St Petrock's

St Petrock’s is a charity for the homeless in Exeter. It is there to support anyone without permanent housing in the area. The charity provides immediate relief such as food and a place to go during the day. In addition they run multiple schemes aimed at helping clients to better their situation. These include training in life skills, literacy and numeracy.

A number of Cath Soc will be starting to volunteer at St Petrocks in the coming weeks. We will be working in the kitchen, generally helping out and spending time with St Petrock’s clients.

If you would like more information about St Petrock’s or are interested in volunteering, speak to me or email me (th253 (@ex.ac.uk)).

Thandi

The Masses

I am slightly perturbed that Tuesday 7:30am Mass is no more. I am not angry, nor upset, just perturbed. Ignoring the given reason why it is not happening this term- in the past did we fail to properly support this most early of communions? Probably yes. I can't even think of an excuse that prevented me from attending each and every week. No lectures, no society meetings, no sport, no friends available, not much. In fact, I made 2/11 Masses on a Tuesday last term, which is pretty poor, as I'd planned to go to many more. The first time I went there were 5 people, the second time 10! So people were going, but it wasn't exactly well-attended. Hopefully if and when it returns we will be there in greater numbers. On the occasions I made it, it was certainly a fulfilling way to start the day, and as proceedings (including tea and toast) were finished by 9am, it was actually beneficial to my work.

However, it's not all bad. Sunday Masses have proved as popular as ever, so popular that two bus trips are being provided before and after Mass. The music has definitely improved from the Sunday when we had just two musicians. We've now got a good band of musicians, and I think we have a permanent pianist now. But I reckon we can sing LOUDER and have even more musicians! And, Fr Paul's homilies also need a mention. They wake me up, rather than send me to sleep. I'm sure most people will agree that they're great, and we almost enjoy the bit when he forgets the punch-line, and then jumps up again a minute later with the promised line. Free lunches aren't bad either.

Finally, I like the relaxed atmosphere of the Wednesday evening Mass. But at the same time, it's probably a more intimate Mass because there are fewer people than Sundays. Still, it would be great to see a few more faces each week. Mass only lasts just over half an hour, and is really good for mid-week reflection and worship. After Mass, the Shepherd is always open and CathSoc have most of our events. This term we've got a pub social, a kareoke evening, a cookie-making social, an end of term party and probably more.... So, if you fancy coming to our events, come to Mass too, and vice-versa!

Welcome back!

The coldest winter since 1976, (but no snow in Devon), the worst financial crisis since the 1930s (if you believe the media), atrocious violence in Gaza…. but fear not good times are ahead! (Gordon Brown assures me)

Forget essays, forget exams (not literally!), CathSoc have got a busy 10-week term coming up.

One way to improve our economy is to spend, spend, spend. So, in true spirit, we will heading into Exeter on Wednesday evening, and more specifically into some well-chosen pubs (for fun, not to save our country). Starting at the Chaplaincy at 8:30pm, we’ve chosen a NEW route that will hopefully lead to another memorable CathSoc social. Seán Wright insists that we must follow the Robinson-Wright pub crawl model, which in the past has proved surprisingly successfully (a bit like the Passion play…). If you want to know what I’m talking about, come along and find out on Wednesday. Or talk to any CathSoc members on Sunday after Mass… we’ll be in the bar!

Other highlights coming up include the traditional quiz with the Catenians (not to be missed because CathSoc have to keep up our winning streak against them.... and there's usually loads of food!) We’ve also got karaoke and cookie-making evenings, and weekends with other Catholic societies in Bristol and Cardiff. Fun all the way.

Priglimage of Trust on Earth - Brussels 08-09

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Wish you all a brilliant year ahead of you!

This week some of us from Exeter Uni has been to Brussels for a Taize meeting. We stayed in local host families, went around town to visit interesting places, met for prayer 3 times a day, went to workshops concerning a variaty of subjects, and got stuck in the metro (underground) and/or bus and/or tram multiple times.... But all is well, as far as I know we all came back in one piece.

However I must say I am just a little bit disapointed with the meeting. since we were at the middle of a major Eruopean city, everything were just so different from Taize. The travalling through town bit was just exausting, and perhaps it is just me not preparing very well (mentally), the whole experience was just not very comparable to that of Taize.

After all, if you dont have a hunger for Christ, it is really hard to keep all your mind directed to Him. Now I think I understand this bit. Well, at least I've came back with something!

Have a look at photos on facebook!!

Safer Sex Ball? What!?

Hey there, my numerous minions.

I am suffering with severe bowel peril at the moment, and can't really concentrate so please forgive me if some of my sentences don't read properly.

I just thought I'd write about the Safer Sex Ball, which happened last night. This morning, the facebook-savvy got their photos online, and they seemed to have a good time. And I'm not going to lie by saying that they didn't look good, because they did! I bet they were cold though, poor girls!

But, by Varg, I hope that I'm not the only one who has noticed a bit of a illogicality about this whole affair. Though it is very difficult to find online an explanation as to what the ball is actually about (neither the RAG site, Xmedia or the SSB website itself have easily accessible explanations) it is - ostensibly - to raise money and awareness for AIDs charities, and to prevent the spread of such diseases - AIDs and other STIs.

And, by Varg, I hope that I'm not the only one who fails to see the logic in the way RAG chooses to do this. The cause is very noble, I won't deny that. But RAG sees fit to do this by distributing free condoms and putting on an event which promotes casual sex, as long as it is 'safe'. I was sick to the teeth on Sunday in the Xpression FM studio when I read bits in Exepose glorifying this in relation to the SSB.

Now I'm not standing on a soapbox here preaching against casual sex, or even the use of contraception. I'm just flabbergasted at the sheer counterintuitivity of this whole affair. Last time I checked, a) condoms were not 100% effective at stopping the spread of STIs and b) some STIs such as HPV are transmittable through thigh-to-abdomen contact - not even through genitals or bodily fluids. I'm actually struggling to find the words to describe how stupid this is. RAG are claiming to be promoting the curtailing of STIs - yet they are doing so by encouraging people to put themselves in positions where they could contract them, and to use fallible means of prevention.

I feel I need to pause here for a few seconds to let the sheer idiocy sink in.

I feel so sorry for all the people who went to the SSB last night thinking that they were going to have the best night of their lives, but who wake up this morning with a quiet voice in the back of their heads telling them that they were used, that they deserve better.

Because they do!

Football... it's only a game?

Hello All!

Here is my first post… at long, long last!

This term has flown by rather quickly methinks. Last time I checked it was early October, and now it’s the end of term. University life does funny things to you…

Today, we played an Ecumenical Football Tournament with ECU (and Methang, in spirit). Getting to one of the highest points on campus for 10am on Saturday morning proved a struggle for some people, awoken with a text saying “We need… your camera!” not “We need…you!” Needless to say, I jumped out of bed and peddled at top speed to the Rubber Crumb.

Arriving at half time, I saw two rather contrasting sights. 1: a team of “professionals” in their maroon kits running around practising for the second half. 2: a bunch of amateurs mid-pitch, half-collapsed, battered and bruised, but motivated by strong support and the knowledge they couldn’t perform any worse. The score at this point. CathSoc 1, ECU 9.

Watching from the not-so-lonely CathSoc goal, I saw CathSoc show desire, passion, fight, determination, madness, and a little bit of skill. ECU had the KIT, the PLAYERS, the ABILITY, and probably GOD. However, spurred on by a flock of merry supporters and their own pride, CathSoc scored 2 goals early in the second half.

Let’s just reflect on that for a moment… CathSoc scored TWO goals in 10 minutes. Last year, CathSoc scored 1 goal in the whole tournament. I think we’ve come a long way.

But it wasn’t long before ECU brought us back to reality, and caused me to become a helpless bystander as goals flew into a poorly guarded net, left, right and centre (one even went through my legs. Not good).

Yet, for all the “desire, passion, fight, determination, madness, and a little bit of skill” that CathSoc showed, ECU were always going to be the better team. Still, CathSoc continued fighting (through talk, if not through play) until the bitter end when ECU deliberately missed 5 chances before rolling the ball between goalkeeper and defender into the net, leaving half the CathSoc team laying on the ground. Picturesque. Game Over. Final result: CathSoc 6, ECU 14.

Okay, we were thrashed. Okay, half our team left the pitch with more injuries than the England football team has ever had (slight exaggeration). Okay, ECU gave us one of their players to make it FAIRER. But, we tried, we fought, we had and support… and most of all, afterwards we had cake. And it was delicious.

last couple of days....

the last couple of days:

guerilla prayer was awesome, although i really dont understand why people cant just get a freaking sense of humour... what's the problem of jesus with guns? the scripture had jesus talking to disciples telling them to sell their clothes and get a sword... (according to NIV lol)...... right... i guess the answer is that we are catholics, hence we need to be political correct all the time...

and then auditions. all i can tell you is that after two day's auditioning, adding up to a total of 4 hours (less about 45 mins), we've got 3 people showing up. bri-li-ant. (sorry guys, but i am a little bit frustrated. nononono, just a little bit, i can assure you)

then it was prayer workshop. hmm... raelly need to watch the nooma videos at some point, because two out of two episodes i watched were awesome.

friday evening i went to tessa's birthday party, which was fab! met loads of people that i've met a year ago on the exact occasion (LOL) and it was really fun!!! had a most fantastic talk with ross (tessa's brother) on the reason of us two not dancing. apparently we are just too good, and if we show off too much of our dancing skills, everyone in the corn exchange are just going to commit mass-suicide.... really, with more power comes more responsibility, and we were just doing that (or NOT doing that) for people's own good....

today's football match was awesome! cathsoc had a landslide victory before the match because of our sheer number, but when ecu turned up they beat us hard just because of their kits..... lets not talk about the score, but paul's cake was awesome.

then i need to go to work...... T_T saterday+kfc doesnt seems like the most attractive combination in the word. haha~ but i survived! i feel so fit! (2 hour football, 5 hour running and bouncing all around, never drew a deep breath!)

then i went home to watch supernatural. A-WE-SO-ME!!! i am so addicted to supernatural now!
go watch supernatural now!!!!(someone pleeeease shut me up!!!!!!!)

now.... need actually do something constructive and learn the tune of verdi..... sigh......