Just accidentally tuned in to Robert Jenrick's defection speech. 'We are living through the most profound change to our population in our nation's history.' ...hwæt?

Dark times in the Church.

First Christmas as a priest, and I'm sorry to say bed > #ClergyMaltClub this year. Nadolig llawen!

I've said it already but sadly this erasure is only going to continue until Parliament votes to undo FWS and restore the original meaning of the Equality Act. We need much more public pressure and unequivocal demands for this restoration from minor parties and supportive MPs. Nothing less

I am insufferably twee, and I make no apology for it.

sianparker.substack.com/p/sermon-pri... ⚓️ 🕯

Living my best life today.

This is the best product listing copy I’ve ever read

Week off. Time to read my ordination gift from @frgiacbelloli.bsky.social. 🕯⚓️

The butterfly bush has been living up to its name! #bloomscrolling

Then they came for the sarcastic people and I was like oh great that's exactly what we need right now well done to all concerned.

Some nice #Bloomscrolling in the garden today!

I'm slowly recovering from the intensity (and the heat!) of the past few days. The whole experience has been simultaneously breathtaking and inspiring. Particularly grateful to @scholarpriest.bsky.social for taking this picture of me at the altar during my first mass.

A priest for ever.

Have recently joined the Garmin club, and I am loving it. Fitness, here I (very slowly) come!

sianparker.substack.com/p/same-sex-m... ⚓🕯️

We left our toddler alone for literally 2 minutes. In that time, said toddler ate a stick of chalk, threw up chunks of chalk, and had just started eating the chunks. When I walked in, she smiled and pointed at the chalk vomit. Good grief.

Spent a wonderful weekend on retreat with the nuns in Fairacres. If you need space, silence, sung offices (with feline co-worshipers!), and an orchard around which to amble, this is the place to find it.

I realised I forgot to add some fairly important information to my ember cards: the ordination service is at 11am, and my first mass will be the following day (message me for details if you want to come!)

I've never seen an unopened aquilegia flower before, but isn't she gorgeous? #bloomscrolling

In the church Quiet Garden. #bloomscrolling

'White Sox from Gammarelli'

I can absolutely imagine a world where Sufjan Stevens releases an album called something like 'Illinoise Conclave' with a track on it titled 'The Pope is a Chicagoan.'

The basil and spring onions I got many weeks ago from the supermarket are so happy they're flowering! Basil flowers are very sweet and delicate. Spring onion flowers are...not. #bloomscrolling

Today's #bloomscrolling treat: an aquilegia that has appeared seemingly out of nowhere. No others nearby. Time to learn how to collect seeds so I can give her some buddies next year!

I gave up doomscrolling for Lent. For Easter, I'm taking up #bloomscrolling. Today I've been treated to my first cosmos of the season!

An excellent afternoon.

trans people reading the EHRC interim guidance on single-sex spaces

Carry on using the right toilets. And remind your friends and family voting in the local elections next week that this is Labour's policy and Labour extended the term of the bigot running the EHRC.

She's nearly there!

Sede vacante: We've spoken to global thought-leaders about what the new Top Man (or Woman? Oh) at the Vatican should do. thecritic.co.uk/sede...

I can't pretend I relished setting my alarm for 5am (don't think I've done that since my convent days!) but leading a quiet and gentle dawn service with 5 faithful early birds ended up being the highlight of my first triduum as a deacon. Alleluia, Christ is risen!

It's not typical Maundy Thursday matter but, given that today we are invited to reflect on our propensity to choose betrayal, fear, and self-interest over the love and selfless service offered to us all in Christ, this thread feels rather timely.

Picking up this theme: as a 'biological woman' (whatever on earth that means), I do not feel one bit safer as a result of today's ruling. Quite the opposite, in fact.

"Transphobic politics – whether in their Catholic or secular, explicitly conservative, or even notionally progressive or feminist forms – can all channel this aesthetic. Conservative lucidity opposes novelty to clear thinking and robust 'common sense'." www.newwaysministry.org/2025/04/11/c...

An argument against monoculture lawns:

Ora pro me, and message me your address if you'd like a physical copy!

Anti-trans sentiment is often framed as 'protecting women' or 'keeping women safe'. I'd like to take this Trans Day of Visibility to state that I feel far, far safer around all my trans friends and trans people I know than I would with a single person who thinks trans people are a threat to me.

Teen Warned Not To Accept Group Chat Invites From National Security Advisors She Doesn’t Know

Spending some time in the garden this afternoon. Chaire, kecharitomene...

Just found out that, when I Google 'Regina caeli', it autofills with 'Regina George'.

So I've just discovered that Malcolm Guite has a youtube channel where he sits in a very messy study and smokes a pipe and chats about Lord of the Rings, and if that isn't aspirational media then I don't know what is.

Humble offering for tomorrow.

Study crew.

A sermon against the death penalty isn't quite what I was expecting to write for tomorrow, but here we are.

Some very exciting post today - thank you, @padrewill.wales!

I'm giving up doomscrolling for Lent. Sounds frivolous but, especially in the current geopolitical climate, I think knowing when to put the phone away and do something else is a vital spiritual discipline.

I may also try to revive the 'no screen time while eating' deal, hoping my daughter's anger at the lack of Miss Rachel can be outweighed by her greed for some tasty raisins.