Away Day

Being employed allows you to use your skills and talents as appropriate. It could also stretch and challenge you, making you rethink on how you operate. And once you have been stretched and challenged, that enriches your experience which you can then add in your CV and 'sell' during your interview.

As we spend our energy and creative juices in whatever field we are in, there is a need for us to slow down. Otherwise, the once enjoyable work can become an agony. 

A few weeks ago, our team had an away day. An away day is organised for us to reflect and plan for the future; in our case, we plan for the next academic year. We gathered in a function area in different campus (not our usual workplace) where our superiors made a brief report on what we have achieved and what are being planned. Later, we were grouped to solve a mystery crime which involved a lot of walking around the city centre. 

It was a sunny, warm day. Wearing summer clothes, including my shades, I walked with my group mates for some sort of a treasure hunt. We went to Nottingham Castle where a statue of Robin Hood is located (https://www.nottinghamcastle.org.uk/)

Further up, we went to the hill where King Charles I raised his standard to signal the start of the First Civil War (1642-46). Too bad, the war he launched did not succeed; he was tried and executed in 1649 (http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/gill1904/charlesi.htm)

Feeling a bit exhausted, we decided to have our lunch outside the Nottingham Playhouse, a theatre established in 1948. The current building opened in 1963 (https://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/). 

We walked past Albert Hall Conference Centre which is just next to the Nottingham Playhouse. Built in the 1870s, it was the largest concert hall in Nottingham (http://www.alberthallnottingham.co.uk/). 

Across Albert Hall is St Barnabas Cathedral. Inaugurated in 1844, this beautiful church is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nottingham  (http://www.stbarnabascathedral.org.uk/00_site/Home.html).

Descending from the hilly side of town, we made our way to the Old Market Square, said to be the largest surviving square in the UK,  which is decorated every season. This summer, it's like a beach there which I find to be cool especially with this heat wave going on. Further down is the Council House, where local politicians conduct business (https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/about-the-council/the-council-house/intro-to-the-council-house/). Almost 11 years ago, I took my oath as a British citizen in that building. 

As we kept ticking the list in our mystery crime game, we saw more and more places in town - some we easily recalled, some we struggled to find out. One time, an old lady approached us to ask if we were lost. She mistook us as tourists! 

Our feet led us later to St Mary the Virgin Church, the oldest religious foundation in Nottingham. This Anglican church was the birthplace of Nottingham Bluecoat School, the oldest school in Nottingham. It is also where the remains of George Africanus, a former slave who became a successful entrepreneur in Nottingham, are laid to rest. (https://www.stmarysnottingham.org/)

As we left St Mary, we made our way to Piano and Pitcher Nottingham (http://www.pitcherandpiano.com/home) where we saw quite a number of our colleagues having a drink outside. This used to be a Unitarian church, but was converted into a restaurant. As I made my way inside to buy a drink, my eyes caught the attention of a huge glass stained  window with different characters symbolising a host of virtues such as mercy and justice as well as endeavours such as education, science, and labour. At the middle of the second row of characters, one can find Jesus carrying a little child.

The away day has given us a chance to get to know more about the town and the many places which we may be familiar with, may not have known at all, or may not have taken notice. Preoccupied with work, we may have just walked past these spots without really appreciating what they are and what their significance is. We may have solved the mystery crime in the end, but I think the process that goes with it  - going from one place to another, communicating with group mates, having fun, etc - matter most. The away day recharged us!

Mary Potter

At the St Barnabas Cathedral, just opposite to the steps going down the crypt (where deceased bishops are buried), one cannot fail to notice Venerable Mary Potter's tomb.  She was the founder of the Little Company of Mary Sisters (a.k.a. Blue Sisters), a religious congregation dedicated to the caring for the  suffering, the sick, and the dying.  Following the Virgin Mary's example of being with Jesus till His dying hours, this Marian congregation was founded in Nottingham in 1877.

I was at the St Barnabas Cathedral on 9th April, to witness the Mass in celebration of Ven. Mary Potter's 100th Death Anniversary.  The church was jampacked when I came. Mass has already begun and because I wasn't sure if I could stay that long (I only had an hour's lunch break), I decided to stay near the door. The welcomers were pointing me to a seat, but I politely declined their offer.

The Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon, bishop of Nottingham, was away and so his homily was read by the Vicar General Msgr Thomas McGovern whom I worked with previously. Bishop Malcolm cited three qualities that we could learn from this potential candidate for sainthood:

First, like the infant Church as described in the Second Reading of that Mass (Acts 4:32-37), Mary and her small band were of one mind and heart. He cited that during the early days of the congregation, the sisters slept in the chapel to ensure the safety of the Blessed Sacrament.

For us who belong to a family, an organisation, a community of believers (i.e. the Church) that oneness of mind and heart is essential so that no one is left out in the cold. I note in the Bishop's homily that Mary's pioneering service to those who suffer came at a time when there were still no National Insurance nor National Health Service. In fact, according to the congregation's history, people then were avoiding to be hospitalised as the death rate was really high. 

Second, Mary's patience in bearing her trials.  To this was cited the instance when she was operated on the kitchen table (of her convent) without anaesthesia. I later read from the congregation's website that she underwent surgery for breast cancer not once, but twice (June and December 1878) and that her heart condition precluded the use of anaesthesia.

"Patience is a virtue." And yet we often find ourselves complaining about this and that. At times we open our mouths when we shouldn't have to in the first place. Apart from those two painful operations, Mary also endured the humiliation of being deposed by the bishop from her position as Mother Superior. Yet time came when she was reinstated. If we were in her shoes, would we just throw the towel? There are moments that when we no longer have any position in our group, we resort to "lie low" or worse, badmouth our group and colleagues. Is that necessary?

Third, Mary and her companions lived the Beatitudes (which was the Gospel reading for that celebration).  The Bishop cited that the sisters possesed "purity of heart" and that they consoled those who mourn, those who are sick, those about to die.

The call to holiness is a call for all.  Jesus presents to us the Beatitudes as a way of life.  Mary and her congregration came to the aid of those in need in various ways.  Praying with some of them in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel every Thursday noontime, I am touched with how they would lift up all those who are sick and dying.  It deepens my faith since it was written that "Faith comes through hearing". 

In a society and time when being a religious seems unthinkable; when God seems unwanted, unwelcome, unidentified; when suffering is something that is frowned upon; Mary Potter's example and legacy - kept alive by her now big band of nun, associates, and supporters -  is urgently needed.

Venerable Mary Potter, pray for us!

Perpetual Help Novena in Nottingham

The Filipino Rosary Crusade-Nottingham North, which I am leading, has launched the Perpetual Help Novena in our parish on 24 Septemeber 2011. I'd like to share with you the Introduction I delivered during that event. Please remember us your kababayans here in Nottingham, UK as we continue to spread this popular devotion, as we "fight the good fight of faith".

Good afternoon and welcome to the launching of the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help here at the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Parish.

Seven years ago, when I started worshipping in this church, I had an interesting conversation with John Staniland, our lead altar server in the Mass a while ago. I told him that we Filipinos fondly call the Parish’s Patroness as ‘Mother of Perpetual Help’. John replied that the word “succour” is an old English equivalent for “help”. Regardless of the variation of words, both titles (i.e. “Our Lady of Perpetual Succour” and “Mother of Perpetual Help”) share a common denominator: Mary comes to assist those in need.

If we look back at Holy Scriptures, we can recall how Mary helped her cousin Elizabeth when the latter was pregnant at an old age. She also came to the aid of the newly wedded couple in Cana. She helped the apostles and surely she did the same to St. Joseph, her husband. She also helped Jesus. When Jesus was about to die on the cross, He entrusted Mary to us as though saying “I have been helped by My Mother. I am sure she will also help you!”.

There is a beautiful story behind the picture of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It was said that the Child Jesus had a vision of two angels : one holding a cross, the other holding a spear, tools that would be used when He would offer His life for our salvation. Being young at that time, the little boy didn’t understand this and became afraid. He ran to His Mother who in turn carried Him in her arms. The fear of Jesus was so great that one of His sandals, as you can see from the picture, was dangling from his foot.

We thank Fr. Gerry Murphy for allowing us to hold this novena in this church, a novena which has been used in the Philippines for the last 65 years. Through this devotion, we aim to provide a way for Filipinos to serve in the parish, to celebrate the church’s 60th dedication anniversary, and to promote the devotion in the parish named after Our Lady.

Going back to the picture of Our Lady and the Child Jesus, let us have that childlike confidence as we present our needs and cares to her.

I would like to turn you over to Joey Mabalot who will be leading us in this month’s Novena.

Thank you.

Dream Come True

I once told my wife of my dream of organizing the Rosary devotion among Filipinos in Nottingham, similar to the Block Rosary we had at home. She shared in my aspiration. That dream took two years to be realized though.

27th June 2009, feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, I had a chat with my friend and kumpare Ronald Abrera about my plan which he showed interest in. I began to do some brainstorming, some reflection, and some prayers.

One summer afternoon in July, as we paid Jackie Rapada a visit, I intimated my dream to Precy Lagman, an experienced organiser of our annual Christmas party and other events. Ate Precy liked the idea and assured me of her support by starting to contact other Pinoys. Originally we planned to have the Rosary across the whole of Nottingham, but felt it was too ambitious. We had another meeting with other interested kababayans and, looking at the interest we have gathered, found that we could have the devotion in the Bestwood and Daybrook Areas of the city. Participating families’ availabilities were ironed out and towards the end of the same month the timetable was finalized.

An image of the Immaculate Heart Mary that will be brought from one home to another was purchased from the Poor Clare Sisters Repository in Bulwell along with rosaries, a candle, and prayer leaflets. Luckily I (and other parishioners) managed to track down Fr Paul, who was having tea that time, and asked him to bless the religious articles bought.

1st October came and that dream started to unravel before my eyes. People gathered to pray at the Lagman and Rapada Residence. At a 3 or 4 night-intervals the image of Our Lady (along with a Crucifix from the Lagmans) was transferred to another house. As of this writing, we are already on our 7th house! As you can see, each home and the happenings thereof have been featured as news items in our web of which we are receiving a number of positive feedbacks on the group’s devotion. Our parish newsletter has also included this as part of its announcements for two weeks in a row.

October is nearly complete. We still have 2 homes left before we have our Closing Event on the 31st. Yet as early as now I am very, very grateful to the Lord for blessing this dream. Thanks too to Mama Mary whose unrelenting guidance was there from Day 1.

Credit also goes to my own family for their support and for the 9 families and other kababayans whose faith, resiliency, patience, understanding, cooperation, and zeal have contributed in more ways than one to make this devotion vibrant and successful. I look forward to next year working with these wonderful people, attracting more members, and propagating much better this devotion to Our Lady.

Kristina, my youngest sister, once commented how touched she was to see how we Pinoys have been supportive of one another. Through the Rosary devotion, we have made ourselves rooted in prayer. And having that foundation, I believe, we would be more able to reach out to others - the way the Lord would want it to be. In the process, others would truly recognize us as Mary’s sons and daughters.

Ave Maria!

My Priest Friend

One of the first Britons I made friends with happened to be a priest. Having no barkada in the UK, my only outlets were serving the parish and being with other ex-patriates during occasions like birthdays, etc.

I first met Fr Geoffrey Hunton when I attended Mass at the Nottingham Cathedral 6 years ago. It was the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul and my late aunt’s death anniversary. Fr Geoff, as he is fondly called, at that time was celebrating his first anniversary as a priest.

It was only in late October when I had the chance to greet him “Good evening” while making my way to one of the pews. He replied back “Good evening and welcome!” It was such a short and unexpected greeting. For me it would be impossible for priests to interact with as many people they meet during Mass, let alone welcome them. Yet this priest made the effort to do so.

He did it again when, before the start of the Christmas Vigil Mass, he went to the lectern and explained to everyone – most especially to visitors/newcomers to the Cathedral including those from other faiths – that they would be most welcome to ask for the priest’s blessing when they queue for Communion.

I finally had the chance to really interact and work with him when the Cathedral was looking for volunteers to help him in organising the Cathedral Bulletin. Having been part of a parish newsletter before, I thought this might be a good idea. He arranged a meeting and then we agreed to work on the bulletin every Thursday afternoon. During that time, my work finishes at 3:30pm so by 4:00pm I was already knocking at the Cathedral House. I also had the chance then to meet other priests and volunteers.

During one of our conversations, I recalled to him that Christmas Vigil Mass experience. He told me that as a priest, he intended to make people feel being welcomed in the community. True enough, Fr Geoff was such an accommodating man who valued my inputs during my short stint of assisting him.

In spite his move to the Bishop’s House some years ago, we still continue to get in touch (and sometimes bump into each other in the City Centre!). Even if we have not seen each other for quite a while, I know that I have a friend out there who will welcome me.

A Blessed 7th Anniversary of your priestly ordination, my dear friend! May Jesus continue to fill you with His Spirit as you reach out and welcome more souls into the fold.