It's May, so let's have a typical picture of Luton at this time of year. Luton doesn't always get a very good press, it must be admitted, but this is just outside my front door. In many parts of the town one can find tree-lined avenues - at this time of year resplendent in blossom. The many parks and open spaces moved one writer (albeit in the 1930s) to write of Luton: Here the pilgrim who comes in search of beauty will never be disappointed. It's a great place to be.
In the church grounds here is a veritable wildlife reserve among the trees and bushes - and especially when it's a while since the grass has been cut. We find squirrels, hedgehogs, cats, foxes, several different species of finch and of tit, as well as many other birds and insects. Cutting the grass can be problematic in view of the area of the grounds. It's a matter of finding a long enough slot of dry weather to do it all. I prefer to do that particular job myself. It's work that is good for me - St Benedict knew the value of manual labour. They made us do it at seminary because it was a good thing for a priest to do, not because it was good for seminarians! But keeping some kind of order in a garden is surely what Adam and Eve were doing before the Fall!
It's been a busy month so far - and set to become busier with our Corpus Christi procession in a couple of weeks, and the Bishop's Visitation the week after that. Then the 1st communions. Also in June we have the golden jubilee celebrations for Fr Neville McClement, formerly parish priest here at St Martin's and in the same month we have in the neighbouring parish of St John, the priestly ordination of Andrew Richardson. He and Simon Penhalagan are the only priests to be ordained in our Dicoese this year. We pray that more may be helped to respond to God's call - for undoubtedly He is calling them. Then there is Confirmation on 11 July - after which we can hope that things quieten down a little.
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