General Chat

The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio

to be known as Pope Francis the First ............

in honour of Francis of Assisi


absolute silence in St Peter's Square when his name was announced ...... his name had not made any kind of list.


77 years old

Born in Argentina to parents who had immigrated from Rome

Very humble ................ has never lived in a mansion, took public transit for many years, cooks for himself, a Jesuit,

supports the Church line on homosexuality, but ays gays a=shoul be respected

Has condemned priests who will not baptise illegitimate children as "today's hypocrites"

Has worked with the very poor, HIV/AIDS sufferers, and has modernised the church in Argentina

Has never worked in the Curia (ie, in Rome), although studied in Rome

Is an excellent manager

and good with the media


seemed a very genuine man in his speech ............ started by saying "Buono sera"

and ended by saying (translation) "good night, and have a good rest "

Just watching it Sylvia but am going out in 15 minis.......hope they hurry up!!! ;-)

there is a new Pope .................. white smoke from the chimney about 20 minutes ago.

But still waiting for the Pope to be introduced to the world, and his name known

Cynthia. Think we might see quite a bit of black smoke till one of them achieves 77 votes (two-thirds of voting Cardinals).

I think the candidates look very strong. I just hope they can put their divisions aside and elect the right man for what must be one of the most difficult periods in the Roman Catholic Church. :-D

You've done your homework John!!

I'll probably just look up the history of whomever gets elected.......when he gets elected :-D


With the exception of Bertone, the ages of the other likely candidates seems reasonable enough.

Today began process of electing the new Pope. Expectations are that the new man will be announced Thursday or Friday this week.

Frontrunners are:

Tarcisio Bertone b 1934
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson b 1948
Angelo Scola b 1941
Marc Oullet b 1944
Odilo Scherer b 1949
Angelo Bagnasco b 1943
Christoph von Schonborn b 1945

It is likely to be Scola (Milan), but the African Turkson is highly favoured. And Scherer must figure largely because he is responsible for Brazil which is showing the most Catholic Church growth at present.

From the little bit I have read about these candidates, I have felt from the beginning that the French Canadian Oullet could be the right man for the moment.

One thing I have noticed is that they are all (with possible exception of Bertone) full of vigour and any should have many years in the post.

We shall find out very soon. Whoever is elected, may God bless his work.

Cynthia. That sounds great. Can you do that again next year and invite me along to be Pharoah.

I think we might have to do a matinee just so that the busloads of Genes posters can come along and boo me. And throw things :-D :-D

Traffic gridlock? How often does that happen outside churches these days. Love hearing about your church - sounds so lively and fun. :-D :-D

We had a packed 'house' too John. It was our monthly parade service plus extras for Mothering Sunday. In fact, they had to get chairs out because there were so many folk....

That was fine, but rather nerve wracking as I was leading the presentation. I retold the story of Moses in the bulrushes and had the children doing actions and making sounds when I mentioned certain words......eg.... Pharoah.....boo.......river ...splish spash etc. They seemed to enjoy it anyway....and that's just the adults!!!! lol


As the folk from that service were going out..........3 baptism families were trying to get in. When we got outside, the traffic was gridlocked!


A takeaway with the family tonight...... :-D :-D

I trundled along to chapel this morning, expecting usual congregation (about 20, mainly elderly). And a cup of coffee and a chat after service to catch up with all the Ponytypandy news I have missed during week whilst I have been working in Swansea area.

First sign all was different was the road was lined with cars. And loads of people I had never met were chatting together round the entrance.

It was a baptism or christening. Minister had all his finery on and chapel was almost full with over 80 in congregation.

Really lovely surprise to see so many babies and young people in attendance. Both parents had attended Sunday School 25 years ago, and wanted little Ryan to have the same privilege. He was good as gold and a lovely baby. Minister walked round with baby Ryan like John Terry parades round with a trophy - full of pride.

Lovely and appropriate Mothering Sunday service and all happy faces at end. :-D :-D :-D

Thanks Ann, even so, you are really fortunate to have such a precious memento from your family. Something to treasure and hand on. :-D

Sorry Cynthia, my fault, he didn't write it someone else did and it was attributed to him.

But I am fortunate to have it for other reasons, three of my Grandparents have written or signed in it and a couple of Great Aunts, plus a few of my parent's friends who I knew and also two of Dad's shipmates from HMS Durban. And my Mum too. (calling herself 'wifey' Just cannot imagine her ever using that expression :-D)

Goodness me Ann, you're a very fortunate person to have that autograph book. Bishop Walsham How was a famous man and a great hymn writer too! Quite a lot about him on Google. I'd hold on to that book if I were you :-)

I think this is the right thread to add this.

I was recently given, by my sister, my father's old autograph book. One of the entries added in 1931 is -.

"You will never lead souls heavenward unless climbing yourself.
You need not be very far up, but you must be climbing."

Bishop Walsham How.

My grandma (b1888) used to be in service (from age of 8 till her 20's) around turn of last century.

She told me that it was often the only day that many girls and boys got to see their mothers and families. Christmas and Easter were busy times in family they were serving and family needed them. And no annual holidays as part of their contract - which was often 17 hours a day Mon-Sat and many hours on Sunday - just a few hours off for church and a bit of leisure.

So Mothering Sunday - chance to take mum a little present, meet siblings, tuck into a massive dinner as a family and spend a few hours of fun and chat catching up - was a really major day for all those in service. :-)

That me me laugh....well done Scozz :-D


Sylvia - I think you are right on all counts. I've added to Hayley's thread.

Mind you, I know more about the history of Mothering Sunday than I do about making Simnel cakes.......I don't like cooking ;-)


Over the last 4 or 5 years, our Vicar has asked me to do the presentation on Mothering Sunday. It's really hard work trying to find a different perspective on the same thing time after time but I think I've cracked it for next Sunday....I hope so anyway :-(

So glad I don't get asked to do it at Christmas and Easter........ ;-)

We went to a Trivia Evening last night.

Some of the questions were bible related.

Guess who was the only one in our group who knew the correct answers?



Me. The Pagan :-D

OK .................


does anyone know the answer to this question ...........

Hayley posted a thread on Mothering Sunday, basically about not wanting to receive bought presents from children.

Allan and I then got talking about Simnel Sunday, another name for Mothering Sunday, and Simnel Cake


http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/general_chat/thread/1320691?page=1



I remember reading somewhere that the making and eating of Simnel Cake was particularly common in Lancashire


Is that true????? Any idea why?????



**
Simnel Cake .................. a rich fruit cake with a layer of marzipan or almond paste on the top, and sometimes also a layer in the middle of the cake. There are usually 11 round "blobs" of marzipan or almond paste spaced evenly around the top ............. they represent the 11 Apostles, minus Judas


I read somewhere that Mothering Sunday was originally called that because it was a day to visit the "Mother Church" of the parishes, also a day when servants were allowed to go home. It was also a day when there was some relaxation of the strict rules regarding what could and could not be eaten during Lent.

Simnel Cake fits into that "richer" food .............. and the fact that some servants would be allowed to make a cake to take home to their mothers.



sylvia

Such a frail old man he looked yesterday - much too frail to bear the weight of responsibility of papal office. I too hope that his retirement is peaceful.


There seemed to be such an outpouring of love and respect for him over the last few days and I was interested to see so many under 50's in the vast crowds.


Now we wait and see what happens and whom the cardinals choose. Mind you, some of those cardinals looked even frailer than Benedict, but I noticed quite a few young(er) men in those hallowed ranks.


Interesting times ahead and the church is by no means dead in the water.... :-D



Last night at our Compline service, we had a modern meditation from the perspective of Mary - sister of Martha - after the raising of Lazarus.

It does make me realise that, sometimes, we are just too busy talking and not taking enough time to stop and listen to what God has to say to us.


Have a good day..... :-D

Thanks for that post, Joy :-D

And amen to your thoughts, Sylvia :-D What a mammoth job for the next Pope.

I am sure I read yesterday that he will be reponsible for 1.2 bn Catholic communicants throughout the world. And I do think that very many outside the Catholic Church will look to him for wisdom and guidance.

Indeed ................


Best wishes to Benedict, Emeritus Pope, in his retirement.


Let's hope he can have a long, happy retirement.



and that the Cardinals choose his successor wisely.