Page 20 - The Old Ratcliffian 2013
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The Old Ratclifan 2013 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2013 | Ratclifan Association Events
came, ‘Try for Philosophy’, so he did! Follow the Commandments Jesus
Later he was sent to study Theology, taught: love your God with all your
which he did and passed. heart and mind, and love your
Seminary studies were very difficult neighbour as yourself. Blessed
for him, but his faith led to him being Rosmini said, “Love God as one
ordained a priest, having learned to another.”
give God more time to work. He spent Everyone retreated outside to the
over a decade with his brethren at front of the College to say the Rosary,
Derryswood, where Fr Tony Baxter IC Mysteries of Light, in the Ratcliffe
(38) asked him if he could become tradition. Later, Fr Anthony said
the Novice Master. He accepted what Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel for all our
he knew would be a difficult challenge petitions.
for him, but again, by the Spirit of
God, it happened. We left the retreat with a clearer
understanding of our reliance on
He returned to Ratcliffe as Rector, God. Love through faith is far more
which was initially for a period of transformative than any self-reliance
no more than six months, but he and is where real joy lives.
Fr Anthony Meredith (57) celebrating stayed for thirteen years as Spiritual
Mass at the Retreat Clifford Della Porta (43) with
Director and also as Vicar for Religious contributions from Louis Della Porta
Orders in the Nottingham Diocese. (81) and Fr Anthony Meredith IC (57)
Why faith in God? It is so that we Following on from this were six years
may have the very best of life, and as Provincial in England and a further
do our very best in life. There are six years as Regional Superior in India. Sadly, Clifford died in October this
various levels of faith: faith as little as He is now living in Rome as Vicar year. His obituary can be read at
a mustard seed and, at times, faith as General. He reiterated once again: “All the back of this magazine. His wife,
great as that of the centurion whose through, I had a lot of confidence, not Josie, told me that I must never ask
servant lay sick. At other times, we in myself, but in what God could do him to write this report again as it
may be lacking faith, or even have for me.” had troubled him greatly. This was
no faith, according to our individual Jesus taught this Commandment the sixth draft of the said report!
and communal challenges and to His Apostles before ascending to Like everything which Clifford
circumstances. Heaven: “Go to Jerusalem and wait undertook in life, it was done with
deep commitment and a desire to do
He asked us to focus on God Himself for the promise of The Father, and good. He will be greatly missed for
rather than on our own level of faith. you will be clothed with the power of everything he contributed to those
Everybody wants to get to Heaven. God’s love in The Holy Spirit, who is around him.
How can we? The answer is by having given to us. Look at Jesus and wait.
faith in Christ our Lord Jesus. It is Pray to the Person of the Holy Spirit Jackie Bennett
God who helps us in our little faith, and wait for the Gift.” Editor
in our weak faith, in our great faith.
It is through faith in Christ Jesus that
we will get into Heaven. With faith
in God, He can continue building His
Church on Earth. He chose Peter,
Paul, you and me, for His design
purposes.
We listened intently as Fr Anthony
explained how reliance on faith
shaped his life, as he then reflected on
his own vocation.
From his first term at Grace Dieu, and
then Ratcliffe, he learnt gradually that
his faith in God would help him to
work, and also to learn. He said that,
with little confidence in himself, his
faith helped him to grow in confidence
and faith in God.
After six happy years at Ratcliffe
with his brothers, he decided that he
wanted to join the Order. He offered
to do anything – type papers, Pitman
shorthand or even drive a car. He
tended the garden. Then, one day Marlene Yell, Florrie Jackson, Margaret Smidowicz & Adelaide Sheehan
20
20
The Old Ratclifan 2013 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2013 | Ratclifan Association Events
came, ‘Try for Philosophy’, so he did! Follow the Commandments Jesus
Later he was sent to study Theology, taught: love your God with all your
which he did and passed. heart and mind, and love your
Seminary studies were very difficult neighbour as yourself. Blessed
for him, but his faith led to him being Rosmini said, “Love God as one
ordained a priest, having learned to another.”
give God more time to work. He spent Everyone retreated outside to the
over a decade with his brethren at front of the College to say the Rosary,
Derryswood, where Fr Tony Baxter IC Mysteries of Light, in the Ratcliffe
(38) asked him if he could become tradition. Later, Fr Anthony said
the Novice Master. He accepted what Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel for all our
he knew would be a difficult challenge petitions.
for him, but again, by the Spirit of
God, it happened. We left the retreat with a clearer
understanding of our reliance on
He returned to Ratcliffe as Rector, God. Love through faith is far more
which was initially for a period of transformative than any self-reliance
no more than six months, but he and is where real joy lives.
Fr Anthony Meredith (57) celebrating stayed for thirteen years as Spiritual
Mass at the Retreat Clifford Della Porta (43) with
Director and also as Vicar for Religious contributions from Louis Della Porta
Orders in the Nottingham Diocese. (81) and Fr Anthony Meredith IC (57)
Why faith in God? It is so that we Following on from this were six years
may have the very best of life, and as Provincial in England and a further
do our very best in life. There are six years as Regional Superior in India. Sadly, Clifford died in October this
various levels of faith: faith as little as He is now living in Rome as Vicar year. His obituary can be read at
a mustard seed and, at times, faith as General. He reiterated once again: “All the back of this magazine. His wife,
great as that of the centurion whose through, I had a lot of confidence, not Josie, told me that I must never ask
servant lay sick. At other times, we in myself, but in what God could do him to write this report again as it
may be lacking faith, or even have for me.” had troubled him greatly. This was
no faith, according to our individual Jesus taught this Commandment the sixth draft of the said report!
and communal challenges and to His Apostles before ascending to Like everything which Clifford
circumstances. Heaven: “Go to Jerusalem and wait undertook in life, it was done with
deep commitment and a desire to do
He asked us to focus on God Himself for the promise of The Father, and good. He will be greatly missed for
rather than on our own level of faith. you will be clothed with the power of everything he contributed to those
Everybody wants to get to Heaven. God’s love in The Holy Spirit, who is around him.
How can we? The answer is by having given to us. Look at Jesus and wait.
faith in Christ our Lord Jesus. It is Pray to the Person of the Holy Spirit Jackie Bennett
God who helps us in our little faith, and wait for the Gift.” Editor
in our weak faith, in our great faith.
It is through faith in Christ Jesus that
we will get into Heaven. With faith
in God, He can continue building His
Church on Earth. He chose Peter,
Paul, you and me, for His design
purposes.
We listened intently as Fr Anthony
explained how reliance on faith
shaped his life, as he then reflected on
his own vocation.
From his first term at Grace Dieu, and
then Ratcliffe, he learnt gradually that
his faith in God would help him to
work, and also to learn. He said that,
with little confidence in himself, his
faith helped him to grow in confidence
and faith in God.
After six happy years at Ratcliffe
with his brothers, he decided that he
wanted to join the Order. He offered
to do anything – type papers, Pitman
shorthand or even drive a car. He
tended the garden. Then, one day Marlene Yell, Florrie Jackson, Margaret Smidowicz & Adelaide Sheehan
20
20
