St Antony’s Big Visit to Littlemore

22 October 2009

The community at St Antony’s parish in Henbury, Bristol has just returned from their annual Parishioner Bernard Thomas writes for cliftondiocese.com.

As always, St Antony’s parish has a yearly trip. Last year Downside Abbey and Wells Cathedral were the destinations and the previous year it was Harvington Hall, the house for hideaway priests after the reformation. Definitely worth a visit this one, but useless for vocations as priests who were caught were executed, brave men indeed guided from above.

This year’s visit recommended by our Parish Priest Father Michael Walsh was a visit to possibly the greatest convert in England to date John Henry Newman. A Church of England minister who had a great conversion to the Catholic faith and so well known for his writing, preaching and simple living. He eventually became a Cardinal.
 
We attend Mass in the Blessed Dominic Barberi church followed by the visit to the parish church of John Henry Newman, St Mary and St Nicholas at Littlemore.  The visit included his residence, library and bedroom.  It was converted from a stable and barn. In Oxford, the guide to pilgrims highlighted the teaching and studying of Newman’s early years.
 
John Henry Newman said to a concerned person who pondered his part in life and why he was on Earth: “You may not know the reason in this life but you will certain know it in the next”. 

Bernard Thomas