Past and present

I have recently taken over as Registrar for the Seculars, a task which Chris Noble performed valiantly for many years.  There is a wonderful old book containing a record of Promises made since 1882!  Sadly, it is not complete because it relies on group leaders and Community Presidents keeping the Registrar informed, and for various reasons that does not always happen.  One striking feature of the record is that right up to the 1970s and 1980s Seculars would take a new name in religion in imitation of the old practice in the Orders.  Another striking feature is that for many years the records include Scotland, which nowadays seems to be entirely separate from England.  We no longer keep their records and their section of the Secular Carmelite website is currently hidden behind a password.  I gather that they have been looked after from Ireland for many years, which seems strange, but of course there must have been good reasons.  Perhaps I might be permitted to hope that the England/Scotland divide would be overcome again in future.   

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Theresa K, Fr Jon B, Catherine, Richard Parker

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Lucia – Overwhelmed by weariness

Mark – brain infection

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

RIP Martin Gilham, Sue Burton, little Matthew (six years old, died of cancer), Wojtek, Joy Smith OCDS