The Adventures of CathSoc

St Petrock's

noreply@blogger.com (Thandi) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:29:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Walmesley) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:50:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Walmesley) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:19:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (旨進 Emmanuel) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:02:00 +0000

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!?

noreply@blogger.com (Seán) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:21:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Walmesley) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:31:00 +0000

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....

noreply@blogger.com (旨進 Emmanuel) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:04:00 +0000

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......

Seán's Update - 'Christ is the Answer MAHAFAKA!' and Evangelization, and current musings thereon

noreply@blogger.com (Seán) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:23:00 +0000

I've been doing some thinking, while I should have been doing some reading, about the nature of evangelization etc. We were talking on Thursday at Catholicism: Why? and I thought I'd share my views on it here.

I read somewhere a very wise thing. Can't remember who it was though. I'll paraphrase it in my usual way. They basically said that you can shout that 'Jesus is the answer!' until you are blue in the face - but if people aren't asking the question, they will just think that you're a nutter and walk away with a pretty negative view of Christianity.

So what is the question? Well, that's too big a question itself I reckon - and besides they don't always come in the form of questions. Perhaps things like 'how can we save the world - I feel shit, worthless and no-one appreciates me - why is it that the things that I am CERTAIN will satisfy me never do?' Things like that, you know them when you hear them.

The way I see it is that if you want to go out and evangelize using words (which I don't), you need to either wait until these questions are asked, or find some way to facilitate these questions to be asked. But I reckon it's important not to ask these questions yourselves, but rather let people ask them themselves. Else they'll think that the Church proscribes these problems in order to prescribe the cure Herself - which isn't true!

So in conclusion, don't force these answers on people until THEY start asking the questions! And even then, don't force them - offer them as your personal beliefs, the answers as you see them, and respectfully STFU n00b when they tell you that they are not interested.

manic week!

noreply@blogger.com (旨進 Emmanuel) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

last week has been manic!!! work and work and work (including all kinds of work, not only money work...) and i have been looking forward to friday all week... you know, just some time to calm down and have a nice little chat with that Dick Head (notice the usage of capital letters LOL)

prayer workshop has been awesome (apart from the bit about the wall/screen....) first half was a bit lonely but it was alright, and it was something i've been looking forward to for a while~ the second half i went off with clarie to talk about loads of different things... to be fair i still cant link her to ecu "hail! Jesuss" thing lol

guerilla prayer!!! nice!!! next time we need to wander around as if nothing is going to happen, then sharp at 12:00 we move into the green patch, and pray for 1-2 min, and then just shoot off!!!!! btw sean, i hate you using that alarm......

LOL! cartoon coming out tomorrow/monday on expose!!! OO7 self-defeat of reasons... also lol at the graffiti campainge in the man's toilet (although it is getting quite personal... which is something i dont want to do)

as paul said, this really is not about scoring another point, or giving dear john a knock out punch!

Seán's Update

noreply@blogger.com (Seán) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:58:00 +0000

Hello there, President Goon, reporting for duty.

Speaking on presidents, I would like to register by indifference to one of the most untresting topics around at the moment - the US presidential elections. Both of those two can go chew on some gout, they're clearly the same person and it makes no difference which is in power.

In conclusion - Chris. Chris.

My first post

noreply@blogger.com (Julia Tomas) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:16:00 +0000

As you probably guessed this is my first post on the ole CathSoc blog!! And what inspirational words has your Social Sec have for you this Friday afternoon? um very little actually, sorry!
Well I suppose I could talk about our amazing social the other night. I myself was one of the few who made it all the way to Firehouse (even though our President had to ask for confirmation of that yesterday evening) and I've decided that Firehouse pizza in the small hours is actually quite a good idea! Though I must say, where have all the freshers gone?? CathSoc freshers you should seriously come on our socials they are AMAZING. Wednesday night, mass followed by the Shepherd (the cheapest bar on campus remember) or as the case of this week, a great night on the town with great people, what more could you possibly want?
Thats all my tired brain and fingers can cope with today, you try writing a sensible blog after 4 1/2 hours of writing about the Romans and Native Americans (thankfully not in the same essay)
See you on Sunday
xxxxx

More shiny website updates

noreply@blogger.com (Ola) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:54:00 +0000

As has been promised many times (I'm sure you'd all given up hope of it actually happening) some more changes have been made to the site. The Links section of the site now has some (hopefully) relevant links for you to view, including the long list of CathSoc and Chaplaincy related Facebook groups. Please let me know if I've missed any or there are other links you think would be good.
Also updated is the Chaplaincy section, which now includes a list of weekly events and a map to show you where it is. Again please let me know if anything needs changing.
Oh and before you leave the website, why not stop to enter this week's Caption Competition? Entries have to be in by tomorrow (although I probably won't notice as long as they're in by about Saturday lunchtime!).
And as one last thing, if you need to contact any member of the committee you can find our email addresses in the Committee section.
Think that's everything, have a good Friday and weekend everyone!
Ola :D

Seán's Update

noreply@blogger.com (Seán) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:14:00 +0000

All Right!

Just thought that I would check in with this blog, as I haven't yet.

I wonder what the Dickens one is supposed to write on a CathSoc blog that Ola hasn't already? Perhaps I'll put some really boring breaking news in.

My grievious wound is beginning to scab over, which pleases me. Looks like I'm going to have a nice big scar on my finger too, which will add to my already rather rugged persona. Won't it guys? Won't it...?

...

Anyway. Hung out in Cover'd for a couple of hours today with Varg and the piercer Lori whilst Antony did the beginnings of Edd's backpiece. It's Godzilla fighting King Ghidorah, it's massive and it looks pretty mint.

Been thinking about going to the Carpathian mountains in the summer or Easter - I toyed with the idea last year but no one was really willing to come with me. The plan would be to start in Munich and follow the route taken by Jonathan Harker from Dracula, through Austria, Hungary and finally Romania. I shall see who I can press gang into accompanying me on this perilous adventure.

Ta ta.

Week 2 of term already....

noreply@blogger.com (Ola) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:43:00 +0000

After the chaos of Welcome Week things have calmed down into 'normal' routine. Last week saw the annual CathSoc vs MethAng Quiz (won by a CathSoc team for at least the 3rd year in a row) and our first ever Caption Competition was successfully won by a member of the committee. The new picture is now up should you wish to have a go, and a 'past entries' page will be uploaded in the next few days.
The Breaking News this week is that the CathSoc Christmas Meal has been officially booked for Saturday 6th December. Sign up on the sheet in the Chaplaincy if you're interested.
That's all for now (until I remember anything I've forgotten to say)
Ola
:D

Taizé service tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Ola) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:14:00 +0000

It's nearly the end of Welcome Week already (how did that happen so fast?). There's still one more afternoon of Cream Teas left (4pm, Catholic Chaplaincy) if you have or haven't made it to any of the others.
Tonight there will be a Taizé service at 6.30pm in the Chapel on campus. To quote the Facebook event page:
"This is a chance to reflect on the past week and prepare for the coming year. The worship is taken from the Taize community, which is made up of members from many different denominations and which young people from all over the world visit every year. It has been made famous by its simple meditative chants."
Everyone is welcome. If you want some singing practise beforehand then turn up at 6. And if you want to know more about Taizé in general, go to http://www.taize.fr .
Enjoy the rest of Welcome Week!
Ola
:D

Big Website Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Ola) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:53:00 +0000

Okay so most of the changes won't be immediately obvious to you as they're mainly structural. However this could have an effect if I've messed up any of the links etc. Please please let me know if you find any mistakes, I can't fix what I don't know is broken!
Other changes include the addition of this blog, so that we can easily keep you updated with things and a comments form to make giving feedback or asking questions easier.
Photo albums have also been changed, you need javascript for them to work. If this is a problem for you please let me know, if too many people can't view them then I'll store the photos in a different way.
As always, your feedback is much appreciated.
Hope the site is useful for you
:D