Catechesis

Sun Rising on a beautiful Cornish morning. Upper floor windows are for the parlor where I go each week to speak with the mother superior.

Sacristy: what I find when I enter each morning before Mass.

Dear Friends and Family,

Hope this post finds you all enjoying a beautiful Sunday! It certainly is gorgeous weather here. As always this Sunday morning began with me kneeling in the chapel and thanking the Lord for the wonderful blessing of having a chapel to pray in each morning (and any time during the day!) where I can adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. On Sunday you could say that the Mass "lingers" here all throughout the day because the incense permeates the chaplaincy where I'm staying, and you have that nice reminder every time you walk in the hallway of what took place on the altar this morning.

Speaking of Mass, two young boys began to learn to serve today: ages 8 and 11. Together with their older brothers they will hopefully soon form a corps of 4 steady altar boys for Sundays. Our head altar boy, 20 years old, leaves in two weeks for the Island of Papa Stronsay, to spend extended time discerning with the Redemptorists there. Please keep him and the young boys in your prayers, as well as a good man named Paul who is helping to serve during the week and who has graciously accepted the humble role of serving when needed but of allowing the boys to serve instead whenever they can make it.

I also announced today a program of Sunday sermons that I hope to embark on in a couple of weeks. One challenge--a common challenge as those of you in Texas know--is that there are more requests for formation than what priestly time allows. How to help everyone grow in their knowledge of Jesus Christ and love for Him, including the knowledge of the different mysteries that He entrusted to the Church--the wonderful teachings of the Catholic Faith? What I'll be trying is something that was recommended centuries ago: to use the Sunday sermons as an opportunity for Catechesis, following a program that--if it were followed consistently for 2 - 3 years, would cover all of the essential elements of the Catholic Faith.

It's the program that was laid out in the Catechism of the Council of Trent, also known as the Roman Catechism--a work that is still used in places today as a textbook for high school and university theology courses. Following this program will have some challenges: trying to make the Catechesis short enough that it fits into the time of a homily will be a challenge! It will also mean sacrificing many other topics that could be preached on in order to make steady progress through the Catechism. Also the preparation of these sermons will take some time--I've never taught a complete course of catechesis before and it will likely mean drawing from several other sources in order to produce sermons that can be helpful for people.

But I'm looking forward to it. In addition to hopefully being good for the congregation I think this will be good for me. It will force me to think through, and be prepared to articulate for others, each of the principal mysteries of our faith. It is the sort of thing that will likely require some sacrifices along the way but that at the end will I think be quite rewarding.

One last note for today. When I went to the local general store in the center of the village to mail some letters a few days ago, I asked the man who runs the store if he'd been to the Rally last weekend. When he said yes I inquired as to his favorite part. He replied "Those ladies on the tractors"--meaning the "Flying Fergies" that I showed you photos of last week. I was proud to be able to tell him that I had seen that performance myself. My knowledge of the "Flying Fergies" also came in handy when talking with two brothers who come often on Sundays--ages 3 and 5. When I asked them about the Rally they began eagerly telling me all about the different types of tractors and their colors. When they began describing the "Fergusons" (If I'm remembering it correctly. In any case it was some name that "Fergie" was short for), and indicated that they were grey, I was proudly able to say that I knew those types of tractors. So, little by little I will hopefully get the hang of the local culture! I just learned today that a lady who comes each Sunday is a former teacher who taught "Cornish culture," so I'm hoping at some point to get some further instruction.

Praying for each of you. Missing you all but praying that Jesus and Mary will provide you with all that you need.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Tony Pillari

St. Magwan Steam and Vintage Rally

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm sitting down to write you after quite an intense week. Of course when I say "intense week" it still means I have each day at least 4 hours of prayer, so I'm quite blessed! But outside of the prayer it was a combination of phones and doorbells ringing often (for everything from requests for Confession to deliverymen trying to find the monastery to deliver the Sisters' freezer), the usual items of homily preparation, Confessions, etc. canon law and civil law study and... the St. Magwan Steam and Vintage Rally--the annual major event of the town! If you're ever passing through this part of England in September I recommend it.

First of all it's organized by S.M.E.G.A. (not to be confused with Smeagol from the Lord of the rings, though the two do sound similar), which stands for "St. Mawgan Eccentric Gentlemen's Association" comprised of 20 good local men. One of them attends Mass here every Sunday and insisted that I needed to go the Rally in order to meet folks in the town. So I dropped my studies for a few hours today and headed up the hill to a large farm that was temporarily transformed into the site of the Rally. A few photos (taken when the place first opened at 10AM, so before it got too crowded):

Local gentleman proudly working on his 1920 steam-powered tractor. 

Demonstration of the agility of a "digger." A main event of tomorrow afternoon will be the "dance of the diggers" in which about 10 of these perform various maneuvers in unison. Rumor has it that they can even make them lie down on their sides and crack an egg with the bucket!

Mini steam-powered tractor pulling a little one.

The "Flying Firgies"--a groups of twelve ladies from the farm who performed choreographed maneuvers with their tractors (think of a marching band executing movements on a field, except here you have them doing it with tractors, and set to country music as opposed to marching band music).

The Flying Fergies in Action

I'm walking up to the entrance tent. In the distance you can see the ocean. The village and monastery are down in the valley below.

One of a number of old steam-powered tractors. They tended to have smoke coming from two main sources: the tractor itself and the man working on it with his cigarette.

One of 4 sets of old tractors that you could examine and sit in if you liked. There were also antique cars but I didn't make it to that section of the grounds.

Cornish flags proudly flying above the tractors. This flag symbolizes in some way Cornwall's desire for independence. No one thinks it will realistically happen, but coming from Texas it made me feel at home!

The rally had a nice feel to it--a wholesome, country feel. People were friendly and I did indeed meet a good number of people--including the photographer for the local journal who wanted a photo of the local priest in his cassock eating a bratwurst. I was happy to oblige. We'll see if I make the local news or not.

I wandered over to the "clay pigeon shooting booth" at which for a small fee you could try your aim with a shotgun at shooting clay pigeons. Turns out one of the men running it is the equivalent of the local Methodist minister. He and his wife are leading a prayer service on the grounds for all present tomorrow morning. He and his wife seemed quite sincere, what you might call "God-fearing folk." I think they would make great Catholics! and may have a chance to work towards that since they invited me to come by their farm for a cup of tea. Please say a prayer for them: Peter and Val.

Beyond that there were various types of booths: local woodworkers, model tractor producers, a china and sweets local business that offers to put on tea parties for any occasion (wedding, birthday party, funeral, etc.), and the SMEGA men who had wisely chosen to man the barbecue tent along with their wives, in addition to acting as masters of ceremonies in the main ring, which has events going on all day long. These include various exhibitions of farm animals and dogs, the "blue majorettes" (the majorettes are a series of blue tractors that perform various manouevers), and an exhibition of Cornish wrestling (will have to miss that one since it's just after tomorrow's Mass).

So if you're ever in Cornwall, come by St. Mawgan's Steam and Vintage Rally and enjoy the local culture!

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Tony Pillari

Glastonbury Abbey Pilgrimage

Dear Friends and Family,

Yesterday I drove to Glastonbury abbey--about 2 1/2 hours from the Carmel here--to participate in a small annual pilgrimage sponsored by the Latin Mass Society of England. The largest annual pilgrimages are those to Our Lady of Walsingham, Chartres, and Lourdes, and there were multiple small pilgrimages to shrines taking place yesterday. I had the blessing of participating in the one at the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. And not only participating but, as I was praying in the sanctuary preparing for Mass, the priest who would be delivering the sermon walked over and whispered, "Father, the celebrant for some reason has not arrived, could you celebrate the Mass for us today?" So I had the blessing of chanting the High Mass, leading the rosary procession around the grounds of the old Abbey, and then giving Benediction!

Here are a few photos:

Three men on pilgrimage preparing to enter the seminary: from left to right they will be entering: Transalpine Redemptorists, Diocesan Seminary in England, Institute of the Good Shepherd in France.

The pilgrimage had reminders of elements that seem to be pervasive in the Church throughout England:

The witness of the Martyrs: we were on the grounds of the ruins of an enormous historic abbey: the Abbey of Glastonbury. In 1539 Henry VIII had the abbot, and the two monks closest to him, hung, drawn, and quartered because they resisted his takeover of the Abbey. He then proceeded to remove all the led from the buildings, which were progressively destroyed, leaving the ruins still standing today:

The historic downtown, surrounding the Abbey and the parish church, is now dominated by occult shops--for example the "House of the Goddess" which sponsors all sorts of activities for "healing." All sorts of magic and dark arts shops. Very sad. And then the tiny group of Catholics there. It seems that a large Catholic parish in England, at least in this area of England, might have 200 - 300 people attend on a weekend. Many parishes have less than 100.

The Presence of Vocations and young people: in the midst of this very small pilgrimage of perhaps 50 people--but that nonetheless managed to sing full Palestrina for the Mass!--there were three young men, pictured above, entering the seminary this month, and also a young man, perhaps 12 or 13, who had discovered and begun attending the Latin Mass. He loved it to such a point that his mother came with him on this pilgrimage to discover what this Mass was all about, and she herself was moved by the reverence and said she wanted to begin attending regularly. So signs of hope.

It was a full day but a blessed one. It began with a candle-lit Mass for the sisters at 5:20AM, and then at 7AM I headed out on the pilgrimage, returning at 7:30PM. After doing some more work last night and a full, but good, day today, I took a siesta and in a moment will have a bite to eat for dinner.

Praying for you all. May Jesus and Mary watch over you--especially those of you in particularly difficult situations with regards to access to the Sacraments for your children. May Jesus and Mary guide you and grant you their peace in the midst of suffering.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Tony Pillari

Sunday Photos

Dear Friends and Family,

Here are some photos from last Sunday--courtesy of a young family on vacation in the area who came to Mass for two weeks.

The gathering after Sunday Mass, with homemade cake each week :).

This picture looks far too pious, but it was taken during the prayer of the angelus (at gathering after Mass).

The High Altar where Mass is celebrated on Sundays and great feast days. The sisters (behind the grill and veil), are just off to the left.

The above gives you some images of my regular Sunday routine. As I type this I just finished lunch (it's now 2:20PM here in England). Today I'd like to simply say what a joy it is to have the privilege of offering the Holy Mass and all the other things that go with that! What an incredible blessing it is to wake up and have first of all a full hour of silent prayer in this chapel--I have the whole main chapel to myself, while the sisters are praying off to the side in their cloister. So that gives me the freedom to pray at times fully prostrate, etc. What a wonderful, wonderful gift to be able to begin each day with Jesus in this fashion!

Then, after the hour of quiet prayer, I chant some of the Divine Office. At the moment I've actually settled on the entry hall to the monastery as the best place to chant. Since the sisters are chanting in the chapel I can't chant there. The entrance hall has great acoustics and a large wooden cross to focus on. The cross has no corpus--which according to one tradition is meant to help you think, when you look upon it, that it is waiting for you to be placed upon it. In the morning I find it a helpful reminder that in the day that is dawning the Lord will be asking me to embrace sacrifices that He has planned--which of course are actually gifts from Him, ways that He will be inviting me to die to myself so that I can open my heart more fully to Him.

Then at 7AM comes breakfast. Since I've found I can't get to lunch until nearly 2PM I go ahead and try to have a pretty full breakfast. Then final homily preparations, preparing the chants for the Mass, other items that may be necessary (today was printing off copies of a handout from "St. Francis de Sales' Method of Assisting at Mass" for people to take home with them), some prayer, perhaps some reading; then setting up the altar for Mass, then at 9AM beginning to hear Confessions.

At 10AM celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass--what a blessing that is each day, and in a particular way each Sunday! In all of its details. This morning for example simply appreciating the wonderful smell of the incense as I was incensing the altar and thinking of the presence of Christ and heavenly blessings that the incense reminds us of. Then the Mass is such a joy but I'd better skip over describing all of that or this post will get too long...

Then visiting with people after Mass outside, then heading up to the hall for some refreshments and more visiting. Today I mainly had the pleasure of sitting and talking with the teenage young men about their school situations--school is beginning this week--as well as learning about local surfing and snorkeling. Maybe I'll try the latter one day.

Then returning to the chaplaincy wing of the monastery for a quiet lunch; and then, in just a bit, a good nap! But first wanted to write you all this post.

Thank you all for your prayers for my studies. I met a major deadline this past Wednesday--submitting the first of three chapters for my thesis in canon law. I won't say it was miraculous but I will say that I was truly amazed I was able to meet the deadline. Work that I thought would take two months, and so that I should have begun in early July, was crammed into two weeks, but somehow seems to have come out OK. Many more deadlines to go this fall, but I cleared the first hurdle!

This coming Saturday I'll be participating in the Latin Mass Society of England's pilgrimage to Glastonbury. Should be interesting to meet the other priests and faithful who will come.

Praying for you all today, that Jesus and Mary might grant your hearts the peace and joy that only They can give.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Tony Pillari

The Silence of Carmel

Taken at 5:15AM this morning as I entered the chapel for an hour of silent prayer. In front of the Blessed Sacrament altar you see the vestments already laid out by the sisters for the High Mass.

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this email finds you all enjoying this last Sunday of August. Please note that I posted a few days ago my mailing address and how to send Mass requests, in case any of you need that information.

I thought I would write a bit about the particular grace of Carmel that I am beginning to enter into here. The grace of the Carmelite nuns of course involves cloistered silence, which is not what God is asking of me as chaplain. In addition to ministry to local families God seems to be asking of me here: to represent the Church to this little village, the vast majority of whom are not Catholic but for whom the convent sits right in the heart of the village and is a historic landmark; to represent the sisters to most people in the world, including to the architects who are embarking on a massive restoration project of the cloister (the building has "grade 1 status" as a historical site in England and so it seems there will be a good deal of public funding for this restoration work, at least we hope so); to interact with the clergy in the diocese and try to be available to them for spiritual direction and Confession; somewhere along the way to keep pace in canon and civil law; and to take care of the chaplaincy wing of the Carmel, where I reside.

Thankfully the little congregation has discovered how inept I am at most of what has to be done for the latter duty and are having mercy on me. This past week saw the plumbing getting fixed for the bathroom, power being restored to the kitchen, various items arriving such as a good can opener and some plates and bowls, etc. Still much more to do, but I finally gave in and allowed a grandmother to begin doing my laundry (she insistently asked... ), and have hope that the locals will have pity on me in various other respects. All of that as an intro to the silence and grace of Carmel which has been a real blessing so far.

While I had read much of St. Therese of Avila and St. Therese of Lisieux during my novitiate 20 years ago in France, I had never read much of St. John of the Cross. This summer I have been working my way through his writings, having now finished the Ascent of Mount Carmel and the Dark Night, as well as some minor collections of counsels. It has been quite interesting. He's a challenging author, and some parts of his writings could I think be misunderstood if taken out of the context of all of his writings and also of those of the two Theresa's, but there are certainly great treasures present. I suppose I would characterize the heart of his thought as that of one who loves Jesus Christ so passionately that nothing less than the person of Jesus will satisfy his heart. And so he is quite demanding in the advice he gives for prayer and life in general, wanting the soul to live as fully as possible of love for Jesus and hope in Him, knowing that to stop and "rest easy" on whatever we have already known of Him or perceived of His graces would mean drawing back from what He wants to do in our soul in the present moment.

I expect that this entire year will be one of discovery for me regarding the riches of the teachings of Carmel, but it is a discovery that I am looking forward to. If I had to choose a second key teaching of St. John of the Cross I would choose his teaching that we should view whatever happens to us in daily life with a special eye to the great gift of the Cross--that is to say to realize that sufferings, etc. are actually a great blessing which help us find what our souls are truly looking for: the infinite treasure of Jesus Christ, to which nothing in this world can compare.

Those two points give you at least a tiny glimpse of the spirituality of Carmel that God seems to be asking me to learn from right now. It should be an interesting journey. Concretely I am now reading a few things, particularly St. John of the Cross, to prepare the sisters' annual 10 day silent retreat in October. Please pray that I find the words they need to hear!

Lastly, because the neighboring pastor is also named "Fr. Anthony" I talked with Bishop O'Toole and told him I would go ahead and begin going by "Fr. Tony," as some of you already know me as. So I'll begin signing these posts that way.

With prayers for you all and your families,

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Tony Pillari

Mailing Address and Mass Requests

Dear Friends and Family,

Now that I am in one stable place please feel free to write me directly at:

Lanherne Convent
St. Magwan - Newquay
Cornwall
TR8 4ER
Great Britain

Also, for those of you requesting Masses and who wish to make a donation, please send any donations to the above address and make the check payable to "Carmelites, Lanherne Convent". Given the poverty of the sisters I would like for this coming year all donations for Masses I celebrate to go to the sisters rather than to me. Please be advised that the recommended donation for a Mass, per the instructions of the English Bishops, is 10 British pounds (around $15 depending on the exchange rate). As always, if you are unable to give a donation I will be happy to still celebrate the Mass. However if you are in a position to give a bit more than the recommended donation the sisters would I know be grateful.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Anthony Pillari

The Family Rosary

At the gathering after Mass, this little man sees my camera and is interested...

Takes a closer look...

I back up trying to get a photo but he's still coming closer...

I at last get a full photo and them let him flip through the photos of himself, which he loves! Wonderful little boy with down syndrome who comes to Mass every Sunday at the Carmel.

Dear Friends and Family,

Blessed Sunday to all of you! Has been a good, and full! day here. There was of course the Sunday Mass and Confessions before and after. Today there were a number of visitors from out of town at Mass--since it is still high vacation time in England, and was neat to get to know their families and children. In fact this week there was a fairly regular stream of visitors stopping in to visit the historic chapel--some with no faith at all, others lapsed Catholics but who remembered the place, and others who had come back to the Catholic Faith because of a previous visit. Among others was a young hispanic family from Houston! So I got a chance to speak a bit of Spanish again.

This past Wednesday evening I headed out to a farm to get my hair cut and then join the family for their family rosary. Was very nice. They have the custom of praying the rosary each week together--the grandparents and then as many of the children and grandchildren as can make it. There is something deep and wonderful about the family rosary. In this case the family, as well some friends and their children visiting, gathered in a cosy room but in which all of us managed to fit. They then began with each person being able to present a petition, while the others listened and prayed. Then as the rosary began each decade would be lead by a different part of the family. Afterwards I asked them if they had any special stories of how God had acted in their life through the rosary and they did indeed! I won't repeat them here since I didn't ask their permission, but really beautiful stories of how God's grace had acted through their heavenly Mother.

Then as the sun was setting I gave a blessing to the visiting family, who would have to return home the next day, hopped in the car, and drove back to the Carmel, with a special peace and joy in my heart. There is something uniquely good about the family rosary. There's a peacefulness (of course sometimes children are crawling up the walls but even then there's a deeper peacefulness!), and simplicity, and sense of coming together over what is truly important in life. I can see why the rosary has been such a crucial element of family prayer for so many years. May it thrive again today!

As we prayed the rosary the little man in the photos above crawled around, at one point offering me his stuffed animal, which I took for a bit and then gave back to him. I couldn't help but think of how we are all called to become like little children. May Our Lady help us to become again true children at heart, that we might have the hope, peace, and joy that only the Lord can give in the midst of our crazy world today!

May Jesus and Mary watch over you all and grant you whatever graces you need this week.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Anthony Pillari