The days and weeks since Easter Day seem to have flown by with increasing speed, an indicator of the business of Church life here at St Paul’s. A table of Paulites supported the Monaco Scouting organisation at their annual dinner. Two “Low Sundays” for the F1 and E Grand Prix meant that services were curtailed, however, “the voice of prayer is never silent” and Holy Communion was celebrated on each respective Sunday. The doors to the Church continue to open to all who seek respite from the ardours of the day. We were truly blessed with visits from Canon Thomas and Fr Jude and a very splendid evening was enjoyed in the company of Sir Stelios as he spoke passionately about his charitable causes. A sell out church lunch took place on the same day as a Pontifical Ordination at the Catholic Cathedral, whilst in recent weeks we have been able to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. A wedding blessing is lined up in a couple of weeks’ time and the centenary committee meet soon to chart out the last quarter of the year. Prayer Bears have appeared on a global scale reaching Tahiti, Alaska and a ship of the Royal Australian Navy. The Nice Monaco Branch of the Royal British Legion has had to be renamed Provence-Monaco as the numbers are now in excess of 200. St Paul’s sits at the very heart of this. The Battlefields Tour to Ypres was sold out days after it was announced and plans are already in place for Remembrance Sunday, hosting the Messiah and 9 Lessons and Carols. Phew!!!! In all these and in many other aspects we must keep at the very front of our minds the words of Psalm 115 “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
We bat on, outward facing, finding ways to serve God in the Principality and remaining faithful to the Gospel in lives of Faith and Hope and Love.
Chaplain
Chapel Royal 2025
Once a year, and amongst other duties, our chaplain preaches at the Chapel Royal as part of his responsibilities as one of His Majesty’s Chaplains. This year, Fr Hugh used the occasion to reflect on how our Centenary Prayer Bears have been a source of comfort and a tangible reminder of God’s love, spreading that message far and wide (as far as French Polynesia!)…
Toc H Lamp
Remembering those who gave their lives for ours is something that St Paul’s and our chaplain are passionate about. Several services and events are held every year to honour those who serve our country and protect our freedoms as well as maintaining links with organisations such as the Nice-Moncao Branch of the Royal British Legion…
Br Jude’s visit to St Paul’s
Towards the end of May it was a delight to have Br. Jude from the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield West Yorkshire with us for a few days. During a whistle stop five days he was taken all over the Principality. On his first day, in cassock and scapula, he was photographed at the Cathedral, the Rivera Café on the moulins, the Hotel de Paris, the Casino (neither of which he ventured inside) the Irish Library and signed and their visitors book...
Scout Dinner
I have had the privilege of knowing Fr Hugh Bearn for almost 30 years through various roles at St Anne’s Church in Tottington, most recently as Churchwarden. Throughout this time, and in all capacities, he has been a steadfast source of pastoral care and personal support.In addition to my role within the church, I have served as the leader of Tottington St Anne’s Guides for over 30 years...
Music Matters – By Errol Girdlestone
John Keble 1792-1866
On the fourteenth of July we celebrate the Lesser Festival of John Keble – priest, Tractarian and poet. It was on that day in 1833 that Keble preached his assize sermon National Apostasy in the University Church of St. Mary in Oxford, which in its turn gave rise to the Oxford Movement.
I am only speaking from the point of view of a musician – having myself studied at Keble College, Oxford, and during my final Schools year acted as organist at the neighbouring Pusey House. As a consequence, I can but duly acknowledge the considerable influence of the Oxford Movement, stretching as in does well beyond the confines of the Church.
Elgar’s magnificent oratorio The Dream of Gerontius perfectly reflects the philosophy of Cardinal Henry Newman, himself a founder member of the Oxford Movement, who wrote the poem upon which the oratorio is based. In his turn, Elgar was profoundly influenced by the music of Richard Wagner, something which is clearly audible during the Prelude to Gerontius, with its inextricable connection to the latter’s final opera, Parsifal.
Just to complete the picture, at John Keble’s funeral a group of his friends and supporters, including a certain Dr. Pusey, decided to found an Oxford college in his memory – you can imagine its name – and in its turn, Pusey House was opened in 1884 as a memorial to Pusey himself.
Crossword N°10 – by Patricia Cerrone
N.B. The answers to the ASTERISKED clues all represent names of streets in Monaco.
We also have several double-definition clues (such as 9 across) where the answer can have two different meanings – see crossword N°4, April 2024.
Incidentally, the tips for N°7 (December 2024) are particularly relevant here too and will help considerably in solving quite a few of these clues.
One fairly frequent reference we haven’t looked at so far is the mention of a country or a capital city: this usually indicates a (simple!) word in the language of that country. For example: “Vehicle going round street in Rome delivering luxury food (6)” can be broken down to – CAR around VIA (Italian for “street”) = CAVIAR. Have fun!!
ACROSS
*1. Winter fruit containing extra bit of rind (8)
*6. Little sister, Sue, confused in European country (6)
9. Colour of water (4)
10. Crete’s highest mountain spanning arid area (3)
11. Silly person making pasta (6)
12. Including start of Easter, days of abstinence become festivals (6)
*13. Container returned to Scottish man (6)
15. Robe spoiled by torrential rain in flight (8)
18. Mournful penitent (6)
*19. Vigilant around bishop (6)
20. Helped, since nun nearly died (8)
*21. Pledge to local saint (6)
*22. First pairs of bicycles overtake Estonian (6)
25. Complains about pigs with heads of enormous rats (6)
26. Vestment worn in tropical bishopric (3)
27. Outdoor function – start of festivities before summer in France (4)
28. Scattered Parsees wandering, losing energy (6)
29. Plaintively, four rings interrupt leaders of departed’s Last Rites Service (8)
DOWN
*2 Stony outcrop, we hear, poised over French town (10)
3. Approaches snare nervously (5)
4. Sailed back, without a penny, bringing prophet (5)
5. Bit of glitter to go across wonky leg (7)
6. Damaged signboard’s missing “A” when promoting warblers (9)
7. Sailor Ted at sea with those who worship false gods (9)
8. Fish under foot (4)
14. Big little shops? (10)
16. Insect-lover carrying drink around Eastern part of castle (9)
17. Turned up with roses – true to form again! (9)
20. Theologian born near Nantes in 1079 (7)
22. “Therefore is the name of it called …………” [AV Gen.11] (5)
23. Put forward a proposal (5)
24. Doctor performing short operation during descent (4)
Answers to Clarion Crossword N°9
ACROSS
1 and 6. THE LORD’S PRAYER, 9. IMPART 10. ALTAR BOY 11. GALATIAN 12. REGALE 13. CHEERFULNESS 16. DECONSECRATE 19. MISSAL 21. EBORACUM 23. TAPENADE 24. NEARLY 25. NESSIE 26. TIDEMARK
DOWN
2. HYMNAL 3. LLAMA 4. RETAINERS 5. STAINER 6. PETER 7. ARROGANCE 8. EXOPLASM 13. CLOISTERS 14. UNADORNED 15. DEDICATE 17. CLEMENT 18. BUGLER 20. LEAVE 22. ALARM
