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Father Colin Patey

22 Jun, 11 tweets, 4 min read

Day 2 #OfGodAndMe
I ended yesterday with by questioning whether there was more to the #Eucharist than my C of E Confirmation Preparation had indicated. As my teenage years progressed the question began to be answered by a series of events. I still see God's hand in them.

1/11

One of my closest friends at grammar school was a practising Catholic. We were drawn together by a common love of music and by the fact that we were among the very few in our year who practised any faith. We both played the organ in Church from time to time.
2/11

One day my friend invited me to try the organ at his Catholic Church. As we entered the Church he genuflected. It was the first time I had seen anyone do this. I asked him what he was doing. He pointed out the tabernacle and shared his faith in the #Eucharist.
3/11

I had many fascinating conversations with him and his parents about the Catholic faith, especially their faith in the #Eucharist. His mum put it very simply one day: she said that they believed that when Jesus said "This is my body" he meant what he said.
4/11

Around this time I started attending the Evangelical Christian Union at school. Their knowledge and love of #SacredScripture was impressive, and challenged me. I can thank them for kindling my deep love for Scripture which endures to this day.
5/11

Although I wouldn't have put it like this at the time, I think that my lifelong conviction that faith is a matter of revelation dates from my time in the Christian Union. I have always been wary of attempts to modify Christian faith to suit the spirit of the age.
6/11

When I was a 6th former I became organist of a village Church a few miles away. I heard the tradition was more "High Church" than I was used to. Here the main service on a Sunday was a Sung Eucharist.
7/11

The way that the vicar celebrated it made it clear that his faith in the #Eucharist resembled that of my Catholic friend more than of my earlier C of E parish. I felt very at home here. The vicar gave me lifts to and from home so I had plenty of time to ask him questions!
8/11

Great! I could stay in the Church of England and still believe that Jesus meant it when he said "This is my body." This remained my conviction for many years.
9/11

Tomorrow I will look at my University years, my introduction to Marian devotion, sacramental confession and a dawning sense of #Vocation.
10/11

Day 2 Summary:
While my contemporaries were following the Beatles, I was talking about the presence of #Jesus in the #Eucharist. What a strange teenager!
11/11

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More from @FatherColin1

Father Colin Patey

@FatherColin1

27 Jun

Day 7 #OfGodandMe
A bit before my ordination, the Bishop asked me to take up a post as a prison chaplain. A new prison was being opened near to an existing one, and the local parish wouldn't be able to cover both. With some trepidation I agreed.
1/13

Somewhat to my surprise, the next 12 years were Incredibly fulfilling. I worked in open male, and closed female prisons. Once I'd got over the initial shock of working in a very unfamiliar environment, I had a deep sense of being in the right place. I met Jesus anew here.
2/13

Christian friends prayed that I might take Jesus into the prison. No! He was there first! "I was in prison and you visited me." I needed to care for the staff too. Most prison staff are professional & caring
3/13

Read 13 tweets

Father Colin Patey

@FatherColin1

26 Jun

Day 6 #OfGodandMe
Yesterday I dealt with some of my unease with life & ministry in the Church of England. My experience of #IgnatianSpirituality taught me that God leads us through consolation rather than desolation, so I was wary of acting out of my desolation.
1/12

As Cyndy moved towards reception into the Catholic Church, I often accompanied her to Mass, while continuing my Anglican hospital chaplaincy. I grew increasingly aware that I shared the faith of the Catholic community. I wanted what Cyndy was finding. I felt at home.
2/12

The Catechism of the Catholic Church was published about this time. I read it from cover to cover - not what it was designed for! This is what I believed. Once Cyndy was received, I couldn't wait much longer. So I made the second great and good choice of my life.
3/12

Read 12 tweets

Father Colin Patey

@FatherColin1

25 Jun

Day 5 #OfGodandMe
While I was Vicar of Grimethorpe, I heard and read a lot about #IgnatianSpirituality. I wanted to know more so I spent 8 days at St Beuno's in N Wales. The daily sharing of my experience of prayer with my retreat-giver was life-changing.
1/13

My love for Scripture was enriched by a renewed sense of God speaking with me through his Word. This was both consoling and challenging. I walked on the water and sank, with Peter as I felt that my life, faith, ministry were shams, play-acting. The Lord rescued me.
2/13

The eight days, and subsequent reading, retreats (including a 30 day experience) & courses changed both my own prayer life, & the way I accompanied others. They gave me the foundation for discernment through an attention to the path of the Lord's consolation.
3/13

Read 13 tweets

Father Colin Patey

@FatherColin1

24 Jun

Day 4 #OfGodandMe
My C of E Ordination was in Durham Cathedral, between the shrines of Ss Bede & Cuthbert. My first curacy was on S Tyneside in a mining parish with estates built to house overspill from Jarrow. My vicar worked hard & expected his curates to do likewise.
1/13

All but three years of my ministry have been in mining & former mining areas. I came to love mining folk & their sense of community. I am aware of the debt our country owes them for their contribution to our prosperity over the years. Sad that is often unrecognised.
2/13

I had fondly imagined that the sight of me in a dog collar and my carefully pondered apologetics would bring people to faith. It didn't happen! But I gained much from the hard work and daily prayer of the parish.
3/13

Read 13 tweets

Father Colin Patey

@FatherColin1

23 Jun

Day 3 #OfGodandMe I went to Uni to read medicine. I found the highest Church in the city with lots of smells & bells, and, vitally, faith in the Eucharistic presence of Jesus. I heard #GregorianChant for the 1st time. Beautiful. I met the #Angelus Prayer & the #HailMary.
1/11

Here, too, I heard a homily which had a profound impact on me. The vicar talked about Mary's words at the Wedding in Cana: "Do whatever he tells you." Since then these words have hit me at times of uncertainty & decision. They led me to make my 1st confession.
2/11

Confession is quite rare in the C of E except among very devout and very High Church people. Its regular practice gave me a sense of both my sin and God's forgiveness. For me it was also a matter of obedience, like Mary's Fiat and her call to the servants at Cana.
3/11

Read 11 tweets

Father Colin Patey

@FatherColin1

21 Jun

Day 1 #OfGodandMe
I was brought up as an Anglican. My mother worshipped regularly in the local Parish Church. Initially I went to Sunday School. My only memory of this is the song which was taken during the collection every week which started "Hear the pennies dropping"
1/9

When I was almost 8 I joined the Parish Church Choir. The main services were Morning & Evening Prayer. I can date my lifelong love of the #Psalms from this time. I didn't understand every word of the 16th century English, but the imagery and passion inspired me even then.
2/9

My love of music grew at this time. I played both recorder and piano. Music has enriched every part of my life especially my faith life. I have been exposed to many sorts of music. I don't like them all equally, but all have enriched me in different ways.
3/9

Read 9 tweets

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