMP0pdR333Dsp4D5p9x8UJg-8S9RvI-HkuFxZGPG5XZyxwStuCM4l1JPe_GP1RHfufRYV6OQwOfKfbkqiKAIdXDlxtYSdpmhgnh0w13IqU/s2048/IMG_6169.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wS522Z4hSt8lo3yDMP62SBez5hNFrALhogCdZrBZOyLz6X-SiJpzf2xanik9WWXTpoBWnAftF75BeOyuwkMP0pdR333Dsp4D5p9x8UJg-8S9RvI-HkuFxZGPG5XZyxwStuCM4l1JPe_GP1RHfufRYV6OQwOfKfbkqiKAIdXDlxtYSdpmhgnh0w13IqU/w640-h480/IMG_6169.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Nicholas Chaplaincy Carol Service</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some photos courtesy of Leena Jalkanen and Linda Jämsén </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-7664853684155576082023-10-26T12:13:00.004+01:002023-10-26T12:13:58.665+01:00Christ the King Tampere Confirmations<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HDZHttv3qnqmsHgU4LBRyTDcB1epYM7IC3bugByldRVnuc7REXIQKLaw-kmfKybmj_H3F-dGrfglrti9eYUpboxLTc5CSKSiHRfsJxAyiFQ1CoyngQuY7KEpclxYS1xqtjfigxLUgjR8Gt92mmO6P0ngc6d7KRwshr3viA6L_SLSqnU7z4h1Tdhj9og/s4624/20231015_164940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HDZHttv3qnqmsHgU4LBRyTDcB1epYM7IC3bugByldRVnuc7REXIQKLaw-kmfKybmj_H3F-dGrfglrti9eYUpboxLTc5CSKSiHRfsJxAyiFQ1CoyngQuY7KEpclxYS1xqtjfigxLUgjR8Gt92mmO6P0ngc6d7KRwshr3viA6L_SLSqnU7z4h1Tdhj9og/w640-h288/20231015_164940.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The congregation of Christ the King in Tampere was established as a joint ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Diocese in Europe back in 2006. Both the Finnish Church and our own see this as a concrete way to put the Porvoo Agreement into action. The Church now has a very interesting outreach to the neighbourhood in Tampere, especially with younger folk and students. The congregation members are a very international group from Finland, other parts of Europe including the UK, Africa and Asia. Fr Tuomas Mäkipää, the Chaplain of Helsinki, and Area Dean of Finland, oversees the Anglican collaboration in Christ the King. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Fr Amos Manga, an assistant priest in the Anglican Church in Finland, lives in Tampere and has a particular relationship to this congregation which ministers to many from the South Sudanese community, most of whom were refugees who were welcomed to Finland close to 2 decades ago.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh326e1n1sQe8-CFJXWa3D2KdBnAkNZ4wQPV6QKW5gSIro3Kuz_UeuqUE_hV99nZw3VP4G9DtFiePhwvIKZ83hfyYoDE_Wm06PIbf3nw0y2kT5VCm8GjU0QhS_CQOnuCrKe6bcxq4jhEa9QQwPh1RYzN65I9rbX-hc_kDALZk3Fno_ee7r5tVxql7GGY9Q/s2773/20231015_173507.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2773" data-original-width="2084" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh326e1n1sQe8-CFJXWa3D2KdBnAkNZ4wQPV6QKW5gSIro3Kuz_UeuqUE_hV99nZw3VP4G9DtFiePhwvIKZ83hfyYoDE_Wm06PIbf3nw0y2kT5VCm8GjU0QhS_CQOnuCrKe6bcxq4jhEa9QQwPh1RYzN65I9rbX-hc_kDALZk3Fno_ee7r5tVxql7GGY9Q/w480-h640/20231015_173507.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr Amos Manga and Bishop and Mrs Repo</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was able to preside at confirmations in the Church on 15 October, and was very happy to have conversations with my old friend, Bishop Matti Repo of Tampere diocese, who was instrumental in setting up this joint work 17 years ago, before he was a bishop! </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Confirmation candidates came from South Sudanese and Pakistani backgrounds.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FNowWgpw8S-7Hbt4lqvp8nTRPklsNkI5VnroiE2nDmnBmFjVFQQ6GF_X4XRT28wmhlv7fat7s9bm-L7wi6rdSn4x3JZpgUH14uL8-hIz5hkSIyrRK4OCr3ipR6wP66uX_GaUsv0Zw8r-BKkCRODSSI8QGF7z1RksDZNVyPQTgaOoNjspOVhaughcvDM/s2040/IMG_5938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="1530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FNowWgpw8S-7Hbt4lqvp8nTRPklsNkI5VnroiE2nDmnBmFjVFQQ6GF_X4XRT28wmhlv7fat7s9bm-L7wi6rdSn4x3JZpgUH14uL8-hIz5hkSIyrRK4OCr3ipR6wP66uX_GaUsv0Zw8r-BKkCRODSSI8QGF7z1RksDZNVyPQTgaOoNjspOVhaughcvDM/w480-h640/IMG_5938.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Incidentally, the journey from Helsinki to Tampere (some 180 km) was not able to be done by train, which would be our first choice. There was too little time after the Sunday mass in Helsinki itself, at which I was presiding and preaching, and we were required to make a stop at a priest's home before the service in Tampere. The Chaplain of St Nicholas Helsinki therefore rented a car and negotiated an upgrade with the agency, to look after his bishop in style!</span></span><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySeTKS_Hb6Bs5BUSP015Mhbg9d8xNzc7xThkHNtG4_7xX29jSKZhK6j24erQyEp5iTlL4YWGCx4_g96KCLWvzemQo5mNAxQHR6z-QAOb3xPirqAFf6A_eR_OCRfNLYXZDD5pdywaI8hRYUqn2RMSDtDq9G9wd8RAtPoCudTi6_GZFMgChCgcgU3-JlIQ/s2623/IMG_5928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2205" data-original-width="2623" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySeTKS_Hb6Bs5BUSP015Mhbg9d8xNzc7xThkHNtG4_7xX29jSKZhK6j24erQyEp5iTlL4YWGCx4_g96KCLWvzemQo5mNAxQHR6z-QAOb3xPirqAFf6A_eR_OCRfNLYXZDD5pdywaI8hRYUqn2RMSDtDq9G9wd8RAtPoCudTi6_GZFMgChCgcgU3-JlIQ/w640-h538/IMG_5928.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr Tuomas with the rented bishopmobile</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><div><br /></div></div>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-87855659859403248412023-10-18T12:59:00.000+01:002023-10-18T12:59:13.123+01:00Peacemaking - the theme of the Nordic/Baltic Synod<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu9o5CvKX66FQBl2l7yxFkydxG7rwXZwKQ12KsbLJCtjZ9lNkWynxD_P53Alf9YD2vr6s8y_DMI5nNwwn-nG77x0zUhHXEkJWxyU7QMPFqyEDRDcVzLhROfXJwpgT2lDEhaIG0ttuUHkFCS-dzcyd84OGkZumBRj_KzQPyGxOtkqIIalNtges1MP90y0/s2048/ed52cf5e-66a7-4a79-b8da-d130e5026685.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu9o5CvKX66FQBl2l7yxFkydxG7rwXZwKQ12KsbLJCtjZ9lNkWynxD_P53Alf9YD2vr6s8y_DMI5nNwwn-nG77x0zUhHXEkJWxyU7QMPFqyEDRDcVzLhROfXJwpgT2lDEhaIG0ttuUHkFCS-dzcyd84OGkZumBRj_KzQPyGxOtkqIIalNtges1MP90y0/w640-h480/ed52cf5e-66a7-4a79-b8da-d130e5026685.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Nordic/Baltic synod met in Copenhagen from 29
September to 1 October. This is one of the most scattered of our deaneries. Clergy and lay representatives came together from our chaplaincies from Iceland to Estonia.
Archdeacon Leslie Nathaniel chaired the synod. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bible studies were led by Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga.
The synod theme was “called to be peacemakers”. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UKhzkxSlLbe7hxg6rmymqMM0gt0nKzofAZ7V41UC2zISjE2KNfPoITFCbMOLLfwDIDPYllyF6LKS9s9_Nv_74rUDMkKY58vQNv84RDbHOdrqqLnmcAdDUR_qisic-_xSm2l3F29M177IjIx3Fr5hsvGE7F6ucRdVZTPNupWoyaG38kAU4zoBiDF4ULU/s960/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="960" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UKhzkxSlLbe7hxg6rmymqMM0gt0nKzofAZ7V41UC2zISjE2KNfPoITFCbMOLLfwDIDPYllyF6LKS9s9_Nv_74rUDMkKY58vQNv84RDbHOdrqqLnmcAdDUR_qisic-_xSm2l3F29M177IjIx3Fr5hsvGE7F6ucRdVZTPNupWoyaG38kAU4zoBiDF4ULU/w640-h444/IMG_0131.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">As is happening a lot these days, virtually every place I go,
there was a time for me to hear very generous words (and receive some very beautiful
gifts) from the gathering, marking my upcoming retirement on 29 February. I am deeply moved by all the kind words that synod members have shared, both in the Italy/Malta and Nordic/Baltic gatherings. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The closing service was in St Alban’s Church, again with
some words of thanks and farewell from members (and an Indian shawl as a mark of gratitude). </p><p class="MsoNormal">I will miss you all.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9hocBVtmHTGDFSt8H0hJq2MkAlbfuWfIesJLKtHrB7w8m1tQWnJhyphenhyphenER1wNz5cv2rFJ23Fjh8DbO37w5wzdETMPsTEvrq8YM_vAGUbscvJ2CGwQiioIKPXW07p67Y5Vq0ptGsnedJW2qj0vsMO6D-defrpBYBq-C6ZU_wZRjeA3buwuDu3zePbfpx08g/s1440/IMG_5901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9hocBVtmHTGDFSt8H0hJq2MkAlbfuWfIesJLKtHrB7w8m1tQWnJhyphenhyphenER1wNz5cv2rFJ23Fjh8DbO37w5wzdETMPsTEvrq8YM_vAGUbscvJ2CGwQiioIKPXW07p67Y5Vq0ptGsnedJW2qj0vsMO6D-defrpBYBq-C6ZU_wZRjeA3buwuDu3zePbfpx08g/w640-h640/IMG_5901.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-32952310959187442932023-10-17T13:08:00.004+01:002023-10-17T13:08:38.618+01:00St Francis, St Clare and Creationtide at Italy/Malta Synod<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xECj4UX9dohexg9mqRuHSmIK9SOX0tLlDuWeqcPvWAh7g8_ylEWdh0yH7XCdiTXCVUhQMY9IUZk45vf7ljDbXwubLhZWod5if48yj57U1EMRoxN2gO_YVpgnSa-dYXcavEBQ7EiqqSBuPJoih9TmX7Ty5fzH6ej5zg0Et2jeq84fvhvVUYS6RMkgPSo/s960/IMG_0129%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="960" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xECj4UX9dohexg9mqRuHSmIK9SOX0tLlDuWeqcPvWAh7g8_ylEWdh0yH7XCdiTXCVUhQMY9IUZk45vf7ljDbXwubLhZWod5if48yj57U1EMRoxN2gO_YVpgnSa-dYXcavEBQ7EiqqSBuPJoih9TmX7Ty5fzH6ej5zg0Et2jeq84fvhvVUYS6RMkgPSo/w640-h420/IMG_0129%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">It is synod season once again for much of the Diocese in
Europe. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The synod of the Archdeaconry of Italy and Malta met from 26 to 29
September in Rome. Fittingly there was a strong focus on St Francis and St
Clare and Franciscan spirituality, given that we were in the midst of the
season of creation, and St Francis of Assisi is the patron of the environment. Bible Studies were led by Fr Chris Williams (Florence) and Fr Tony Dickinson (Genoa), and presentations on St Francis and St Clare by Fr James Hadley (Palermo) and Mthr Jules Cave (Naples and Area Dean). <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1sPn_XceDAtab0Cm0Pv6ynlaxN_PUVTNxhVAUEQNLC8ZOVmieXMmeydG5lLujxd0eZZTxwDeD3R_4DmMz7Xhqw-uaXI4nqFJc0OmwQWg8uW2AF7dh-iJjHRsorCRPqBF37RNe1dfYORohprxBAYMFax5YmkkQZQVbm0nP21TBPSgw92aP6Cb6ujg6Hg/s3521/IMG_5862%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2569" data-original-width="3521" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1sPn_XceDAtab0Cm0Pv6ynlaxN_PUVTNxhVAUEQNLC8ZOVmieXMmeydG5lLujxd0eZZTxwDeD3R_4DmMz7Xhqw-uaXI4nqFJc0OmwQWg8uW2AF7dh-iJjHRsorCRPqBF37RNe1dfYORohprxBAYMFax5YmkkQZQVbm0nP21TBPSgw92aP6Cb6ujg6Hg/w640-h466/IMG_5862%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">At one of the synod masses, I had the joy of collating Fr
Rob Warren to the canonry of St Catherine of Siena. Canon Warren is the
Chaplain of All Saints Rome. St Catherine, a 14 century mystical theologian, is celebrated as a patron of Europe and a Doctor of the Church. Her body (minus her head!) lies in the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOeRlxKEBvxucsyGA6eyfCGIlvbja-w65A66dWyTgsCBckua8Rc9pGR4WV7UAPMQepvUaQDrVJcDPk337iXHGw6tcAyt7_BOjWFhdzu4N4T7ijNe93fl1hFNicP46Ww6WaO2dO6l164_dVqZJiZPXsAHPYOL00u-AGLxiPXp2vNNauhsQSRbqP9YIWds/s4032/IMG_5867%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOeRlxKEBvxucsyGA6eyfCGIlvbja-w65A66dWyTgsCBckua8Rc9pGR4WV7UAPMQepvUaQDrVJcDPk337iXHGw6tcAyt7_BOjWFhdzu4N4T7ijNe93fl1hFNicP46Ww6WaO2dO6l164_dVqZJiZPXsAHPYOL00u-AGLxiPXp2vNNauhsQSRbqP9YIWds/w640-h480/IMG_5867%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-5741476912267541292023-10-16T10:43:00.003+01:002023-10-16T10:43:54.960+01:00Ecumenical, civic and diplomatic welcome to Chancellor David Wright <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGbrggwmSdJGocgjL8-af_APp5KbArUHOwwJxMs4Rr3J8TkqT8dMxGi840hFLMIozlmA4aBA6CVGcNFGcUAN7vRyC_OREqV-y6aR77QAT8IEtqFBBNovAN9p7ZvbrY6KxBhhwPbiJvKyw8nfBpmnhDVFnYTb67vCVI2J2xwtIIs0LB2NzuzdwRr7l6hM/s1034/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="1034" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGbrggwmSdJGocgjL8-af_APp5KbArUHOwwJxMs4Rr3J8TkqT8dMxGi840hFLMIozlmA4aBA6CVGcNFGcUAN7vRyC_OREqV-y6aR77QAT8IEtqFBBNovAN9p7ZvbrY6KxBhhwPbiJvKyw8nfBpmnhDVFnYTb67vCVI2J2xwtIIs0LB2NzuzdwRr7l6hM/w640-h378/IMG_0127.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpERP8lX48DfPNdHWPtSyOjZua6lUDtXTOlfhPtU4DIMQNO7Je6mh3kbAfvEue1wm4jqTwpbmiYbUZ3g8sPF7MuYn2Dk9tLkjVAvYlXWPHXqy2mDKsZOc0ADM_ObckpdxV2QG2uHzPESyhXhmHbbdgRkz-LcFB06X8YWGMcK4kGZ4jOJ2G3GXFaXMIUL4/s960/IMG_5886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="960" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpERP8lX48DfPNdHWPtSyOjZua6lUDtXTOlfhPtU4DIMQNO7Je6mh3kbAfvEue1wm4jqTwpbmiYbUZ3g8sPF7MuYn2Dk9tLkjVAvYlXWPHXqy2mDKsZOc0ADM_ObckpdxV2QG2uHzPESyhXhmHbbdgRkz-LcFB06X8YWGMcK4kGZ4jOJ2G3GXFaXMIUL4/w640-h458/IMG_5886.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chancellor David Wright (on the right)</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>On Sunday 24 September, the Revd Prebendary David Wright
became the Chancellor of St Paul’s Pro Cathedral in Valletta, Malta, and
Chaplain of the Anglican Church in Malta and Gozo. The Cathedral was packed as parishioners gathered to welcome their new priest. It was a joyful ecumenical
occasion with significant Roman Catholic presence at the service, including His
Grace Charles Scicluna, the Archbishop of Malta. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnes6QAtGMazmTpLU8D-9A-UlC2hA8WdIq3bCdv9Fqn4cQz-2ziALjA86wYt666Aq6OSETo1t2GmZO0teTV9-ouXthocMtGp8K_bMIiChQSSHwgyTewoyvHG-96IdaaW180mwhfW9sYkI_D7ZZjIq9WHmTV9nV6dFDadh2IWmYcBRw1mM665E39sOdI1E/s960/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnes6QAtGMazmTpLU8D-9A-UlC2hA8WdIq3bCdv9Fqn4cQz-2ziALjA86wYt666Aq6OSETo1t2GmZO0teTV9-ouXthocMtGp8K_bMIiChQSSHwgyTewoyvHG-96IdaaW180mwhfW9sYkI_D7ZZjIq9WHmTV9nV6dFDadh2IWmYcBRw1mM665E39sOdI1E/w640-h480/IMG_0126.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvdl3ZdWbmJQbiqD8xqZkgWCeSdmGB2-VAsldo7HPDbrfc7wFBrNq5D4hBEch-velcRMI7uW-KMCPFymCYsdH4T2FmUWo1WudYyJdVeUbAiYcwSdhaOpSiw36dPgBz1X0A_w9O-46l9P-JgsD8b3PojZPEHU0hAFQFX9YeoIf1yvay_AnnIRmohCvNPw/s960/IMG_5885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="960" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvdl3ZdWbmJQbiqD8xqZkgWCeSdmGB2-VAsldo7HPDbrfc7wFBrNq5D4hBEch-velcRMI7uW-KMCPFymCYsdH4T2FmUWo1WudYyJdVeUbAiYcwSdhaOpSiw36dPgBz1X0A_w9O-46l9P-JgsD8b3PojZPEHU0hAFQFX9YeoIf1yvay_AnnIRmohCvNPw/w640-h458/IMG_5885.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archbishop Scicluna giving the blessing at the end of the installation mass</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The President of the Republic,
and High Commissioners and Ambassadors from the UK, Australia, and Ireland were
also present, underlining the significant role of the Pro Cathedral and the
Chancellor’s ministry in Malta, even though Anglicans are a minority. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqx89cbg1Vm1kU-VUauC_yw8iXLBacOLvzn7V16X2zP8SjatiL41cxfnzbYEHX7X7DZ_lDQn0CedEiMYTx3xw1seNqDEO527eBuYOpElltbptG9gWmknz1jHf8y2uwfqErgb_1k21HjbtJM9xfaX9hO1U5pR7AVoinVnGFDhuvsGx6T7pRZEhZpUxvYg/s4032/IMG_5857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqx89cbg1Vm1kU-VUauC_yw8iXLBacOLvzn7V16X2zP8SjatiL41cxfnzbYEHX7X7DZ_lDQn0CedEiMYTx3xw1seNqDEO527eBuYOpElltbptG9gWmknz1jHf8y2uwfqErgb_1k21HjbtJM9xfaX9hO1U5pR7AVoinVnGFDhuvsGx6T7pRZEhZpUxvYg/w480-h640/IMG_5857.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-20190368964488666032023-09-16T09:49:00.000+01:002023-09-16T09:49:31.789+01:00Canon Frances Hiller<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh835r-xHnFEvz-B0VVxMf0VM8w-kOjGX2_ZaBjSdNAQOuNT3xrQLLNU5D6Z0gtAWNjIrJoNEBfz1uyQ8Gk-ojFzF9th8pr6BJZeK40LkV5tjazI8GS8CMYaqGlDqu_97E4BAs4rjxUzCoKJCqw8QihbnU6sTqQB04qA3-KYGoztkAuzc3q8UUDLvQOh_k/s4032/IMG_5824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh835r-xHnFEvz-B0VVxMf0VM8w-kOjGX2_ZaBjSdNAQOuNT3xrQLLNU5D6Z0gtAWNjIrJoNEBfz1uyQ8Gk-ojFzF9th8pr6BJZeK40LkV5tjazI8GS8CMYaqGlDqu_97E4BAs4rjxUzCoKJCqw8QihbnU6sTqQB04qA3-KYGoztkAuzc3q8UUDLvQOh_k/w640-h480/IMG_5824.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Most people in this diocese know Frances Hiller. Deacon
Frances has served as my chaplain since 11 November 2002! She is a member of
the Diocesan Ministry Team, the Bishop’s Senior Staff, advises at many levels
across the diocese, manages my office, my diary, and much of my correspondence,
prepares my liturgical celebrations and generally helps to keep me sane.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last Wednesday she was collated as a canon of our Cathedral
Chapter, with the stall of Our Lady of Europe.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p>Congratulations to Canon Deacon Frances Hiller! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xgjXILxxxGcU8Fe9lAak5Nvlp8J3BbDNFC6RKSLQbE0z2Rx-q8ZuD1820maC_BLbQ73eB74KQHgfr4zNOwSzeZzPm_En1UIkI5_DNVg4E7hQDKkWtB_H3Hvd_VMFlq4eJvNvy0URa8giI2RfrPh_OhKxP_WsIB5CSYvBKwzV5aVgmJHtY59i1edNshs/s522/IMG_0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xgjXILxxxGcU8Fe9lAak5Nvlp8J3BbDNFC6RKSLQbE0z2Rx-q8ZuD1820maC_BLbQ73eB74KQHgfr4zNOwSzeZzPm_En1UIkI5_DNVg4E7hQDKkWtB_H3Hvd_VMFlq4eJvNvy0URa8giI2RfrPh_OhKxP_WsIB5CSYvBKwzV5aVgmJHtY59i1edNshs/s320/IMG_0123.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-63166414724351932012023-09-09T15:23:00.000+01:002023-09-09T15:23:56.629+01:004 New Bishops for the Polish Catholic Church (Union of Utrecht)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y9uGDUYMJ2tki33gQ5PjsD-CUhzToUI0SJ5XW2jk1OBNQ11jQaPH4pK4CEq081maw4jBDd9gDLc7Jiz-dTTwmOlpMYq-d4SJCG6AVf2_Y23tJ_MAefpktNSfEpj5Skdzd48qnSECEIvPTou3lU7XrphojQog9PEp2K07EONuXKxfeBYLt1lwiwU7zk4/s4032/IMG_1996.Jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y9uGDUYMJ2tki33gQ5PjsD-CUhzToUI0SJ5XW2jk1OBNQ11jQaPH4pK4CEq081maw4jBDd9gDLc7Jiz-dTTwmOlpMYq-d4SJCG6AVf2_Y23tJ_MAefpktNSfEpj5Skdzd48qnSECEIvPTou3lU7XrphojQog9PEp2K07EONuXKxfeBYLt1lwiwU7zk4/w640-h480/IMG_1996.Jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">History was made today
for the Union of Utrecht, the Old Catholic Communion of
Churches, with which the Churches of the Anglican Communion are in full
communion. The Polish member of the Union of Utrecht is called the Polish
Catholic Church. It consists of three dioceses at present, but with the death
of the late Bishop W</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">iktor <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wysoczański earlier this
year, there were no bishops remaining. A synod this summer elected 4 to fill
the three dioceses and provide an auxiliary for Warsaw as well. So today, the 4
new bishops were consecrated, the first time for such a multiple consecration
in an Old Catholic Church. It also marks the beginning an entirely new chapter
in the life of the Polish Catholic Church. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEra8TgdzYKt4plNhXTXHGYuZdYNFvwxwSKvJqJOf2r8zG4BYgjuAdYbtxwiia1Oo8Sii3aCMdAkl_x785RZkLbb_Czkj1f364ffOkcktjbUZrPa5Z4RMFAO13uRK3RNQNE3HDgmLeT2TCndkiGe1ZI8czRKOGGCHMZoq1vn_1gP8MYCJ1hkpbxOyml4o/s4032/IMG_1979.Jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEra8TgdzYKt4plNhXTXHGYuZdYNFvwxwSKvJqJOf2r8zG4BYgjuAdYbtxwiia1Oo8Sii3aCMdAkl_x785RZkLbb_Czkj1f364ffOkcktjbUZrPa5Z4RMFAO13uRK3RNQNE3HDgmLeT2TCndkiGe1ZI8czRKOGGCHMZoq1vn_1gP8MYCJ1hkpbxOyml4o/w640-h480/IMG_1979.Jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bishop Dick Schoon</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The service, slightly over 3 hours in length, was presided
by Bishop Dick Schoon, the Bishop of Haarlem, assisted by Bishop </span><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pavel Stránský</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> of the Czech Old Catholic
Church, and Bishop John Okoro, Bishop Emeritus of the Old Catholic Church of
Austria. Archbishop Bernd</span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 107%;">Wallet of Utrecht and I
were also participants in the laying-on-of hands. The Cathedral of St Mary
Madgalene in </span></strong><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Wrocław</span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 107%;"> was
filled for the consecration mass. Ecumenical guests included bishops from the
Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, the Orthodox Church and the
Mariavite Church.</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFDP_vQpsBcUue_fMkfNY9sVLrDHBiS62XqhWdckC70DDjNyoH09wGpFVYHzWn29CJ4PxJ-rf8Qe0PgUzTOi_VHEYgCWxDkfN1QyJT9f3CgfY_aw1sGXu8kqaN35P7nJ0jH3C1o_qz9DDmQ02Tlw88JBrmOTAytZMOn2bh2Nk9caJOD94yDTYspIAV1A/s4032/IMG_1984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFDP_vQpsBcUue_fMkfNY9sVLrDHBiS62XqhWdckC70DDjNyoH09wGpFVYHzWn29CJ4PxJ-rf8Qe0PgUzTOi_VHEYgCWxDkfN1QyJT9f3CgfY_aw1sGXu8kqaN35P7nJ0jH3C1o_qz9DDmQ02Tlw88JBrmOTAytZMOn2bh2Nk9caJOD94yDTYspIAV1A/w640-h480/IMG_1984.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The four new bishops are Andrzej Gontarek, Bishop of Warsaw and Lead
Bishop of the Polish Catholic Church, Antoni Norman for the diocese of
Kraków-Czestochowa, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stanisław Bosy for
the diocese of Wrocław and Henryk Dąbrowski, auxiliary bishop for the diocese
of Warsaw.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqRtbJuHjeD_IqBZZUvzd0EUIAxpER8-M5yAh4Hkot65PtuS_ENBlKO57EvvpynOdwR0HHzC5uCBxfHJB8gg3P0m3Z4QtXiUXyFjgFUtPvU8gJl_J_UeYhyAVEcAf9eR3GdgQqYEJN12doxnIqEYLgPBgGV2oU7Y2FXqkO9ZSUoGDoJadUp22lFPrXC4/s4032/IMG_5775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqRtbJuHjeD_IqBZZUvzd0EUIAxpER8-M5yAh4Hkot65PtuS_ENBlKO57EvvpynOdwR0HHzC5uCBxfHJB8gg3P0m3Z4QtXiUXyFjgFUtPvU8gJl_J_UeYhyAVEcAf9eR3GdgQqYEJN12doxnIqEYLgPBgGV2oU7Y2FXqkO9ZSUoGDoJadUp22lFPrXC4/w640-h480/IMG_5775.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bishops for the Laying on of Hands</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Polish Catholic Church is now ready with new leadership to engage
more intensively in mission and ministry across the country. We pray for them
in this new stage of their life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Being present for this historic occasion was a huge privilege. It was also a time to connect with old friends, and ome new ones, over some excellent Polish refreshments.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhpbpEQmhoQUw_dg6LyrlMYIBWCi61HBnQXYws1hKWk29RhtIh_Y4R2IYyllB-DIa7cLl4yZ5b_GR7roGmKS2rUm_O8lg9M9ahcGv4t3IAD_i3BoNMo98jCzmxeqmk3Zw8VtoM35w6EPT0a4QQy5CDmW3uD8sDrwd60c9hhBhYX92DE4eIuAFbNou0nI/s4032/IMG_2478.Jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhpbpEQmhoQUw_dg6LyrlMYIBWCi61HBnQXYws1hKWk29RhtIh_Y4R2IYyllB-DIa7cLl4yZ5b_GR7roGmKS2rUm_O8lg9M9ahcGv4t3IAD_i3BoNMo98jCzmxeqmk3Zw8VtoM35w6EPT0a4QQy5CDmW3uD8sDrwd60c9hhBhYX92DE4eIuAFbNou0nI/w640-h480/IMG_2478.Jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><br /><p></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-37565443873751091842023-09-05T14:36:00.001+01:002023-09-05T14:36:23.180+01:00An announcement made today<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT8Zb8mfl2uTFKcis_3i1e-erV5poW8mqlm3okTda7yCPAqGnwlqsSQ_0XD8hFbzPHUHkB-KPOBdzLXcQmmUW63wAPHgrMKPHLdYh4yO9eFKTN6wGSRa6Y4azHd4swFxgHXVtl5DCUKD1C5VlfxLDpkPAAEqqxPWIGOpJ0SUebCOVJDcO-cfy4rAw2lo/s1772/Confirmation%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1772" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT8Zb8mfl2uTFKcis_3i1e-erV5poW8mqlm3okTda7yCPAqGnwlqsSQ_0XD8hFbzPHUHkB-KPOBdzLXcQmmUW63wAPHgrMKPHLdYh4yO9eFKTN6wGSRa6Y4azHd4swFxgHXVtl5DCUKD1C5VlfxLDpkPAAEqqxPWIGOpJ0SUebCOVJDcO-cfy4rAw2lo/w640-h426/Confirmation%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>The following announcement was made today by the Diocese in Europe:</span><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"></p><blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Bishop David Hamid, suffragan bishop of the Diocese in Europe and one of the longest serving bishops in the Church of England, has announced his plans to retire in February 2024.</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Bishop David said: “For over 20 years I have been blessed to have one of the most fulfilling and enriching jobs in the Church. At times the Diocese in Europe is difficult to explain to outsiders and to many in other parts of the Church of England, but I can sum up from my experience that it is a family, a family of committed and loving people, a truly rich and diverse, if scattered community, which seeks to live the Christian life in the Anglican way. The diocese embodies a profound vision of ecumenical outreach and collaboration and is a beautiful multicultural and multiethnic mosaic. These particular aspects of her life are very close to my own heart and have added to my joy in serving the diocese as one of its bishops.</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"I am grateful beyond words for the kindness and generosity that is shown to me in my pastoral visits, and I give thanks to God for all the many signs of growth in faith and Christian witness and service that I see from the shores of the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and beyond. Throughout these years, I have been dependent on the encouragement and support of both the late Bishop Geoffrey Rowell and Bishop Robert Innes, as well as from a wonderful group of colleagues in the Senior Staff, and the wisdom, patience and commitment of my Chaplain Deacon Frances Hiller who has served me throughout my episcopal ministry.</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"I am 68 right now, and while I can continue until I turn 70, the time seems right for Colleen and me to look towards the next phase of our life. However, there is still much on my agenda before the end of February! But when the day comes, I know that I will take into retirement a heart filled with thanksgiving for these past couple of decades and a heart which will always hold the people of this wonderful diocese in my prayers”.</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Bishop David was consecrated as a bishop in October 2002, and installed as suffragan bishop of the Diocese in Europe, where he has served for almost 21 years.</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Bishop Robert, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, said:</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Bishop David’s retirement will leave a huge hole in the diocese. We will miss his vast knowledge, mature experience and personal friendship. These days, senior roles in the Church are extremely demanding, arguably all the more so in our diocese with the demands of frequent international travel. The Church therefore owes Bishop David an immense debt of gratitude for more than two decades of devoted episcopal service.</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"He has supported and encouraged the diocese and its chaplaincies through numerous international crises: banking, sovereign debt, migration, Brexit and Covid. At the level of individual chaplaincies, he has overseen numerous recruitments of chaplains, baptized and confirmed hundreds of candidates, advised on mission initiatives and building projects, dealt with situations of conflict, and exercised a highly skilled ministry of oversight so as to build up the faith of individuals and communities.</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Bishop David is a skilled ecumenist. He has, for example, served as co-chair of the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, the chair of the Church of England’s Porvoo Panel, which serves the links between Anglicans and Scandinavian and Baltic Lutherans and President of the Society of St. Willibrord, which brings together Anglicans and Old Catholics. A proficient linguist, Bishop David has nurtured personal relationships with ecumenical colleagues for the good of the whole Church. He retires with prayers and love from across our diocese.”</i></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Once Bishop David retires, the process to seek to appoint the next suffragan Bishop in Europe will begin.</i></span></p></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"></p><p><span style="color: #636160; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #636160; font-family: inherit;">I woke up knowing that this was the day when the public announcement of my retirement would be made. So I have to admit I chuckled at God's sense of humour, as the first psalm assigned for Morning Prayer today was 132, which begins, "Lord remember for David all the hardships he endured" !</span></p><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="color: #636160;">Of course, the last 21 years of ministry in this diocese (and I pray the next 6 months before 29 February!) have not been a hardship. Yes, there have been times of challenge, and moments of sadness shared with so many, but overwhelmingly it has been a wonderful time of joy throughout. What a privilege it is to know and love the people that God has granted me to serve. </span></div>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-89154016882667913722023-08-14T12:09:00.002+01:002023-08-14T12:09:27.756+01:001.5 million young people in Lisbon gathering and St George's played its part!<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3BQRbvyKJQ_-xAEN2yTNGnGlIERjAGGIRlyrGQaUDdLx_F-gh64OziHgzxNY402ObCD9Yh5xmFLFmi7Pcuslnv4cADdY8hCm96XImXcJ1Uh-zfYxkHJ-UGeVIKNZhvw-aTs7UmXebV21n1rDk_VN1bGnClsPS0mCvH2Vjz6Ndw8PM_Ha_V7fTHDLQug/s10368/IMG_5381.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3738" data-original-width="10368" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3BQRbvyKJQ_-xAEN2yTNGnGlIERjAGGIRlyrGQaUDdLx_F-gh64OziHgzxNY402ObCD9Yh5xmFLFmi7Pcuslnv4cADdY8hCm96XImXcJ1Uh-zfYxkHJ-UGeVIKNZhvw-aTs7UmXebV21n1rDk_VN1bGnClsPS0mCvH2Vjz6Ndw8PM_Ha_V7fTHDLQug/w640-h230/IMG_5381.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Roman Catholic World Youth Day (which lasted a
week from 1 to 6 August!) was likely the largest gathering of youth within the geographic territory
of the Diocese. 1.5 million young people from around the world gathered in
Lisbon for the week’s events which included times of prayer, teaching, worship, cultural activities
and meetings with Pope Francis.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JmarohdA3NBVk-FYrF_UPM_aEMI1iWjoEAcRm7NX-EJYXZuxxqSe9XYi5MHkM8poGuNzoHmA81b6yGN3TPIPmx_djqsM20YKfEkE59qXJ_odYU2NjWsmzZHcjyIG_CcAjqXK53c8yc-Opk7KfeKWQ5Vv98qtNp_HSbatYPO2w7UsqX9Xa8cXEgfUFrM/s960/IMG_0103.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JmarohdA3NBVk-FYrF_UPM_aEMI1iWjoEAcRm7NX-EJYXZuxxqSe9XYi5MHkM8poGuNzoHmA81b6yGN3TPIPmx_djqsM20YKfEkE59qXJ_odYU2NjWsmzZHcjyIG_CcAjqXK53c8yc-Opk7KfeKWQ5Vv98qtNp_HSbatYPO2w7UsqX9Xa8cXEgfUFrM/w640-h480/IMG_0103.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>St George’s Anglican Church in Lisbon, with their
priests, Mthr Ruth Bendrey and Fr Iain Bendrey, had a vision of collaborating
with a key Roman Catholic movement, the <i>Chemin Neuf</i> Community to host a
series of ecumenical gatherings at St George’s during the week. They were assisted </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">by Honourary Assitant priest at St George's, Fr Steve Danzey. </span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Archbishop
of York, Stephen Cottrell and the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome,
Archbishop Ian Ernest, were among the key speakers invited for the week.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf89WByIrAKn9m2tMv80_V5YG3PM4DlH2PDVenzmVb6Xd987RHWppaaNQbRYp4fQ2osK77285xJH_JtouUK75a_0_Kr52VqTFdfXucRsWHjbaQqZPnKAZwitRQvihrFAC7sOFAQz6JWFeHTjoVxjDMfoB_JRTnqwmrMoFKy995GeaEwBmZXj_cMVFXDs/s4032/IMG_5349.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf89WByIrAKn9m2tMv80_V5YG3PM4DlH2PDVenzmVb6Xd987RHWppaaNQbRYp4fQ2osK77285xJH_JtouUK75a_0_Kr52VqTFdfXucRsWHjbaQqZPnKAZwitRQvihrFAC7sOFAQz6JWFeHTjoVxjDMfoB_JRTnqwmrMoFKy995GeaEwBmZXj_cMVFXDs/w640-h480/IMG_5349.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiROeYkW-octpdhuHkgEzR5rF_x5qaBKyH_Tm-hkeOx8IG9jEU-wu9_5bqp7_zcY6pZxWBGQwU2_CX1dXBxLt-nJfgxEDoe08Ehx7yjOjdVcBxl9EGqBlSLo5zOvi1SOoYfx16zi8BC8IVTmXuaTUQ5-30hLnne5AXvTaTIFBxmI1kpxIqR361BjuWMU/s1920/IMG_0100.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1920" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiROeYkW-octpdhuHkgEzR5rF_x5qaBKyH_Tm-hkeOx8IG9jEU-wu9_5bqp7_zcY6pZxWBGQwU2_CX1dXBxLt-nJfgxEDoe08Ehx7yjOjdVcBxl9EGqBlSLo5zOvi1SOoYfx16zi8BC8IVTmXuaTUQ5-30hLnne5AXvTaTIFBxmI1kpxIqR361BjuWMU/w640-h288/IMG_0100.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI1CcMkfSmrVAwHUMAHcaIx3xMsCaUDhQ5gz64nqey4g70SajEtGLREPzmJgHwSenFFvHyAdIbMpE9B59wlR0D4amNzU3NFIOGvPZCnc3DYWNZW2CP3cks7JeBCGlSOv0kY1M9e8a-pBQzmomjAiuYPWtkTWO34_Lc6cQLd1AGTxFWTeke_6aOhHZ_SE/s4032/IMG_5389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI1CcMkfSmrVAwHUMAHcaIx3xMsCaUDhQ5gz64nqey4g70SajEtGLREPzmJgHwSenFFvHyAdIbMpE9B59wlR0D4amNzU3NFIOGvPZCnc3DYWNZW2CP3cks7JeBCGlSOv0kY1M9e8a-pBQzmomjAiuYPWtkTWO34_Lc6cQLd1AGTxFWTeke_6aOhHZ_SE/w480-h640/IMG_5389.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>Young adults from the Diocese in Europe joined us,
from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine.
Some Anglicans even came from as far away as East Malaysia!</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvFrhsj4lygEO2mF69iWF1heIYqICykXAt5OtIpOIJKt8IdxZtTg0MGMRRNAZ292zkTpxoePVi-pjmgZYXxMhBFU15JMkf_YFncpy21fGH4PCIcgTMp07jHFtLkRmalYvUdHjh-064bWQ2Taf1qbqT9JwBIk0pFy5GMP3vnLVRUlzXpGynyZ1UpgVR4E/s2820/IMG_5359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2820" data-original-width="1703" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvFrhsj4lygEO2mF69iWF1heIYqICykXAt5OtIpOIJKt8IdxZtTg0MGMRRNAZ292zkTpxoePVi-pjmgZYXxMhBFU15JMkf_YFncpy21fGH4PCIcgTMp07jHFtLkRmalYvUdHjh-064bWQ2Taf1qbqT9JwBIk0pFy5GMP3vnLVRUlzXpGynyZ1UpgVR4E/w386-h640/IMG_5359.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDLL7Jozfbk3HUDSsa5F4x3s0UL1sY9ASlJ2POrYKeltGZvBEvMvXHZfgdjWivAu120RgYlTZConOY3wsoEaAQaMaAliu7ZY2-Tew4-tlDIw7KsA5o6FtH7-Z-qDxExilWulaZFeQpLRwp9Sfy_BSgJEclRpDpgD9iJruP_9LGcygtT7AsVq3xqJxh28/s4032/IMG_5399.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDLL7Jozfbk3HUDSsa5F4x3s0UL1sY9ASlJ2POrYKeltGZvBEvMvXHZfgdjWivAu120RgYlTZConOY3wsoEaAQaMaAliu7ZY2-Tew4-tlDIw7KsA5o6FtH7-Z-qDxExilWulaZFeQpLRwp9Sfy_BSgJEclRpDpgD9iJruP_9LGcygtT7AsVq3xqJxh28/w480-h640/IMG_5399.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">St George’s was filled with young people at every
event, and it is clear that we have a great potential to host young people for
such gathering in future. Fr Iain, who is also our Diocese’s Young Vocations
Champion, is keen to make this happen! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRj_NDtUoNHetQ-m0Kvahih8TcF043ZfVpn0ysOdJ5g1JramiEiO7F7-5lnWd0BVKTXUWrpvaz8hp_LTfC9Wf8MH0Wwgyd8H2s9wmrsibTOwQG24E4QXCXrLxkdmVhYbmJQnVxb7XvadACUFjVUqkuhwOsLJI2Gcqp9RtIqVVn_WSlAf7xUQK9Uurwuo/s4032/IMG_5364.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRj_NDtUoNHetQ-m0Kvahih8TcF043ZfVpn0ysOdJ5g1JramiEiO7F7-5lnWd0BVKTXUWrpvaz8hp_LTfC9Wf8MH0Wwgyd8H2s9wmrsibTOwQG24E4QXCXrLxkdmVhYbmJQnVxb7XvadACUFjVUqkuhwOsLJI2Gcqp9RtIqVVn_WSlAf7xUQK9Uurwuo/w640-h480/IMG_5364.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The week ended with a young person receiving the
sacrament of baptism (by immersion) and others receiving the sacrament of
confirmation. A fitting end to a week of vibrant faith!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXEpvkOfqtdGojbh0aATWDfRcLi2w72g9itRHammCo3k7zqY-vp3VvQw99Wv5IMEJuOF864B822fxC7oVFZPZc9uWAc_X1wIXkJSJqp_AthKcFsidDVa3sl6GoneklTmmEKeau9Ye7rltic72RpFuEOizSIpjCetjYwN-sJwHUP81yx9RwzRe1dVi974/s1800/IMG_5421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="809" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXEpvkOfqtdGojbh0aATWDfRcLi2w72g9itRHammCo3k7zqY-vp3VvQw99Wv5IMEJuOF864B822fxC7oVFZPZc9uWAc_X1wIXkJSJqp_AthKcFsidDVa3sl6GoneklTmmEKeau9Ye7rltic72RpFuEOizSIpjCetjYwN-sJwHUP81yx9RwzRe1dVi974/w288-h640/IMG_5421.JPG" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbWnlfN1iR7Lkt1eRm4ohnLf9DwM2tAkOckug4dJkx6aPS29KUAwSHHCnDZ6Iwutoxr2Jb-txywib_EIzoni8RnREZxw3vaW6lDvh-ib96B5pYHY9eOY0AyxUhNlZfWKoXp8oHXOIWbJSP7UMkVBxTi_wc0zXma6rdLWbfcHoX3K_4f5C5OrNIkieOOE/s960/IMG_5418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="960" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbWnlfN1iR7Lkt1eRm4ohnLf9DwM2tAkOckug4dJkx6aPS29KUAwSHHCnDZ6Iwutoxr2Jb-txywib_EIzoni8RnREZxw3vaW6lDvh-ib96B5pYHY9eOY0AyxUhNlZfWKoXp8oHXOIWbJSP7UMkVBxTi_wc0zXma6rdLWbfcHoX3K_4f5C5OrNIkieOOE/w640-h288/IMG_5418.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><br /><p></p></div>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-82333670314816748372023-08-13T11:27:00.003+01:002023-08-13T11:28:46.065+01:00Sta Margarita, patron of Menorca Chaplaincy, has her annual (ecumenical) outing<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mITLPjEvp3jwLZsvvtS0gXCPseI9esflQzrFOQZCR-3e7m3ch4Vp2dgzFfmOhMIwZuEdEhyNLEERZdkeAyuU9LWplnv5tmT3RqfDBSu4muOwTsbvMG1eKvOpkDEpwl9SKas9wVhKRshvog_3m8YK4Y7sZ9it_qw7AvBinho-h8suNgf0cFYx02giK8Q/s4032/IMG_5280.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mITLPjEvp3jwLZsvvtS0gXCPseI9esflQzrFOQZCR-3e7m3ch4Vp2dgzFfmOhMIwZuEdEhyNLEERZdkeAyuU9LWplnv5tmT3RqfDBSu4muOwTsbvMG1eKvOpkDEpwl9SKas9wVhKRshvog_3m8YK4Y7sZ9it_qw7AvBinho-h8suNgf0cFYx02giK8Q/w480-h640/IMG_5280.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transporting Sta Margarita to the start of the procession</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the privileges of work in the Diocese in Europe
is being part of the rich local ecumenical relations in so many places. A
recent visit to our Chaplaincy in Menorca, dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch,
coincided with the patronal festival. It was a joy to be part of the local
fiesta in honour of Santa Margarita. Her statue from our Church was the main
attraction for the procession from the Roman Catholic Church to ours.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26v9fiYy0SxNuJO205FSfu8SucCYc35yXt5Uc0VodEvLaFhv51SIKqrJXWzNeVUmDqAN_LFWgNMSWFQugjAuxBB2e5viIC-bES4Pm7z8dUj51tu-3Z368W1VaLJFAVrT9TFqigqSCYHoFZP3zKgqaz7LkixofOEmcK7CTOKjKAvlk20auvSzQxH_fzD8/s2048/IMG_0094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26v9fiYy0SxNuJO205FSfu8SucCYc35yXt5Uc0VodEvLaFhv51SIKqrJXWzNeVUmDqAN_LFWgNMSWFQugjAuxBB2e5viIC-bES4Pm7z8dUj51tu-3Z368W1VaLJFAVrT9TFqigqSCYHoFZP3zKgqaz7LkixofOEmcK7CTOKjKAvlk20auvSzQxH_fzD8/w480-h640/IMG_0094.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>The Chaplain, Fr Paul Strudwick was also able to
arrange for me to have conversations with the new RC Bishop of Menorca, Mons.
Gerard Vilallonga Hellín.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tOSQlR3tKy3fmfidgYYnlcSp9FRLhCWs-9ZqN70sjD2YocefgeL1wPv2fsAjSGcGoyLVsv4Igac-4Yd0Mr9CYSqsS68PwNkHomCgxPf8HcsFrTOVsn5kjuGkIksYkIOnXDwj6bYaBlDocUISVsDUp5wAbP_kcxXRggKAaASbLJGrgtG_m9uIZ-ppg0g/s2048/IMG_0091.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tOSQlR3tKy3fmfidgYYnlcSp9FRLhCWs-9ZqN70sjD2YocefgeL1wPv2fsAjSGcGoyLVsv4Igac-4Yd0Mr9CYSqsS68PwNkHomCgxPf8HcsFrTOVsn5kjuGkIksYkIOnXDwj6bYaBlDocUISVsDUp5wAbP_kcxXRggKAaASbLJGrgtG_m9uIZ-ppg0g/w480-h640/IMG_0091.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sta Margarita back in Church!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-91002382487701868322023-05-11T14:58:00.000+01:002023-05-11T14:58:02.027+01:00Ecumenical and multicultural ministry in Norway<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfalW2xRHynSAj1nSgEcFWbVVesfw26-tV7XRp1jblyEEPG6a08G2Gfgf4r2TsQGpOYd7NUHoFM-JaiqUEXmfauG4gzWt0jqBSlj2Ph46Dei-1t1NDzBjprjFaX0Cv48kwvPkO-0pHzX2XjBAnAAiZxJG8qFFAzVWtS_YOZ3-FaMfSCR1pIG2yrBJ/s720/343564029_621657956481659_3991137902991629191_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="720" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfalW2xRHynSAj1nSgEcFWbVVesfw26-tV7XRp1jblyEEPG6a08G2Gfgf4r2TsQGpOYd7NUHoFM-JaiqUEXmfauG4gzWt0jqBSlj2Ph46Dei-1t1NDzBjprjFaX0Cv48kwvPkO-0pHzX2XjBAnAAiZxJG8qFFAzVWtS_YOZ3-FaMfSCR1pIG2yrBJ/w640-h474/343564029_621657956481659_3991137902991629191_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">On Saturday 22
April, the Church of St Edmund’s Oslo, with its Chaplain the Revd Canon Joanna Udal participated
in a city-centre ecumenical event designed to bring the quite secular Norwegians back into touch with their Church
once again. The Cathedral in Oslo and two other parish Churches hosted
celebrations highlighting history, culture, music, and, importantly, the Church’s work to
combat environmental degradation and to encourage interfaith understanding and
respect. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzICxUmOmX5FCNIMuVOWMMtqlG8FxFtoUWGKEs5SwlPgrHE9Rnrx6cfkjZfoXthVbh99to9_jD_nRWSbGuph35g78uXeH5Xrr15FxUSJlRV6AoQX3Of9vYd0I6pvkki9bDCLtbCUyLhFrFhXKwzn7Etl9c66A2iWYd5dHpB35ZiPJBTC2lJajZh7n/s4032/IMG_4690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzICxUmOmX5FCNIMuVOWMMtqlG8FxFtoUWGKEs5SwlPgrHE9Rnrx6cfkjZfoXthVbh99to9_jD_nRWSbGuph35g78uXeH5Xrr15FxUSJlRV6AoQX3Of9vYd0I6pvkki9bDCLtbCUyLhFrFhXKwzn7Etl9c66A2iWYd5dHpB35ZiPJBTC2lJajZh7n/w640-h480/IMG_4690.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Canon Udal was able to speak to the gathering and bring Anglican greetings
to this important event. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was pleased to
be able to have conversations with Bishop Kari Veiteberg of Oslo, who is a
leading voice for the social justice work of the Church.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPu9TbtCSsqIei-59DykdVNlg-9dJVb0dVilPGrmgsQLRQvZj5TUbx45n5JpGo2BtJnUG_Pk8V2iYPVz3TyedU_GukApcGTncmU80AWsC-JNFkvcbZBXGfKIXb0wq8SddZQg2C9ntNblJX1f-cHd20zGJCHc85gONA4Yr7FDuUfBm-Uniq9pO_qp2/s4032/image0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPu9TbtCSsqIei-59DykdVNlg-9dJVb0dVilPGrmgsQLRQvZj5TUbx45n5JpGo2BtJnUG_Pk8V2iYPVz3TyedU_GukApcGTncmU80AWsC-JNFkvcbZBXGfKIXb0wq8SddZQg2C9ntNblJX1f-cHd20zGJCHc85gONA4Yr7FDuUfBm-Uniq9pO_qp2/w640-h480/image0.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The weekend was
principally for pastoral duties, at St Edmund’s for baptisms and confirmations and
in Bragernes Church in the city of Drammen, for the confirmation of members of the
South Sudanese Maban Community, a community of refugees who are largely of Anglican background. </span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoDrWL6oRTcE3lCzRSQVtrIT--Pph93G7th5vGlCQHzN0w45bNVAfrAARwdpO4oUYFVzAYfHo4xLHnUhx3hLJSSPVhsLgmK8I5kpq1xKbKj7Hq5BxLXlpI2rSI8-NbeAD4_ZQa5cNiR_VyJew1UVttOAOmsuqNkF4fy84QHpBda12Sz4wGCjLmXGb/s4032/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoDrWL6oRTcE3lCzRSQVtrIT--Pph93G7th5vGlCQHzN0w45bNVAfrAARwdpO4oUYFVzAYfHo4xLHnUhx3hLJSSPVhsLgmK8I5kpq1xKbKj7Hq5BxLXlpI2rSI8-NbeAD4_ZQa5cNiR_VyJew1UVttOAOmsuqNkF4fy84QHpBda12Sz4wGCjLmXGb/w640-h480/IMG_4698.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTTThFRa5XaNQOC3qDp-aDZILJVVgNqevG4bXmeb8apRq1LW0oNN6aPT6sHdIp6fEd9drdisEmAr7F_OIgywfrH59U_zaWmaUpEEfO8YwaF2LhKxyu8lIsalQ1xyLDC39uUg7UA7URdM2OavbHTRH9y6_7Wi1yR6rVJqUN0U01ERh-zDI4AD7rH0I/s4032/IMG_4694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTTThFRa5XaNQOC3qDp-aDZILJVVgNqevG4bXmeb8apRq1LW0oNN6aPT6sHdIp6fEd9drdisEmAr7F_OIgywfrH59U_zaWmaUpEEfO8YwaF2LhKxyu8lIsalQ1xyLDC39uUg7UA7URdM2OavbHTRH9y6_7Wi1yR6rVJqUN0U01ERh-zDI4AD7rH0I/w480-h640/IMG_4694.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>I was assisted with translation in Drammen by Fr Isaac, an Anglican
priest from South Sudan, who was ordained in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Fr
Isaac is in the process to receive PtO in this diocese.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggstu9hXFBOO2-QCXPbopqx8QazNlnFloAzFNQ_YsS2Hmz7bm-xw8A-1l4ig1fSBnoZwXU9SifbrK-jZ7Qu6EBWwTl9VVdMSMpuqFjLgoD4jWi_WVtEJC6gooKzbD5dBaFI0c3k7_DDN_1b6c6Hf9_XNKSoFhCRp2YVqEuRwurLhhrT9_RIlDRe9Ed/s4032/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggstu9hXFBOO2-QCXPbopqx8QazNlnFloAzFNQ_YsS2Hmz7bm-xw8A-1l4ig1fSBnoZwXU9SifbrK-jZ7Qu6EBWwTl9VVdMSMpuqFjLgoD4jWi_WVtEJC6gooKzbD5dBaFI0c3k7_DDN_1b6c6Hf9_XNKSoFhCRp2YVqEuRwurLhhrT9_RIlDRe9Ed/w480-h640/IMG_4701.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor Isaac</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></span></span><p></p><br /><p></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-66598104738434657382023-04-18T15:15:00.000+01:002023-04-18T15:15:01.531+01:00The southernmost Cathedral in the Church of England<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae5wOaUCF82U-Qz7XlkiOeKSLIwD2fOB-IbpvTfXBS3FAIJKObiQtoGMsJu1SWVFjczdQVjOKwRZryRCy1ZQ9ILWNUqIFSXKD_VQJ4hl6bnrZgaRLYby-WZSm--h28_27-mtOcbpMAf5_x03mQSZlXA8bnmuIonQYCOkv1JEMnY6slxvoOt22GvsU/s974/IMG_4633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="730" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae5wOaUCF82U-Qz7XlkiOeKSLIwD2fOB-IbpvTfXBS3FAIJKObiQtoGMsJu1SWVFjczdQVjOKwRZryRCy1ZQ9ILWNUqIFSXKD_VQJ4hl6bnrZgaRLYby-WZSm--h28_27-mtOcbpMAf5_x03mQSZlXA8bnmuIonQYCOkv1JEMnY6slxvoOt22GvsU/w480-h640/IMG_4633.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Friday at St Paul's</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Diocese in Europe is blessed with three cathedrals: <i>The </i>Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar, Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral in Brussels, and St Paul's Pro-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta. It was a joy to be at one of them, St Paul's, for the sacred Triduum, leading the congregation through the mystery of the passion of Our Lord, and then sharing in their festive mass of the Resurrection on Easter Day at which parishioners also attended from the daughter congregation of Our Lady and St George, on the island of Gozo. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQ9AxJBvlisuJgHcLKGAxsbMOEcJR0KRRBRh1FzUuxw_pg1C3AXxB3vj_D2cSe6_BmMkBoQH_RS4hhORPYX9iv8vyi2uNCQ3TFbJo-OTYesYVQ5mXqCGL8LDbTuWUcFzlGSOt0Sn-EbVxrVUxI8lcINpAAd_14laJIcl7GpFKXaK9-196sDPAmBxy/s971/IMG_4642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="883" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQ9AxJBvlisuJgHcLKGAxsbMOEcJR0KRRBRh1FzUuxw_pg1C3AXxB3vj_D2cSe6_BmMkBoQH_RS4hhORPYX9iv8vyi2uNCQ3TFbJo-OTYesYVQ5mXqCGL8LDbTuWUcFzlGSOt0Sn-EbVxrVUxI8lcINpAAd_14laJIcl7GpFKXaK9-196sDPAmBxy/w582-h640/IMG_4642.JPG" width="582" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>St Paul's is the southernmost cathedral in the Church of England, with its spire (now under renovation) an iconic feature of the skyline of this Mediterranean island.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oNofPwkleHiKylliGFyO1aFj_ShviK58bmPPEzFYKusMrtHLTmhIDiku4atU_KpaqQMYPDK9tsu_eBMe2cC6J6rdEQvPJR0HaTLHVS-MTFgU5RsrL_Xo87DpeuoSEJ1OLkbWMMe0PtSmJ1n2EyiMLdSW8PsskakfQZl93ZfhvIEH6rX4akMKjdVX/s4032/IMG_4630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oNofPwkleHiKylliGFyO1aFj_ShviK58bmPPEzFYKusMrtHLTmhIDiku4atU_KpaqQMYPDK9tsu_eBMe2cC6J6rdEQvPJR0HaTLHVS-MTFgU5RsrL_Xo87DpeuoSEJ1OLkbWMMe0PtSmJ1n2EyiMLdSW8PsskakfQZl93ZfhvIEH6rX4akMKjdVX/w640-h480/IMG_4630.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Fund-raising continues for the spire restoration. Donations can be made here:</p><p><a href="https://www.stpaulspromalta.org/restoration/donate/">https://www.stpaulspromalta.org/restoration/donate/</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYVEpdQK2IjYyfCwSQpFujuloTqzGAZTYvhwQkue_TnrwBOw7Ds4cTxOG1Y1c9yDje6j5BPVyCHEqE5AJokIFlABdUaNN1UDS1H9G9C-lfuAW5NBikhya9NAb_yGSt4-EJ4B4m-yZ3QS2mvov7OiAzxlvYFDo4JnhC_5vXFIOC5ay5dY5_-PZW9T3/s1554/valletta-skyline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1305" data-original-width="1554" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYVEpdQK2IjYyfCwSQpFujuloTqzGAZTYvhwQkue_TnrwBOw7Ds4cTxOG1Y1c9yDje6j5BPVyCHEqE5AJokIFlABdUaNN1UDS1H9G9C-lfuAW5NBikhya9NAb_yGSt4-EJ4B4m-yZ3QS2mvov7OiAzxlvYFDo4JnhC_5vXFIOC5ay5dY5_-PZW9T3/w640-h538/valletta-skyline.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZvJSFWeKjTbWemUzcwU4j0pLhNEL4JAKQtpRUIjGCr9VsPCE3pqzY6EmnHiV45HJYYekOp-jQ9ilTIO1mKE2TH78_pq70NRelvXL7cHx63mfTFsj3iP93xbrWsDwFTbVFdGBXsudLwgGTOVHHrluhR_LcDDRDtZT8azGHh_fhsNpuTf_RPB-YHAM/s2971/IMG_2524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2211" data-original-width="2971" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZvJSFWeKjTbWemUzcwU4j0pLhNEL4JAKQtpRUIjGCr9VsPCE3pqzY6EmnHiV45HJYYekOp-jQ9ilTIO1mKE2TH78_pq70NRelvXL7cHx63mfTFsj3iP93xbrWsDwFTbVFdGBXsudLwgGTOVHHrluhR_LcDDRDtZT8azGHh_fhsNpuTf_RPB-YHAM/w640-h476/IMG_2524.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9ScQGXw-agiQ7ipwdUMbs1QFis0dA0iXdfjazyMGkbRXActfJ3Khk6wVM-vlL4qaVRUU6qga3M_sQadIcN56NgpsvwCMrezFqXcL7KwE1Im9J5J5CYqIKJlE_LsAVI0KEbYPrxfgVhBnrnz_EI7e9gXbmI_oRVmV5AzGdoeAlo3mezU7TDNo2f2m/s1024/IMG_4641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9ScQGXw-agiQ7ipwdUMbs1QFis0dA0iXdfjazyMGkbRXActfJ3Khk6wVM-vlL4qaVRUU6qga3M_sQadIcN56NgpsvwCMrezFqXcL7KwE1Im9J5J5CYqIKJlE_LsAVI0KEbYPrxfgVhBnrnz_EI7e9gXbmI_oRVmV5AzGdoeAlo3mezU7TDNo2f2m/w480-h640/IMG_4641.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-85351406088473126402023-04-05T13:38:00.000+01:002023-04-05T13:38:25.926+01:00Chrism masses: renewing ministerial commitment and blessing the oils for the sacraments<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsav05qubba0aZdqUlCHnsnOKZXwcS0btvmnv7_VmOIBYIjcbsrq6NnMckJs2nfrmgvuwllZvFOv_KyLtgiojxN_gRzrSxRX81XcUpG6chdgGB643U7NOSHYq0Wp71aF7MlOCbXz0Tnd9jTHViX4iRrCO6ooxLRkZz7nGk22a-CHJVLu_tZ4fkcFL/s2048/7c1ff271-a995-44a6-8a4d-367e11ef330e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsav05qubba0aZdqUlCHnsnOKZXwcS0btvmnv7_VmOIBYIjcbsrq6NnMckJs2nfrmgvuwllZvFOv_KyLtgiojxN_gRzrSxRX81XcUpG6chdgGB643U7NOSHYq0Wp71aF7MlOCbXz0Tnd9jTHViX4iRrCO6ooxLRkZz7nGk22a-CHJVLu_tZ4fkcFL/w480-h640/7c1ff271-a995-44a6-8a4d-367e11ef330e.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St George's Madrid</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Chrism Mass is a key moment each year when the unity of those engaged in public ministry is manifested and renewed, and when the sacred oils of baptism, the sick and chrism are blessed for distribution across the diocese. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">St James the Apostle refers to anointing the sick with oil, and the prayer of blessing asks that the Lord may free those anointed from pain and illness and made well again in body, mind and soul. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">In blessing the oil of the catechumens we pray that those anointed in preparation for their baptism will be given a deeper understanding of the gospel and strength for the challenge of Christian living. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">The sacred chrism, a mixture of olive oil and fragrant and aromatic essences, is blessed by the bishop and priests together, and is used after baptisms, at confirmations and ordinations, as a sign of the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">A translation of an ancient (sixth century) hymn </span><i style="color: #202124;">O Redemptor sume carmen </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">is sung as the oils are processed to the altar. It contains a verse looks forward to the passion and resurrection about to be celebrated in our churches: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lord Christ, the Father's only Son <br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">Who took our flesh in Mary's womb<br /></span><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">give light to your anointed ones<br /></span></span><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">and break the power of death's dark tomb. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"> </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">This year I presided at a Chrism Mass on Monday in Holy Week, in St George's Madrid. Clergy and Readers from across Spain, Portugal and even Switzerland joined together for this celebration. Deacon Justo from the partner Diocese of Peru, was our special and honoured guest.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA80KdAMAvnwLnr4Zq-CFBxKcXA6voj-iQkY8L0Ln7Vq5GgqDV-SOa60Gt40tU0DiTlpjAzUt_S9XLhzRcN10QelkAEs1gOwiJZNTGNy7RNxQrISWToYfr0x1Tso0yTSXoF073jh6X3amczmnfuvwuHUZYVaY_zr9jv9fEDo4anWfLASxg-7VI71jH/s4032/IMG_4581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA80KdAMAvnwLnr4Zq-CFBxKcXA6voj-iQkY8L0Ln7Vq5GgqDV-SOa60Gt40tU0DiTlpjAzUt_S9XLhzRcN10QelkAEs1gOwiJZNTGNy7RNxQrISWToYfr0x1Tso0yTSXoF073jh6X3amczmnfuvwuHUZYVaY_zr9jv9fEDo4anWfLASxg-7VI71jH/w480-h640/IMG_4581.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Deacon Justo</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">On Tuesday in Holy Week clergy and Readers from Italy, France and the Netherlands came together in All Saints Rome. At that celebration, recognising the rich ecumenical life in the city of Rome, we were joined by clergy from the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church, and the Church of Scotland. It was moving to commit ourselves as ecumenical partners to live, work and pray as one body in Christ.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05pHz5_tbW8f3KvhU0nz6I3IhwBPntmm3aCm4RS5sWhj9e5ujT2CR7K6iBUuNaH4qLq65ThynFqeD-L2cldWLIKGUMqrXavCkN4wjtJyyq11QXiwUAmKqvZfY1GCG74nx5BDi03VFBp6UQZQ85NuDsUPaLrlkqCzJsV4LjbwGL5P2kcqgmHFZssQ6/s4009/IMG_4604b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="4009" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05pHz5_tbW8f3KvhU0nz6I3IhwBPntmm3aCm4RS5sWhj9e5ujT2CR7K6iBUuNaH4qLq65ThynFqeD-L2cldWLIKGUMqrXavCkN4wjtJyyq11QXiwUAmKqvZfY1GCG74nx5BDi03VFBp6UQZQ85NuDsUPaLrlkqCzJsV4LjbwGL5P2kcqgmHFZssQ6/w640-h394/IMG_4604b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">All Saints Rome</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;">In our scattered diocese, the Chrism masses also provide an occasion for isolated clergy and people to renew their links of companionship. Both St George's, Madrid, and All Saints, Rome, provided a community lunch for us following the services.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwwGnhV-GPRXF3Hzm3zyvWVViO4l_B1bm3Hm8kMGND1fvIG6xm_VMOboYdPuO7UAheaBG5gMZ2wgjkLg_9EX8e19CcSAQitvg8vq5sVh6BRiPgP4Ouvs4r7XG_JHT5RfzKZneMXv64Ve9lVyO8qta8HvcS3dkRbGg65I2-mc0hAYQ7v1euJxoeU2T/s4010/IMG_4587b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2691" data-original-width="4010" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwwGnhV-GPRXF3Hzm3zyvWVViO4l_B1bm3Hm8kMGND1fvIG6xm_VMOboYdPuO7UAheaBG5gMZ2wgjkLg_9EX8e19CcSAQitvg8vq5sVh6BRiPgP4Ouvs4r7XG_JHT5RfzKZneMXv64Ve9lVyO8qta8HvcS3dkRbGg65I2-mc0hAYQ7v1euJxoeU2T/w640-h430/IMG_4587b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5CaVoA99PfLyMDe5VuX0LBTKjF5ouoVmLT2pkKKSzGnmSR9LIaMSBdwDcQyty9Lm12TbOUyGHwZdLZwxXeejWU20LnGUAeSVE38mBhaGm9lS5MddpS0fQd4Acut681XE3mQ7TuDWtlS3AFboBl4IIiiMbG_VK7OEmZvV-buymB1yCZt3oySteiiS/s4010/IMG_4609b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2771" data-original-width="4010" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5CaVoA99PfLyMDe5VuX0LBTKjF5ouoVmLT2pkKKSzGnmSR9LIaMSBdwDcQyty9Lm12TbOUyGHwZdLZwxXeejWU20LnGUAeSVE38mBhaGm9lS5MddpS0fQd4Acut681XE3mQ7TuDWtlS3AFboBl4IIiiMbG_VK7OEmZvV-buymB1yCZt3oySteiiS/w640-h442/IMG_4609b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm3j17BKQm3rsAI22j4xnpuyzpGdBwG1AUo_eK17lcCB3F41a81561yLo0H1Py7W0fUAAUaNUN1k6OtUW3IVKxyG2ssZnrzbTYrGQF50OAXxSu3P1QRbzLKlawkKfy2RgWqVWsnRA0o3G38Y74Fdj0LHznemMDTUhUOfAzOMxFeVx3O7S6xgwCUib/s4032/IMG_4607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm3j17BKQm3rsAI22j4xnpuyzpGdBwG1AUo_eK17lcCB3F41a81561yLo0H1Py7W0fUAAUaNUN1k6OtUW3IVKxyG2ssZnrzbTYrGQF50OAXxSu3P1QRbzLKlawkKfy2RgWqVWsnRA0o3G38Y74Fdj0LHznemMDTUhUOfAzOMxFeVx3O7S6xgwCUib/w640-h480/IMG_4607.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div><p><br /></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-76942073836239931022023-02-22T17:06:00.000+00:002023-02-22T17:06:11.653+00:00The Very Revd Lucinda Laird, Chaplain of St George's Venice<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfA9A6jokNauB5tfvcR3oCNeFyU7gA_AB-GS3B9oQKtXoafXqpCiVWwashsgAC2WGzb6wXeCmLAWAIMeiwFq114OUsGZzevGYY8Q0XOzQUbYzjdFWKOcY6Jgg07G6D0zARXcsorQAUGILCcFS2vM6BMNg3v2vBQPDGxaoCh3eKwFe1pkxwimzC9kp/s4032/Photo%2019-02-2023,%2011%2059%2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfA9A6jokNauB5tfvcR3oCNeFyU7gA_AB-GS3B9oQKtXoafXqpCiVWwashsgAC2WGzb6wXeCmLAWAIMeiwFq114OUsGZzevGYY8Q0XOzQUbYzjdFWKOcY6Jgg07G6D0zARXcsorQAUGILCcFS2vM6BMNg3v2vBQPDGxaoCh3eKwFe1pkxwimzC9kp/w480-h640/Photo%2019-02-2023,%2011%2059%2002.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>There has been a Church of England presence in Venice since 1604, when the Revd William Bedell arrived in the city as part of the embassy of Queen Elizabeth I to the Doge. Over 400 years later, St George's offers a welcome to residents and to the many visitors who come to the city. It continues to be a congregation with people from many parts of the world, with an extraordinary range of gifts and talents.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkozTRMEOHh7itmNwPytvArPVscvzCg2nnv9XgUXP4UxPRZD86557pS3DrJNoJbQc00vuCyfyuKHySSYwJf0NIHBDzu8QVij036UXncTarshZElVdtab9WWSwpKYxwqGuV7lCO7aYciCKIU6JhKRcbP233dgJeHG4rj89BPI831knT_RvasJ6tFcL/s4032/Photo%2019-02-2023,%2011%2044%2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkozTRMEOHh7itmNwPytvArPVscvzCg2nnv9XgUXP4UxPRZD86557pS3DrJNoJbQc00vuCyfyuKHySSYwJf0NIHBDzu8QVij036UXncTarshZElVdtab9WWSwpKYxwqGuV7lCO7aYciCKIU6JhKRcbP233dgJeHG4rj89BPI831knT_RvasJ6tFcL/w640-h480/Photo%2019-02-2023,%2011%2044%2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Sunday 19 February, I licensed the Very Revd Lucinda Laird as the new chaplain of St George's (with Christ Church Trieste, too.) Mother Lucinda comes to us from the US Episcopal Church where she served in many places, as well as latterly as the Dean of the American Cathedral in Paris. I believe she is the first woman to serve as our priest in Venice. We welcome her most warmly to the Church of England Diocese in Europe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a significant ecumenical occasion as well. Lucinda has already been personally welcomed by the Patriarch of Venice who invited her to preach in St Mark's Basilica in the week of prayer for Christian unity. For the installation mass, the Patriarch sent his ecumenical delegate, Monsignor Angelo Pagan to represent him, and the local parish priest, Fr Valentino Cagnin, was also present (and prayed for Mother Lucinda at his own parish mass that day.) Other Anglican clergy present included the Revd Castro Adieabah, who is studying in Venice, and the Revds Nick Fisher and Martin Poole, who have both assisted in St George's in the past. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9wuN4mAmsRYjNzH7v7pTpdm3G6EqcesJqvI-YcvamLSrKoHXq8oyRtvePsLV2tWvCpfuXhiRXuMw6sD6W7OtHVj19hogiVXs7cySNDMjWO1kQJxZpekQ3LiByfZEJYKTNdlpGoKo8CzwgT11TNjSxw0IQZE2glBXRrcjsvtjyANmpcMiaV_4_d65/s4032/Photo%2018-02-2023,%2019%2049%2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9wuN4mAmsRYjNzH7v7pTpdm3G6EqcesJqvI-YcvamLSrKoHXq8oyRtvePsLV2tWvCpfuXhiRXuMw6sD6W7OtHVj19hogiVXs7cySNDMjWO1kQJxZpekQ3LiByfZEJYKTNdlpGoKo8CzwgT11TNjSxw0IQZE2glBXRrcjsvtjyANmpcMiaV_4_d65/w640-h480/Photo%2018-02-2023,%2019%2049%2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Confirmation</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the evening before the installation, I was able to confirm a new member of the congregation, of Turkish background. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My own ecumenical visits were included in the parish weekend, including to the Patriarch and the Orthodox Metropolitan, both old friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl8wk7sDu7FqCcSME2dJhAWi_212ZFshZtGJm_rJaSyHlDSUqlAx8Dy9yRv9Ztvg6dI7AIeLTcts9tI5pG7pwLSQN8k7GQ77htX3sCNUteJUzKNxicmEArjTPEcRcHkUyfUDDBt6wio5oXxz9phLS3WdIGtOMQJMH0-9-ZokKrS8ktXJy6cDxdhqn/s4032/IMG_4427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl8wk7sDu7FqCcSME2dJhAWi_212ZFshZtGJm_rJaSyHlDSUqlAx8Dy9yRv9Ztvg6dI7AIeLTcts9tI5pG7pwLSQN8k7GQ77htX3sCNUteJUzKNxicmEArjTPEcRcHkUyfUDDBt6wio5oXxz9phLS3WdIGtOMQJMH0-9-ZokKrS8ktXJy6cDxdhqn/w480-h640/IMG_4427.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNZ03Iruf2YT7OvE59ltG4mWdZGthNX5E1lqQv0K-k3wfLoPe7JDWv112PabaN-msJUsI-N6fSSI4C8QkA4ZvEBhLrbMR4YBrjLCmsKf8ye8EjiAWMahWtLSiy3Xz0CKD_PiaFL1Sg5VVOQz08nCdT7p6o-Y90Ekp_oxmzbWT0-RTBXHjQuChcjGy/s3228/IMG_4430b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3228" data-original-width="2049" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNZ03Iruf2YT7OvE59ltG4mWdZGthNX5E1lqQv0K-k3wfLoPe7JDWv112PabaN-msJUsI-N6fSSI4C8QkA4ZvEBhLrbMR4YBrjLCmsKf8ye8EjiAWMahWtLSiy3Xz0CKD_PiaFL1Sg5VVOQz08nCdT7p6o-Y90Ekp_oxmzbWT0-RTBXHjQuChcjGy/w406-h640/IMG_4430b.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had to hobble around Venice, due to a fracture in my left foot (sustained when I was in the Holy Land the week before). The "space boot" I have to wear is nowhere near as elegant and exotic as the costumes in Venice that weekend, at the height of <i>Carnivale! </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-bBEdEhUNb35-UfWk81MdFsHqXg68bU479rR6E6HDU98Q1zgXK2vr_W9ZxqDA3hTCbS6lAHryISrADXAyEnL1-XCExCZzqH5gWgTIwrD2O7W81I-hA4zpEPTmSTbBF1YgCyjZ-W_fvQ1rK0r6IqS8BOuiyn6cfJyw-CdzQ4cPu-Pr2AvUb7M_r90/s4032/IMG_4441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-bBEdEhUNb35-UfWk81MdFsHqXg68bU479rR6E6HDU98Q1zgXK2vr_W9ZxqDA3hTCbS6lAHryISrADXAyEnL1-XCExCZzqH5gWgTIwrD2O7W81I-hA4zpEPTmSTbBF1YgCyjZ-W_fvQ1rK0r6IqS8BOuiyn6cfJyw-CdzQ4cPu-Pr2AvUb7M_r90/w640-h480/IMG_4441.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-30511943274222592622023-01-19T18:03:00.002+00:002023-01-19T18:03:51.871+00:00Blessings on the new Bishop of Visby, our partner diocese<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9-k2oS7GKwBKoJcDuwQQN1b1LKKc8GJ-fMGb0MN_DUvXNteKMGOvYxYeD99_XJU70QbXSA7pCrjN7g_FcCVJHNRaQgaJ8mAfL5nNZ4XC8hmMTsE1N96d6yXES-hEAdBgYD4xSKljXc9F6fp_tLgkpKeuoqQOAL6TiNTQI30ZOUtwaG9jo5uqofb1/s4032/IMG_4218.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9-k2oS7GKwBKoJcDuwQQN1b1LKKc8GJ-fMGb0MN_DUvXNteKMGOvYxYeD99_XJU70QbXSA7pCrjN7g_FcCVJHNRaQgaJ8mAfL5nNZ4XC8hmMTsE1N96d6yXES-hEAdBgYD4xSKljXc9F6fp_tLgkpKeuoqQOAL6TiNTQI30ZOUtwaG9jo5uqofb1/w480-h640/IMG_4218.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We send our best wishes and assurance of our prayers to Bishop Erik Eckerdal, who was consecrated the Bishop of Visby in the Church of Sweden on Sunday 15 January, in the great cathedral in Uppsala. Visby is the partner diocese of the Diocese in Europe, within the Porvoo family of Churches. The partnership takes its origin from the fact that the Bishop of Visby also oversees the parishes of the Church of Sweden Abroad, which covers Europe, like ourselves. But Bishop Erik also oversees the Church of Sweden congregations in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia!</span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMmI29p7y5KQrxPEkQrmuyn98prvYmSW4fXFKs8o48IMr9Hd00PcjH7b5YG8eN0_Nd32qoVpIqFkCl3_kA64PYNoBo1-N_LJPWv4HzkgsslD24dEa_evwX46bk4lxLUSDGJapogaWOkCb0SydGOlng6ktMrSoGzGCtsVxnp1sboIJKGNt-k112nu_/s995/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="995" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMmI29p7y5KQrxPEkQrmuyn98prvYmSW4fXFKs8o48IMr9Hd00PcjH7b5YG8eN0_Nd32qoVpIqFkCl3_kA64PYNoBo1-N_LJPWv4HzkgsslD24dEa_evwX46bk4lxLUSDGJapogaWOkCb0SydGOlng6ktMrSoGzGCtsVxnp1sboIJKGNt-k112nu_/w640-h360/IMG_0023.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Svenska Dagbladet</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Consecrated at the same time was the new Bishop of the Diocese of Linköping, Marika Markovits. I was moved to be invited to be one of the consecrators of Bishop Erik, by the Archbishop of Uppsala, Martin Modéus, at the High Mass (<span>Högmässa)<span style="color: #0f0f0f;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span>of Consecration. T</span>heir Majesties the King and Queen of Sweden, and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson were in attendance. Archbishop Martin also invited me to preach the homily at the vigil Vespers in the cathedral, on Saturday evening. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikejicxBZtHTQ8joOh9k8S7-LXIVkcHHLVtZYVz8FX4tm9TEqlGIVHGTI3XaqNMts0a_-K20VANKCpXoPb5MKPHkNnf75RuT0nmhiPZorYxJmMoDtuYhHhUawOMxUr3xr4alfaxukMs8_sBRpeYip5KFIC0ylxxXUCszOnsSyXNUKDz1EvgFhMqQjn/s4032/IMG_4214.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikejicxBZtHTQ8joOh9k8S7-LXIVkcHHLVtZYVz8FX4tm9TEqlGIVHGTI3XaqNMts0a_-K20VANKCpXoPb5MKPHkNnf75RuT0nmhiPZorYxJmMoDtuYhHhUawOMxUr3xr4alfaxukMs8_sBRpeYip5KFIC0ylxxXUCszOnsSyXNUKDz1EvgFhMqQjn/w640-h480/IMG_4214.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bishop John Okoro and Obispo Maximo Rhee Timbang</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was also a joy to be with some old friends among the foreign bishops, including the Obispo Maximo of the Philippine Independent Church, His Grace Rhee Timbang, and Bishop Emeritus of the Old Catholic Diocese of Austria, the Rt Revd Dr John Okoro. This was the first time that an Old Catholic Bishop had participated in the consecration of a woman bishop. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrwsMH5-wKehzg2b7a0yJmMNahmRJOQjGS1dSGiAwAOz9rh9T5fOkJR_bR0k1hcd-5MhXcgXkALHQBOgDxpscmziTHIioOlK4F4Tz7a5LHaoeGgH0UDOoZlMcQU4-bezVMLZk0yE28JWhf5NZ3rD5Hdm2VjGK4OT74COgAwcPD4TsJfvv4kWyG7pg/s8256/1227061.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrwsMH5-wKehzg2b7a0yJmMNahmRJOQjGS1dSGiAwAOz9rh9T5fOkJR_bR0k1hcd-5MhXcgXkALHQBOgDxpscmziTHIioOlK4F4Tz7a5LHaoeGgH0UDOoZlMcQU4-bezVMLZk0yE28JWhf5NZ3rD5Hdm2VjGK4OT74COgAwcPD4TsJfvv4kWyG7pg/w640-h426/1227061.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of the Church of Sweden</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_CDM7D9fU3N_eJzvdgIwFKshj69tXvx8uCdnYghcmxX-3TBXKgQdk58hwgBv1zydZPhGhCEun1XtqjlVgI2WakN_XThh1zK0AzOtjgeWUVjeem6KzlLYo2_NykVPTYgyL8Rgp1Gi9tCEN00Xuad9vwncqw1mQAq5CVbed8oQaHzTXhIhTjwfFmtw/s8256/1227060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_CDM7D9fU3N_eJzvdgIwFKshj69tXvx8uCdnYghcmxX-3TBXKgQdk58hwgBv1zydZPhGhCEun1XtqjlVgI2WakN_XThh1zK0AzOtjgeWUVjeem6KzlLYo2_NykVPTYgyL8Rgp1Gi9tCEN00Xuad9vwncqw1mQAq5CVbed8oQaHzTXhIhTjwfFmtw/w640-h426/1227060.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Archbishop of Uppsala with the two new bishops and Their Majesties, the King and Queen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-88772105318956578812023-01-05T12:06:00.001+00:002023-01-05T12:07:30.882+00:00Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPNARqiA8VIz-VaoKhaPADHciUVxC2YBdTH8TIEdHzZZkbzrGZ2HvL_Xz5cqy9oZimc67NHhgB6qmd2zaz4QImVxVSEKJoOlU8nftS0lx8GKpAtyHVaF5ZYbTa9sxWNAq5fS_4M25_qovmVqacrRD0c5DAham_VIlnF4JCGvJIjcEwvWUdWfYdvnG/s3714/Service%20book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3714" data-original-width="2644" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPNARqiA8VIz-VaoKhaPADHciUVxC2YBdTH8TIEdHzZZkbzrGZ2HvL_Xz5cqy9oZimc67NHhgB6qmd2zaz4QImVxVSEKJoOlU8nftS0lx8GKpAtyHVaF5ZYbTa9sxWNAq5fS_4M25_qovmVqacrRD0c5DAham_VIlnF4JCGvJIjcEwvWUdWfYdvnG/w456-h640/Service%20book.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><p>It was not what I was planning for the week after the New Year break, but nevertheless it was a privilege to be one of the representatives of the Anglican Communion at the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI. Bishop Christopher Hill, a distinguished ecumenist and one of my predecessors as Co-Secretary of ARCIC, and Archbishop Ian Ernest the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and I made up the trio of delegates.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOeP9Wc2aovyF81szEovIZWRtLej5kD__D2po5ENj297kMSWc5HeXx4Ic-mi66olyA7-p_qorenS4MTjIZwZ7TfRpVgpauxFop_9hxiFDFkA4tPW9m6We4_QlqohvitqFzmzG9myaTy8ltFakvYkXzSIW-sOsUVIyuNYsyPw3dlGkPc8zJzkYZOpv/s4032/IMG_4194.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOeP9Wc2aovyF81szEovIZWRtLej5kD__D2po5ENj297kMSWc5HeXx4Ic-mi66olyA7-p_qorenS4MTjIZwZ7TfRpVgpauxFop_9hxiFDFkA4tPW9m6We4_QlqohvitqFzmzG9myaTy8ltFakvYkXzSIW-sOsUVIyuNYsyPw3dlGkPc8zJzkYZOpv/w640-h480/IMG_4194.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bishop Hill, Fr Martin Browne OSB (the Vatican's man for Anglican relations) and Archbishop Ernest</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was cold and rather misty morning in St Peter's Square (and we were seated 2 hours before the mass began). But the square was soon filled with mourners from around the world who joined prayerfully in the requiem at which Pope Francis presided (from the chair) with the cardinals and bishops concelebrating. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G93BY0HwagoduHqPMKPkaXJpIPBvBHz9yVAvK8tWyuSabXKCVoJVYsfb9uoqFx51nj1HMuwKAflsKBNcWFTW_jkaQZPJUmtWUVqVUc7ZC3q1cELL5pPWJKK4Xm_-FcX-voFHthMQ5foVp3c7B68Fs6GAGEApTeNnQVjXTRtQhc1PvSzrkxD4hFPF/s3102/IMG_4171b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2282" data-original-width="3102" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G93BY0HwagoduHqPMKPkaXJpIPBvBHz9yVAvK8tWyuSabXKCVoJVYsfb9uoqFx51nj1HMuwKAflsKBNcWFTW_jkaQZPJUmtWUVqVUc7ZC3q1cELL5pPWJKK4Xm_-FcX-voFHthMQ5foVp3c7B68Fs6GAGEApTeNnQVjXTRtQhc1PvSzrkxD4hFPF/w640-h470/IMG_4171b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Preparing for the Requiem</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There is no denying the range of views about Pope Benedict. He was loved by some for his strong teaching, particularly in his encyclical letters, and his emphasis on the beauty of the liturgy which he taught should be at the heart of the Church's life. Others were less pleased with the inadequate way he dealt with clerical abuse and with his conservative theological positions. But at his simple, dignified funeral such differences were put aside; we were all aware that we had gathered to commend a human being, like us prone to failings and error, to God our loving and merciful Father. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaon-XtPgvmnDQHshXfKx3-MhnDxdVXTU9FS-Z9rPMTYGWaIpYvMEnUGbFcoLAWyyH_efUF2ayU2Gx1kpDW2ZDQGANjSktWnJEdSJknZ_TxlSSlxMRi15QUy7FkH8eYKrLahqcLRspdvl-3836aOzZmwJLjM2xNc4FC7d0GGs578KEwFZIAmFJmO5/s3104/IMG_4186b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3104" data-original-width="2336" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaon-XtPgvmnDQHshXfKx3-MhnDxdVXTU9FS-Z9rPMTYGWaIpYvMEnUGbFcoLAWyyH_efUF2ayU2Gx1kpDW2ZDQGANjSktWnJEdSJknZ_TxlSSlxMRi15QUy7FkH8eYKrLahqcLRspdvl-3836aOzZmwJLjM2xNc4FC7d0GGs578KEwFZIAmFJmO5/w482-h640/IMG_4186b.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><p>I was able to speak to Pope Francis for a moment to convey the condolences of the people of the Church of England Diocese in Europe.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-65189900998679503692022-12-24T14:57:00.000+00:002022-12-24T14:57:09.166+00:00Christ is born, to save us with his love<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjPCIIPAelGmjdPpqBgK3SU_m8_UkWtgIKW7623RzwXRtWhO47Cg-OF2KyjMEuqSdFTdwpE0ZAJ0-9LTrUpeMn4dBgqEt2IouE71Pd9F5piI3gs0rHrnBKfwgTMH-SdnwhR_4je9FPC_kzzpHNv-qhtFaE4S5eIKv9K7-KyJaK3yHZrNTXxkPNSR_/s552/IMG_4111.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="552" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjPCIIPAelGmjdPpqBgK3SU_m8_UkWtgIKW7623RzwXRtWhO47Cg-OF2KyjMEuqSdFTdwpE0ZAJ0-9LTrUpeMn4dBgqEt2IouE71Pd9F5piI3gs0rHrnBKfwgTMH-SdnwhR_4je9FPC_kzzpHNv-qhtFaE4S5eIKv9K7-KyJaK3yHZrNTXxkPNSR_/w640-h460/IMG_4111.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Ukrainian Icon of the Nativity</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The greatest and most loving gift we celebrate at this time of the year is the very birth of Our Lord. The great Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner summed it up: “When we say, ‘It is Christmas,’ we mean that God has spoken into the world his last, his deepest, his most beautiful word in the incarnate Word, a word that can no longer be revoked because it is God’s definitive deed, because it is God himself in the world. And this word means: I love you, you, the world and humankind”</p><p>A Ukrainian Christmas hymn also affirms this truth: </p><p></p><blockquote><p><i>God eternal is born tonight.</i></p><p><i>He came down from above</i></p><p><i>To save us with his love</i></p><p><i>And he rejoiced.</i></p></blockquote><p></p><div><br /></div><div>A joyful, loving and peaceful Christmas to all!</div>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-46803154528300241912022-12-13T08:58:00.000+00:002022-12-13T08:58:39.011+00:00St Nicholas Helsinki embodies the symbolism of Christingle<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau8Run033JM1_ohdMmGZlqyTsE7CbxPBL0mmu7-JH5dp_cOF2kSj45XtlbnJbDx2cDd3BGCfzXVsba3PsLXqGi5UFqTBxhw7yMHQym_ETgKlnMXNhwoT6udYg-dmxneRRu3V0YIelZ4ZEaDiBpUdi7hV47vrvREp9mtdZ33zTj2WKFVow2dghPdCq/s1600/IMG-20221211-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau8Run033JM1_ohdMmGZlqyTsE7CbxPBL0mmu7-JH5dp_cOF2kSj45XtlbnJbDx2cDd3BGCfzXVsba3PsLXqGi5UFqTBxhw7yMHQym_ETgKlnMXNhwoT6udYg-dmxneRRu3V0YIelZ4ZEaDiBpUdi7hV47vrvREp9mtdZ33zTj2WKFVow2dghPdCq/w640-h480/IMG-20221211-WA0000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The mass for the Third Sunday of Advent at St Nicholas, Helsinki, was an
all age eucharist, incorporating a nativity play for the Liturgy of the Word,
and after the communion of the people, Christingles! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most Anglicans know about Christingles, a custom which originated in Germany in the 1700s. At St Nicholas’s the symbolism
of the Christingle itself, the orange representing the world, and the red ribbon
the love of Christ which embraces the world and her peoples, came alive as the children of the
chaplaincy had links to every continent on the planet. Together and with great joy, (suitable for <i>Gaudete</i> Sunday!) they
bore witness to Christ, the Light of the World. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1e8FmW6xLImLpDssuUM2BAv5agCc8FFXVxIgl1Ivt8J8Svi9dlsdp9WMuf7sj_U-euMlO-YmrP4Bbdli0JCSUOPoFy12Mqoy_8N27P2wkGUq5WvtQhRmRgXAcbm1Gxp2D5j1BW6VxbKWksTkMG9JCWKyLGJuA6MDluprCHTZ-6jXEJ_ZjGJDrrn-K/s3074/IMG_4092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2310" data-original-width="3074" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1e8FmW6xLImLpDssuUM2BAv5agCc8FFXVxIgl1Ivt8J8Svi9dlsdp9WMuf7sj_U-euMlO-YmrP4Bbdli0JCSUOPoFy12Mqoy_8N27P2wkGUq5WvtQhRmRgXAcbm1Gxp2D5j1BW6VxbKWksTkMG9JCWKyLGJuA6MDluprCHTZ-6jXEJ_ZjGJDrrn-K/w640-h480/IMG_4092.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TV cameras making last minute adjustments at the rehearsal for the service</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The next day, the Chaplain, Fr Tuomas Mäkipää, was equally busy, as the Chaplaincy's annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols held in the (Lutheran) Cathedral was this year to be recorded for broadcast on Finnish State Television this coming Sunday. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxxeMdea7kPEzhHLwuwZ1q9YtO7GtqbQTsJ_2eD4g6e9TKhTD20XykwAqFsf6CXA0WD_BrLza2XFl0jOEXSnJih0d-oC8lfgRcVaHe14l6JVM1XFCyuMpM4GqrKoN_DiunIBripbHBN6f1CpfH6JVRMOFPTg2qAhaTcgdNw47ITWertFn5cripCuF/s3466/IMG_4089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2001" data-original-width="3466" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxxeMdea7kPEzhHLwuwZ1q9YtO7GtqbQTsJ_2eD4g6e9TKhTD20XykwAqFsf6CXA0WD_BrLza2XFl0jOEXSnJih0d-oC8lfgRcVaHe14l6JVM1XFCyuMpM4GqrKoN_DiunIBripbHBN6f1CpfH6JVRMOFPTg2qAhaTcgdNw47ITWertFn5cripCuF/w640-h370/IMG_4089.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helsinki Cathedral<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">The Cathedral which holds well over a thousand people was quite full, which was very encouraging as the service itself took place in the midst of one of the worst blizzards Helsinki had seen for years. Fr Tuomas had made sure that a wide cross-section of the parish were given key parts, from members of the youth group, to senior members who have supported the Chaplaincy for decades. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdWFBz5s4IfAzsr762d9doMcABFOCXtlRGNZdZf1YU2I2_KMmYrOuaCVKXoYBPFuQFE1MW7mmXV0mFmdV0kbNx1EXcGqzBg_PDeJ0TNhqCRl9sgZOTfLYgpwiO3EoqHJUNTWtrZEGEAxz1o7xHkZjlXyE57NcMv90LlLh6KPLL-kfHjhe1Yh3Jcaq/s2721/IMG_4094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2721" data-original-width="1964" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdWFBz5s4IfAzsr762d9doMcABFOCXtlRGNZdZf1YU2I2_KMmYrOuaCVKXoYBPFuQFE1MW7mmXV0mFmdV0kbNx1EXcGqzBg_PDeJ0TNhqCRl9sgZOTfLYgpwiO3EoqHJUNTWtrZEGEAxz1o7xHkZjlXyE57NcMv90LlLh6KPLL-kfHjhe1Yh3Jcaq/w462-h640/IMG_4094.JPG" width="462" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ambassador Bubbear</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">While the order of service was the traditional one, some parts were in Finnish, including the 8th lesson read in excellent Finnish by HE Mrs Theresa Bubbear, the UK Ambassador to Finland. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmU7HvOyVMA0_ajlJzG9EFlvtA4NFCUkNYadSz3A_6b708JIqtpiRPeqkXLP6xoBcvpHCT5Dd0VXbxXycut6ElYvyXNf17qDsIM9-GetA9YRmrFmiaYowGnOuMzncRgLiLAhZzcv8ypqyy3FAf3g6EHABjMSd_BJDoiJ-lTOIYxyntEZ6-1vOXztr1/s3729/IMG_4072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3729" data-original-width="2933" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmU7HvOyVMA0_ajlJzG9EFlvtA4NFCUkNYadSz3A_6b708JIqtpiRPeqkXLP6xoBcvpHCT5Dd0VXbxXycut6ElYvyXNf17qDsIM9-GetA9YRmrFmiaYowGnOuMzncRgLiLAhZzcv8ypqyy3FAf3g6EHABjMSd_BJDoiJ-lTOIYxyntEZ6-1vOXztr1/w504-h640/IMG_4072.JPG" width="504" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr Tuomas and Dr Hamid</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-65067914742805376972022-11-16T13:20:00.003+00:002022-11-16T13:25:32.856+00:00Farewell to Archbishop of Uppsala<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9QG8Sd7HzWfBTGstNAoDwKN3JtPNBZ3efYPioFhDNu02FkQQmog-4e9RfCjuX7UR_Fs1Qs-bJaDpywrgvcOzGveEJARJS_F_105gWgwdTgjiFpEV54Rdkqoynxg4-ufGQnkktBKsRxg91xoHYXLI6cm_6ekYplVAsBvlvpiM6BjgdCbNu4fD9sBB/s2785/IMG_3914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2785" data-original-width="2192" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9QG8Sd7HzWfBTGstNAoDwKN3JtPNBZ3efYPioFhDNu02FkQQmog-4e9RfCjuX7UR_Fs1Qs-bJaDpywrgvcOzGveEJARJS_F_105gWgwdTgjiFpEV54Rdkqoynxg4-ufGQnkktBKsRxg91xoHYXLI6cm_6ekYplVAsBvlvpiM6BjgdCbNu4fD9sBB/w504-h640/IMG_3914.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #484f57;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">On Sunday 30 October,
the Archbishop of Uppsala, the Most Revd Dr Antje Jackelén retired. Archbishop Jackelén
is a long-standing friend of the Church of England and as the Archbishop of the
Church of Sweden has played a significant role as one of the primates of the
Churches which are in communion as a result of the Porvoo Agreement.</span></span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ssBGqW2gwuGlAgHJoL19P98ka4tR_JYCLF5BXAnx2pk5vvMx_2PiybHJU1CJFQOd-AlK9QZYXeedMs61liML2uyJGdsnC-RAv7zzrxnMAmnjx88WIioLIji_f_ViLE_ycuB3Bd1nP6uHWCepu7K8fzEN3KWSFiy_2ojUKHK6KzH3CmJ7f0D69gq8/s1082/Order%20of%20Service.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="759" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ssBGqW2gwuGlAgHJoL19P98ka4tR_JYCLF5BXAnx2pk5vvMx_2PiybHJU1CJFQOd-AlK9QZYXeedMs61liML2uyJGdsnC-RAv7zzrxnMAmnjx88WIioLIji_f_ViLE_ycuB3Bd1nP6uHWCepu7K8fzEN3KWSFiy_2ojUKHK6KzH3CmJ7f0D69gq8/w448-h640/Order%20of%20Service.JPG" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #484f57;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In her closing
sermon during the High Mass at which she laid down her crozier the Archbishop preached
on “life together” as a description of what God wants for the people of the world: </span></div></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #484f57; font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #484f57; font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #484f57;">“</span><span lang="EN-US">To live together. In the home, among neighbours, in
villages and cities, in a society that is shaped by everyone's participation,
in the interdependence between all the countries of the world, in community
with all other living beings on a planet where the climate is changing, and to
live together with and before existence's deepest secret, that we, along with
most people on earth, call God”.</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #484f57;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Many testimonies and speeches were given recognising Archbishop Jackelén’s worldwide influence. Greetings and warm words of thanks were extended from Latin
America, Africa, Asia and Europe. I was privileged to be able to deliver a
message from Archbishop Justin Welby. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #484f57;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Among the colleagues who gathered was
the Revd Professor Dr Charlotte Methuen, representing the Scottish Episcopal
Church. Charlotte was a former Director of Ministry in the Diocese in Europe
and is now Professor of Church History at the University of Glasgow. A close
friend of Archbishop Antje, Charlotte preached the homily at the Vespers the
evening before the farewell service.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI3o22gYU8dmhfJBnNbEYETdHw-odk44MS-czX0yo72Nfa4pFQGRTkc3KvY89h900qzRxmS5Eb2jXKsCdK-Z4MV8QHi2VmGF_a4TX0ZdapL5IoF6-v6AanS-G5d3I5gSuw-h2nwZe1O66TIf3ECoDL5E0AwN6qQ7e0ub9FVKFccTjJfEb6hv8iSu7/s2889/IMG_3922.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2889" data-original-width="1677" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI3o22gYU8dmhfJBnNbEYETdHw-odk44MS-czX0yo72Nfa4pFQGRTkc3KvY89h900qzRxmS5Eb2jXKsCdK-Z4MV8QHi2VmGF_a4TX0ZdapL5IoF6-v6AanS-G5d3I5gSuw-h2nwZe1O66TIf3ECoDL5E0AwN6qQ7e0ub9FVKFccTjJfEb6hv8iSu7/w372-h640/IMG_3922.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="color: #484f57;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Summing up the many
tributes, the General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, the Revd Anne
Burghardt, spoke of the Archbishop’s role in leading the Church’s humanitarian
and development work, and strengthening the work of advocacy,
theological education and gender justice. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IDkfstBLp2H0E69B_BnwGUbApDgcgqA86CxWnc8SqnhDpi_l7hWR1yGzaRCJTXUnnLfkgqR46JmuV3HpPAf5N-YoPmvHAlBRMAhxdgrhTIhiczyywZ79ix6Vx_-0cVpZ-PzG7KfrkInmsj8Bi0cBtT5zOdhUOdZ2I_NyX-hEcey2ltw1Ow2fImSR/s4032/IMG_3928.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IDkfstBLp2H0E69B_BnwGUbApDgcgqA86CxWnc8SqnhDpi_l7hWR1yGzaRCJTXUnnLfkgqR46JmuV3HpPAf5N-YoPmvHAlBRMAhxdgrhTIhiczyywZ79ix6Vx_-0cVpZ-PzG7KfrkInmsj8Bi0cBtT5zOdhUOdZ2I_NyX-hEcey2ltw1Ow2fImSR/w640-h480/IMG_3928.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Professor Methuen and a Representative of the <span style="color: #484f57; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Sámi</span> Community</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #484f57; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="color: #484f57; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Particularly
notable at the service was the presence and participation of representatives of
the Sámi People. One of the lessons was read in the South Sámi language. Last
year, Archbishop Jackelén led her Church in issuing an official apology to the Sámi
for centuries of mistreatment towards them, and for the pain and shame inflicted
on generations of these indigenous peoples through racism and abuse of power.
The presence and participation of the Sámi was a sign of the commitment to the
path of reconciliation. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="color: #484f57; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wTkeKyeMT4EAdN-loZdoO6hhkRqg9D3vs7UX6Ujawth2RnCxrnhIg4Qfh6LeIp0HLAH7qyGkYsYZh1cY4JL4TzcLmQ3zYjY4VrscInxm5kKOWl4ts0L5iHrBb9a1jKxiaE9wmtpeN-HuTnMhOgV5VwIf_TTMDzoq7Bh6WvrcXHN37gqMZnj5HVk-/s1920/IMG_3987.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wTkeKyeMT4EAdN-loZdoO6hhkRqg9D3vs7UX6Ujawth2RnCxrnhIg4Qfh6LeIp0HLAH7qyGkYsYZh1cY4JL4TzcLmQ3zYjY4VrscInxm5kKOWl4ts0L5iHrBb9a1jKxiaE9wmtpeN-HuTnMhOgV5VwIf_TTMDzoq7Bh6WvrcXHN37gqMZnj5HVk-/w640-h426/IMG_3987.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-9241695943334307902022-11-04T07:42:00.000+00:002022-11-04T07:42:29.925+00:00Commitment, faith and love at St Anthony Abbot, Padova<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcvgIG9roMZ2t3egZxN-r-86dmKWaChX6YzWRXolJq2cUtfMZNAOoM6LELUpEg7t6oH64hpoQ3WTxKWI9cWnvGYJT5nR0IVXxSyOInNgApqYUFR6YWQK4JtCNt3YMUGIoPQlLMw8a2670zYkoFuom7dDHXdRmMjrrQiw_4lBhHr2TQFo7JD9_nHIu/s1920/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcvgIG9roMZ2t3egZxN-r-86dmKWaChX6YzWRXolJq2cUtfMZNAOoM6LELUpEg7t6oH64hpoQ3WTxKWI9cWnvGYJT5nR0IVXxSyOInNgApqYUFR6YWQK4JtCNt3YMUGIoPQlLMw8a2670zYkoFuom7dDHXdRmMjrrQiw_4lBhHr2TQFo7JD9_nHIu/w640-h360/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Every time I pay a pastoral visit to St Anthony Abbot Church in Padova, I come away inspired and deeply moved by the infectious and joyful faith of the community. My most recent visit in October was no exception. The priest, Fr Amos Osaromkpe, leads his people forward, following the COVID difficulties, to rebuild the life of the chaplaincy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXXIdakYx0pr5qmR-cnUeJwA6gtveMUlKaj_KD08ht1wbd5njU5EHKiNtZD2XQgg_YTvTfdqoL3JanIYcqqvznnYY3mwzfFNSH9vy9j_qT_RI52R8mesQdBRABXwiyk5HrO01dkmNVN6QLwu-d94gclMYE6A-2PDGYSWTQOX_fa-kjeQgyTUE1dPt/s1920/20859bb2-ef27-418b-9821-a4d98b88c483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXXIdakYx0pr5qmR-cnUeJwA6gtveMUlKaj_KD08ht1wbd5njU5EHKiNtZD2XQgg_YTvTfdqoL3JanIYcqqvznnYY3mwzfFNSH9vy9j_qT_RI52R8mesQdBRABXwiyk5HrO01dkmNVN6QLwu-d94gclMYE6A-2PDGYSWTQOX_fa-kjeQgyTUE1dPt/w640-h360/20859bb2-ef27-418b-9821-a4d98b88c483.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Lay commitment and discipleship in the parish goes from strength to strength, evidenced by many new members of the Mothers’ Union whom I admitted during the (3 1/2 hour!) Sunday liturgy. I was assisted in this very happy task of admission by Mrs Tonie Chandler, the Diocesan President of the MU. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFciOL8MvtUe0CTOaHqh2QpxtWGCXxlw_VNVBlY0kyFOMk_sFz_II1MjU9z9aB0PHDBKSxVcIRRU5IxBExRHwHBD4Yr6GngZdb6wP09S0aZ8DOG6i5hSg56VppLVwkUIhvaDmfJiFn1igXRiDBDyE6RCUlckOUwKPYmRMOVQb8Rk6l9SpQJ1psQbsj/s1920/cd2c7589-2abf-4b17-89d7-96c6b3cc6c1f.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFciOL8MvtUe0CTOaHqh2QpxtWGCXxlw_VNVBlY0kyFOMk_sFz_II1MjU9z9aB0PHDBKSxVcIRRU5IxBExRHwHBD4Yr6GngZdb6wP09S0aZ8DOG6i5hSg56VppLVwkUIhvaDmfJiFn1igXRiDBDyE6RCUlckOUwKPYmRMOVQb8Rk6l9SpQJ1psQbsj/w640-h360/cd2c7589-2abf-4b17-89d7-96c6b3cc6c1f.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Many young people were confirmed and committed themselves to be active followers of Our Lord. During the eucharist, as they gathered around the waters of baptism, they solemnly reminded themselves of that most important moment in their lives, when they became joined to Christ Our Saviour. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYBfgJFZyE9bhgAGsZUzpXnekcWlppa80i_K2D0pZjiwajOQUc5nk5pLVqykSMLc9mzFeW37CM5c4SCOKmdvdvwgyQqawbJFGQytG3NduOURJpS3N3t96zJpp-T1-6dryIx5JWE8QYT_GIy7ly7hkvza-B9AGAlK9g6mvB4yM8xnmt7mVkHI9hb8R/s1920/04ad719a-6035-4b1e-817c-3f72bce6fcec.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYBfgJFZyE9bhgAGsZUzpXnekcWlppa80i_K2D0pZjiwajOQUc5nk5pLVqykSMLc9mzFeW37CM5c4SCOKmdvdvwgyQqawbJFGQytG3NduOURJpS3N3t96zJpp-T1-6dryIx5JWE8QYT_GIy7ly7hkvza-B9AGAlK9g6mvB4yM8xnmt7mVkHI9hb8R/w640-h360/04ad719a-6035-4b1e-817c-3f72bce6fcec.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUfaM2R6snXCrMOZSPz6RpavEJLpxf-YmCE37GMRelR3pqaiGXbNgVUGCbVVxHrTJn3jwuiYt8SVYJQrS85ab0JRjYhFsz9jiSGaXg3zsZ_sAHLuX4MksGcaPnsr1n2QoWZR0MDT_MDhfHpYLZaKn1lgj1IIwNp434WYHvOiEaoBQyYyvwTkCDQ9Y/s1920/IMG_3814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUfaM2R6snXCrMOZSPz6RpavEJLpxf-YmCE37GMRelR3pqaiGXbNgVUGCbVVxHrTJn3jwuiYt8SVYJQrS85ab0JRjYhFsz9jiSGaXg3zsZ_sAHLuX4MksGcaPnsr1n2QoWZR0MDT_MDhfHpYLZaKn1lgj1IIwNp434WYHvOiEaoBQyYyvwTkCDQ9Y/w640-h360/IMG_3814.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It was a blessing to be able to celebrate all this, and much more during my visit, and to receive the warm hospitality and generosity of the faithful. The parishioners are determined to ensure that I am the best dressed bishop in the Church of God, and presented me with a very fine pair of new shoes! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvil_ZaL1Xol1G0cvtw_0v3VuZr9LT2hAmxhy1-fiVQ1JFsf58wLF8MyG40_DHgOfD-DaU30ZXJLJcK5iPs5X6c_AcHrCfeL-RvOjBX6EKkQBo1ppo2FucQwSHRdLa9sK6UQgYN4c6K7Vx_3yy7Nd5cyrgJk3waY8G-EuaQeOXBjmv4BjeZY-2lzRI/s1920/952fa8e7-fb51-4785-816d-4e46d8b308f2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvil_ZaL1Xol1G0cvtw_0v3VuZr9LT2hAmxhy1-fiVQ1JFsf58wLF8MyG40_DHgOfD-DaU30ZXJLJcK5iPs5X6c_AcHrCfeL-RvOjBX6EKkQBo1ppo2FucQwSHRdLa9sK6UQgYN4c6K7Vx_3yy7Nd5cyrgJk3waY8G-EuaQeOXBjmv4BjeZY-2lzRI/w640-h360/952fa8e7-fb51-4785-816d-4e46d8b308f2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-63701968117658681852022-11-03T11:48:00.000+00:002022-11-03T11:48:09.930+00:00St George's Taormina - Centenary celebrations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4T0BtfUBHys3rneGVUNZn-LJ-to-TrZHuMaiXEPYc5n1ykHEAnFmGKxBL3Ob05UnkASKaYkh9au3uLMa6kaBFgX0PtHodLLPlZQTPDwBd-vc8o_oBjcSrdojLSSmXVE0U1xOJvTjU_rfTSuXIvJs77-XN0Xj1zd9supl0H3ttx_jHKuHNHuQyW-9/s1860/10019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4T0BtfUBHys3rneGVUNZn-LJ-to-TrZHuMaiXEPYc5n1ykHEAnFmGKxBL3Ob05UnkASKaYkh9au3uLMa6kaBFgX0PtHodLLPlZQTPDwBd-vc8o_oBjcSrdojLSSmXVE0U1xOJvTjU_rfTSuXIvJs77-XN0Xj1zd9supl0H3ttx_jHKuHNHuQyW-9/w528-h640/10019.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>St George’s Taormina, which has to be located in one of the most dramatically beautiful settings in the diocese, celebrated the centenary of their building on 14 October. The festive eucharist on the occasion was according to the Book of Common Prayer, the rite that would have been used 100 years ago. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6w2786zX6xMkhehgxxdzZUIE_St6UIg14PdDZH8ADZp54Wpgz1SCd_ALW2EfMU-uoyJWed28TLaaelph1VnaBg62p3SKauUaXoRnple8O_YiiWuH_Y2JkSn-Lp9GH8noOkdevMf7GI8R42x0yakrMkg2ZuBq-obJ0xtwysVxzERkX0SttOQuN_fW/s2845/20221015_092907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2845" data-original-width="1989" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6w2786zX6xMkhehgxxdzZUIE_St6UIg14PdDZH8ADZp54Wpgz1SCd_ALW2EfMU-uoyJWed28TLaaelph1VnaBg62p3SKauUaXoRnple8O_YiiWuH_Y2JkSn-Lp9GH8noOkdevMf7GI8R42x0yakrMkg2ZuBq-obJ0xtwysVxzERkX0SttOQuN_fW/w448-h640/20221015_092907.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /><p>Taormina has been a favoured destination for British visitors since the 19th century when writers, actors, poets and film stars on the Grand Tour descended on this town, perched under Mount Etna, overlooking the Mediterranean. Visitors continue today in great numbers and swell the congregation of regulars. St George’s is thus a meeting place for so many from around the world. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWNEqEC18e8dhCK5h5D_-2ByB6na5EIEG3us0k8RCQssHrqhbpC5OdhdwrQRwVQAdAuXBgiowlyD4LdTb1YLVjvbghTsNewydC-WK_jVea1Y4mE1B5EL3iA_FLlZIOk9MEWrOM4ykiMz33kQhFU2s9Xyzm6CIA4hMhukdQ9o8nCsvqDgLazgDSVBJ/s1760/10011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1760" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWNEqEC18e8dhCK5h5D_-2ByB6na5EIEG3us0k8RCQssHrqhbpC5OdhdwrQRwVQAdAuXBgiowlyD4LdTb1YLVjvbghTsNewydC-WK_jVea1Y4mE1B5EL3iA_FLlZIOk9MEWrOM4ykiMz33kQhFU2s9Xyzm6CIA4hMhukdQ9o8nCsvqDgLazgDSVBJ/w558-h640/10011.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><br /><p>Civic and ecumenical guests, as well as parishioners, visitors, clergy who have served St George’s, and neighbouring Anglicans from Palermo and Randazzo helped to fill the Church on the joyful occasion. I was assisted at the mass by the Archdeacon of Italy and Malta, David Waller. The locum priest, Fr Shawn Denney, and his wife Mary Ann, who live in Springfield, Illinois, worked with the lay leadership of St George’s over many months, to plan the celebrations. It was a fitting and historic event!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQdVcjGs01IY_3p9mDtesjj9g0H0-aSkLJ17GLYECfRXRIbBWdaL0LsYZDswd6j3eCJzi0f8wIsgFnzBGOSZdFhEN8xuf1_q5RjI6njIHbqHfG7sIGrIK37KGBB46yTHnofyOUEUkCujbXSZ9JLt41DPgwqwcNBNRfxs0JBQN7byjga-d-VjP4lVT/s2412/10026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2202" data-original-width="2412" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQdVcjGs01IY_3p9mDtesjj9g0H0-aSkLJ17GLYECfRXRIbBWdaL0LsYZDswd6j3eCJzi0f8wIsgFnzBGOSZdFhEN8xuf1_q5RjI6njIHbqHfG7sIGrIK37KGBB46yTHnofyOUEUkCujbXSZ9JLt41DPgwqwcNBNRfxs0JBQN7byjga-d-VjP4lVT/w640-h584/10026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2dsynBZOBPsKjeNCG0uUrm4yXo_uSXSAO6aNyzTRUfQaSwYy8E4o42TUd_fIFzN0Tf3-Jpm1BROw5i0za8i8X59bEkM0VawnNk2j4A4FpEunhy2_5V_d6nGQHQlpdlIodNIbpkz8NVytxJ_EmzPQt8CgPhpfCIAsJ34qAvLbOFD-21R8_poe1w2a/s2048/1006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2dsynBZOBPsKjeNCG0uUrm4yXo_uSXSAO6aNyzTRUfQaSwYy8E4o42TUd_fIFzN0Tf3-Jpm1BROw5i0za8i8X59bEkM0VawnNk2j4A4FpEunhy2_5V_d6nGQHQlpdlIodNIbpkz8NVytxJ_EmzPQt8CgPhpfCIAsJ34qAvLbOFD-21R8_poe1w2a/w640-h480/1006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Jj1HjdDHU527prwvzQAlZcvAENqFpw-GkF2Si7sfjIqrJ-ugP3ySMfF2XXYVITNLgRYpFTadxmTevpqlalYOrETwTDZrdOrTiiUv0TPRG0f7DwSVMmD3LvpjGsy7_lf7RhMS7q1PtB8M1Fn-OrrcJ4dv6MM8OcotAANDTJViiJZFVUjgfJLaLdNq/s1706/1007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1706" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Jj1HjdDHU527prwvzQAlZcvAENqFpw-GkF2Si7sfjIqrJ-ugP3ySMfF2XXYVITNLgRYpFTadxmTevpqlalYOrETwTDZrdOrTiiUv0TPRG0f7DwSVMmD3LvpjGsy7_lf7RhMS7q1PtB8M1Fn-OrrcJ4dv6MM8OcotAANDTJViiJZFVUjgfJLaLdNq/w576-h640/1007.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><br /><p>Later that same weekend, the Sacrament of Confirmation was celebrated in St George’s with candidates from Taormina and from St Alberto congregation in Randazzo.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc34RyUXHwW7CxhCd7-apXXRu8j3b89lZs0Q6qMP2_5hILZw_joQF0YTcuwKteVINeZu9K30ExcQtxCrNdxl8pFjRQov7DAuiOJny70mnSnL9XC9b7ZwYxKM1GFUS_ZsrwHmsNXspAP-is2lwP3UzjcyK5zzetk3zAJczGGrBPbOmBcobrdSghBeIO/s640/Confirmation%20Service%202022%20October%2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc34RyUXHwW7CxhCd7-apXXRu8j3b89lZs0Q6qMP2_5hILZw_joQF0YTcuwKteVINeZu9K30ExcQtxCrNdxl8pFjRQov7DAuiOJny70mnSnL9XC9b7ZwYxKM1GFUS_ZsrwHmsNXspAP-is2lwP3UzjcyK5zzetk3zAJczGGrBPbOmBcobrdSghBeIO/w640-h360/Confirmation%20Service%202022%20October%2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V18jMDMpo9bU25khswN3KE4wDmR_UgHTmlH1TwVCGcE1tOVzhhbiTqIXkZmiC6giynObTx0tPVVs8zQaqgdCgLGL1q6w7awQgQfT0Lv1F2Je2smuTf88cajlR0YVm7IR6mKR02HzaHV_raL_MttivQOv1Ac7yZBzShTCbdgAB1O6W-z-y1LbTQha/s499/Daniel%20Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="499" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V18jMDMpo9bU25khswN3KE4wDmR_UgHTmlH1TwVCGcE1tOVzhhbiTqIXkZmiC6giynObTx0tPVVs8zQaqgdCgLGL1q6w7awQgQfT0Lv1F2Je2smuTf88cajlR0YVm7IR6mKR02HzaHV_raL_MttivQOv1Ac7yZBzShTCbdgAB1O6W-z-y1LbTQha/w640-h454/Daniel%20Smith.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p><div><br /></div>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-21993652140287822102022-10-19T11:35:00.001+01:002022-10-19T11:40:07.449+01:00Diocese in Europe Ordinand in Rome<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU1_-i0Mmz7ks1bU7AAqoEyyzx-2IlXiGoyb0SvKs7b1epkBDmy2tz6RXlReti6_1XYtHTZAyybW3nwQmIjOOty3cxtM1Tt7mJ9fsJeP59sjhJdY5v3nzAwHA0UyOUNRXfZM7Kd9APEneXFfyrZsAh9JceX15jGIG-2sxUfbB4NQxqP9ImqLqdobC/s1280/English%20ordinands%20in%20Rome.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU1_-i0Mmz7ks1bU7AAqoEyyzx-2IlXiGoyb0SvKs7b1epkBDmy2tz6RXlReti6_1XYtHTZAyybW3nwQmIjOOty3cxtM1Tt7mJ9fsJeP59sjhJdY5v3nzAwHA0UyOUNRXfZM7Kd9APEneXFfyrZsAh9JceX15jGIG-2sxUfbB4NQxqP9ImqLqdobC/w640-h360/English%20ordinands%20in%20Rome.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">James Bartle, Fr Tony, John Wilson and Daniel Tsoi</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>At the weekly eucharist at the Anglican Centre in Rome this week, on the Feast of St Luke the Evangelist, I had the privilege of presiding and preaching. It was a joy to see in the congregation one of our own Diocese in Europe ordinands, John Wilson, who is on placement at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome. He was joined by two other colleagues from the Church of England also on placement, James Bartle (Diocese of Newcastle) and Daniel Tsoi (Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham). </p><p>Their formation as future priests will be enhanced by this experience of living and studying alongside Roman Catholic seminarians, in the heart of Rome itself. I always advocate for maximum ecumenical input into the preparation of our future priests. </p><p>In the picture above the three are in the company of Fr Tony Currer, who was until last week, the Vatican Official responsible for relations with the Anglican Communion and a good personal friend and friend of this diocese. Fr Tony, after nine years in Rome, now returns to take up a parish in Darlington, England. </p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #101010; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 1.7rem; line-height: 2.2rem; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-51986145157173512532022-10-17T08:57:00.001+01:002022-10-17T09:00:13.076+01:0020 years on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KXYPzOdZcdQcjLDUl2ombOmJ_XQqOBItyKguVWNh667A7vnEicEOifN9w4VvY47Ie_eH_H1aKZZRsCB2pq10pU2FF1zCh-fo20faX2YH4JwMP4OlT9zb2q_UZuhc1duNLBffdSAlhgcEBzhzn5uFwQquhYPpcw7aZJbntHB8UmE99i4qDCIOO9ix/s2160/Pic%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KXYPzOdZcdQcjLDUl2ombOmJ_XQqOBItyKguVWNh667A7vnEicEOifN9w4VvY47Ie_eH_H1aKZZRsCB2pq10pU2FF1zCh-fo20faX2YH4JwMP4OlT9zb2q_UZuhc1duNLBffdSAlhgcEBzhzn5uFwQquhYPpcw7aZJbntHB8UmE99i4qDCIOO9ix/w426-h640/Pic%202.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>20 years ago today, the feast of St Ignatius of Antioch, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, assisted by Anglican bishops from England, Portugal, Spain, Latin America, Scotland and Canada, and Old Catholic bishops from the Netherlands and Germany, consecrated me a bishop. </p><p>It was deeply moving also to be supported on that day by the presence of so many ecumenical guests from the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox Churches.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonKqkC2eif-FAGN_Zab3ZCrShGWSCpLgX_FePO1ysgj4KwzS9QZPGIGv1y65dvcnPacdWpK8VBp39cu09K8MFLJYjyTj7EpnKPv_qyef7ZAHcrdVRBeNP09YNm2IjH0zlYb4lfT25MvoDKXPJF84DJvqXNzvTaV9S8ZyC0lo177T86swJDit8hYrs/s2160/Pic%204.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2160" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonKqkC2eif-FAGN_Zab3ZCrShGWSCpLgX_FePO1ysgj4KwzS9QZPGIGv1y65dvcnPacdWpK8VBp39cu09K8MFLJYjyTj7EpnKPv_qyef7ZAHcrdVRBeNP09YNm2IjH0zlYb4lfT25MvoDKXPJF84DJvqXNzvTaV9S8ZyC0lo177T86swJDit8hYrs/w640-h426/Pic%204.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Today I recollect, with a combination of humility and joy, the privilege of serving this part of God’s Church. The pastoral, multicultural and ecumenical dynamics continue to make this diocese an exciting context for episcopal ministry. I am deeply grateful for the prayers and generosity of so many, and for the wise counsel and warm collaboration of colleagues. And for the patience and love of my family that carries me through the challenges.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJig-zthtJyze6JAnSqhXZb_usozbfuyFvnPxEOHZdc2CaYSFQdZin7GfEZfhk25NEr2z5tHu0w7ksgMNuNXIHCuyE9wOUgAVidzXXOFyCVENQFfcxELL6PmiWeNjNHQimWACnfmUZ4BJXsKj8FtZaSUbHxVeC7xU7CVe6FV6RVF_kTyJdXwOxhmxV/s2160/Pic%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJig-zthtJyze6JAnSqhXZb_usozbfuyFvnPxEOHZdc2CaYSFQdZin7GfEZfhk25NEr2z5tHu0w7ksgMNuNXIHCuyE9wOUgAVidzXXOFyCVENQFfcxELL6PmiWeNjNHQimWACnfmUZ4BJXsKj8FtZaSUbHxVeC7xU7CVe6FV6RVF_kTyJdXwOxhmxV/w426-h640/Pic%201.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTukNflIv-qXml8G2RFafzW6dxL97-QEG_oy1XcdAMtVVAsB7_OEe_Od3td1Z8NKAfpuaehk0qUBzMrjjSd3zxWAJRV6viUW_8CpZZ2eLnZOxrDAzqnk28A0uYG0cgpvYpSlhgLancZ006hkKrMjlvlPn_77XHxAMEOvpQYOmSe_rdJ2ChkIQNGa1u/s2160/Pic%203.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2160" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTukNflIv-qXml8G2RFafzW6dxL97-QEG_oy1XcdAMtVVAsB7_OEe_Od3td1Z8NKAfpuaehk0qUBzMrjjSd3zxWAJRV6viUW_8CpZZ2eLnZOxrDAzqnk28A0uYG0cgpvYpSlhgLancZ006hkKrMjlvlPn_77XHxAMEOvpQYOmSe_rdJ2ChkIQNGa1u/w400-h266/Pic%203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><b><i><span style="color: #310000;">“We have not only to be called Christians, </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #310000;">but to be Christians." </span></i></b><span style="color: #310000;">-St. Ignatius of Antioch</span></p>David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874580216515087471.post-52361378051447045882022-10-13T15:27:00.000+01:002022-10-13T15:27:05.057+01:00A gathering of 2 deaneries - after 24 years!<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vhJ52rXT_soW050JQoqWwBmuvwt7wd_OoFv_qJ1mxKbcUc9P8S6gejpV4kOCwxQPW7p8ywafAGxPYAVsytSSgdl2B0aLjYg_kyd6yLiLCyvrMGtRbLUYqyxnp1f0dOQQdpa88b5W2BOxqGsjVQ4lXzID8YO4UjS9bOPdbMcb6IBXwfQhky4FHEDu/s3456/Archdeaconry%20Gathering%20of%20German%20and%20Nordic%20and%20Baltic%20Deanery%20Synods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vhJ52rXT_soW050JQoqWwBmuvwt7wd_OoFv_qJ1mxKbcUc9P8S6gejpV4kOCwxQPW7p8ywafAGxPYAVsytSSgdl2B0aLjYg_kyd6yLiLCyvrMGtRbLUYqyxnp1f0dOQQdpa88b5W2BOxqGsjVQ4lXzID8YO4UjS9bOPdbMcb6IBXwfQhky4FHEDu/w640-h640/Archdeaconry%20Gathering%20of%20German%20and%20Nordic%20and%20Baltic%20Deanery%20Synods.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From
Reykjavik to Riga, from Trondheim to Freiburg, clergy and lay synod delegates
gathered from the Nordic and Baltic Deanery and the Deanery of Germany for a
joint meeting of the Archdeaconry in Stuttgart, the first of its kind in about 24
years. The meeting was held from 6 to 9 October. </span></div><p></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The
clergy gathered first for a chapter meeting and were able to share their experiences of the challenges
from the COVID lockdowns and the current difficulties facing chaplaincies due to rising energy prices. There was much discussion about the effects of the war in Ukraine. Across the Archdeaconry not only has there been an influx of Ukrainian refugees, in many places being welcomed into our congregations, but also in places like Finland there are now complications arising from the influx of Russians fleeing
conscription. Furthermore in Latvia, which has a
sizable Russian speaking minority, the dynamics in the country are very complex indeed. The general mood in the countries bordering
Russia is one of heightened alertness (in some places with parishes and clergy being asked to be ready for ministry in difficult times), but there is not as yet a sense of panic.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvO_1b3xvPGmGx1_3WDAF47BBencpKeUHpl21xITuQXMD299A_bDMz9wGrwwbDxTIspcn5QJJ5-jjoYNywGhtnqqTcoATSuG1CsSuLT6HcbJsDiOtFDVmzme5rzwBWITNu9citzewFOOBcD5FkSMeougtaB5wgPqkHFPdVfZwdEhH2hRK211gT4Bpu/s1465/Stadt%20Dekan%20S%C3%B8ren%20Schwesig%20of%20the%20Evang.%20Lutheran%20Church%20in%20W%C3%BCrttemberg%20preaching%20at%20the%20Ecumenical%20Service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1465" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvO_1b3xvPGmGx1_3WDAF47BBencpKeUHpl21xITuQXMD299A_bDMz9wGrwwbDxTIspcn5QJJ5-jjoYNywGhtnqqTcoATSuG1CsSuLT6HcbJsDiOtFDVmzme5rzwBWITNu9citzewFOOBcD5FkSMeougtaB5wgPqkHFPdVfZwdEhH2hRK211gT4Bpu/w640-h520/Stadt%20Dekan%20S%C3%B8ren%20Schwesig%20of%20the%20Evang.%20Lutheran%20Church%20in%20W%C3%BCrttemberg%20preaching%20at%20the%20Ecumenical%20Service.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stadtdekan Søren
Schwesig</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The gathering was hosted by the <i>Erlöserkirche</i> (Church of the Redemption) in the <i>Landeskirche</i>
of Württemberg, a sign of the deepening friendship nurtured by the Meissen
Agreement between our the EKD (the German Protestant Churches) and the Church of England. The <i>Stadtdekan </i></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Søren
Schwesig of the Church in Stuttgart was the guest preacher for our closing synod eucharist.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf-_UjdD1mL5_xOETWqUtRF978_FSI0Ut33pz9heCDe9_NcLf8D1-pkA2UH2ETSiJKf8qgIsIMMoBGNZGDtaALYJobkAXrA8Ike1jnbGU2ONaBlKpn4DLh8KLs658JFIyaOkP1NTyZACklaNAiRpmaeJPH7xbky7O4YCywIKZPGrRdoGZbdO-anMx/s3456/Bishop%20Antonio%20Ablon%20and%20Bishop%20David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf-_UjdD1mL5_xOETWqUtRF978_FSI0Ut33pz9heCDe9_NcLf8D1-pkA2UH2ETSiJKf8qgIsIMMoBGNZGDtaALYJobkAXrA8Ike1jnbGU2ONaBlKpn4DLh8KLs658JFIyaOkP1NTyZACklaNAiRpmaeJPH7xbky7O4YCywIKZPGrRdoGZbdO-anMx/w640-h640/Bishop%20Antonio%20Ablon%20and%20Bishop%20David.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bishop Antonio Ablon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The
<i>Iglesia Filipina Independiente</i> (IFI) Bishop Antonio Ablon, himself a refugee
from the Philippines now settled in Germany spoke movingly of the struggles of
the indigenous people in his native Mindanao against the military who are
seeking to clear the land for western investments. His testimony reminded us all of the centrality of the pursuit of justice, in the calling of God's people. The IFI is the second largest Church in the Philippines, and is in full communion with the Churches of the Anglican Communion. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDilwQaOyKQWwVZbYLdH3k7LxoW3uI4kDyJcz8RFPNCqgUp_wFhJ814ImDFeVZ592yOvzf4l5rhNtGw_GjJM4CSvbc-7tZkbSfUF4s6zPBZrZT723iosJHLItakyBLOOPmlscsxNyswRkFemoMqiHDp-MHOKpV_TEoVnwQrGuBj-vaf8mtjPgv5sXf/s3774/IMG_3825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3774" data-original-width="2318" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDilwQaOyKQWwVZbYLdH3k7LxoW3uI4kDyJcz8RFPNCqgUp_wFhJ814ImDFeVZ592yOvzf4l5rhNtGw_GjJM4CSvbc-7tZkbSfUF4s6zPBZrZT723iosJHLItakyBLOOPmlscsxNyswRkFemoMqiHDp-MHOKpV_TEoVnwQrGuBj-vaf8mtjPgv5sXf/w394-h640/IMG_3825.jpg" width="394" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Revd Vinod Victor</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The
meeting was able to hear reports about the general assembly of the WCC which
met in Germany, at which several of our archdeaconry clergy were present and
hosted participants in their parishes. Our Archdeacon Leslie Nathaniel and the
Revd Vinod Victor of Freiburg presented the publication <i>The Journey in
Servanthood – The DNA of a Confident Church</i>, which was launched at the WCC Assembly,
and we commend this resource throughout our diocese which contains essays from
many leaders in our diocese and other global voices on key current issues. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXt60q_mGMQBIAozFLjDNd-IKfuSU_bOIfppku-bXeByB_GlaH9xqbStJXKjgoY8y1501QNj69ZxiQLHe9BNHbOzONstzt8-71Lj1ScpN8m3lVXzu0WqQgEifcSQNmR887HpttFFlLUoCgcoq6ie4nYlLk0s6Dco8nzGTXOXKmszOA-rhX42hNXwhu/s2762/Dr%20Clare%20Amos%20and%20Archdeacon%20Leslie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2762" data-original-width="1844" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXt60q_mGMQBIAozFLjDNd-IKfuSU_bOIfppku-bXeByB_GlaH9xqbStJXKjgoY8y1501QNj69ZxiQLHe9BNHbOzONstzt8-71Lj1ScpN8m3lVXzu0WqQgEifcSQNmR887HpttFFlLUoCgcoq6ie4nYlLk0s6Dco8nzGTXOXKmszOA-rhX42hNXwhu/w428-h640/Dr%20Clare%20Amos%20and%20Archdeacon%20Leslie.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archdeacon Nathaniel and Dr Clare Amos</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Bible
studies were led by Dr Clare Amos, our Diocesan Director of Lay Discipleship. Clare helped us to reflect deeper into the theme
of the Assembly Christ´s Love Moves the Church to Reconciliation and Unity,
also the theme of this Archdeaconry gathering of both our Deanery Synods. </span></span>Dr Amos also was able to introduce the exciting lay discipleship course, which has just been launched, and which will equip the people in the diocese theologically to enable them to move forward more confidently as disciples of Christ. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaCX9YdfEgEWqzUkfx0DO68r3BGGLBPrOqO0cVn_LJCEWRT0sXhLMlhd22wYSY_4yAjPtgP6T_pyqf69pYWQgYth2jjL2y0WCLcWXP9FNiZur0kcSJr4Lilpcv-gcv8NuRen9rRegmhL-zaeJBT-uXhylX5_RkhdMmTSn1eimka2oGLdtIg27QwZi/s2275/IMG_3826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2275" data-original-width="1879" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaCX9YdfEgEWqzUkfx0DO68r3BGGLBPrOqO0cVn_LJCEWRT0sXhLMlhd22wYSY_4yAjPtgP6T_pyqf69pYWQgYth2jjL2y0WCLcWXP9FNiZur0kcSJr4Lilpcv-gcv8NuRen9rRegmhL-zaeJBT-uXhylX5_RkhdMmTSn1eimka2oGLdtIg27QwZi/w528-h640/IMG_3826.jpg" width="528" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Revd Canon Christopher Jage-Bowler</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The
German deanery environmental officer the Revd Canon Christopher Jage-Bowler spoke passionately of the
urgency to change our own lifestyles as individuals and as communities to avoid
further catastrophic damage to our planet. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
received an update on the work of the racial justice group and were pleased
that the first international conference on racism hosted by our diocese will be
held in Freiburg in October 2023.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">On
the theme Mission and Evangelism Revd Stephen Walton and the Revd Canon Joanna Udal
shared perspectives from scripture and from contemporary life and we noted the
development of new work in northern Germany, where the deanery is looking to
provide effective ministry amongst English speaking Christians in this new
work.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The meeting enabled a rich exchange of experiences and both clergy and laity were able to offer each other mutual support. The encounter of the two deaneries will certainly strengthen our common mission and further the deepen the unity
we treasure in this diocese.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Archdeaconry was grateful to the Chaplain of St Catherine´s
Stuttgart, Revd Kara Werner and her team for the invaluable support they provided for this meeting. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
David Hamidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483724916701076899noreply@blogger.com0