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Barnes in Commonthe magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
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Letter to the EditorTo the Editor of Barnes in Common I enjoyed reading Fiona Smith's thought provoking account (Barnes in Common Jan-Feb 06) of her recent visit to the 10.30 Sunday Mass at St. Osmund’s Church and what she liked and disliked about the service. What she disliked was the fact that she arrived and left the church without receiving any kind of greeting from congregation or clergy. That was indeed a pity. What makes it difficult to spot a newcomer is that so many of us Catholics have the bad habit of arriving en masse a few minutes before the start of the service. Once we and our children are settled in our seats, we focus on the sacramental and real presence of Christ in the Tabernacle. We prepare for the daily enactment of His command, "Do this in memory of me", that will take place at the altar. The main form of the Mass itself is that which we have known all our lives as Catholics in every country, apart from language differences. After the Service, outside the church, we naturally chat to our friends and neighbours. This is the time and the place when we should look out for new faces and make a point of welcoming them. A priest I knew used to say, "Inside the church, talk to God. Outside the church, talk to your neighbours". Yours, |
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