Category: Fr John’s Weekly
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“Labours Of Love”
When I was in hospital last year I marvelled at the kindness of the nursing and medical care I saw and received. It was a privilege to watch. When I was due to leave the nurse told Alison over the phone that they were sorry to see me go – I had been so easy…
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A Healthier 2021
2020 was a sad and wonderful year. The sadness is evident in the suffering and fears raised by the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide – anyone at any time might become infected – but balanced by the wonderful care shown at home, in caring and nursing homes, in refuges and, especially, in our hospitals, for the weaker…
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2020 Reflections
Our final parish newsletter of the year. With you I pray for the courage and love to face 2021 with our suffering world and church. There has been much to inspire us in the dedicated hospital and care work around the world, to horrify us in the cruelty of warring nations and dictatorships, to break…
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St Joseph
In 1870 St Joseph’s was declared Patron of the Universal Church. Pope Francis has declared this year a “Year of St Joseph”, celebrating the 150th anniversary. “Patris Corde” is the title of the Pope’s letter and he speaks of St Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, and as a “father in…
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Moral Compass (1)
Who has made the news for you this week – Boris, Donald, Diego, Francis, our bishops? Which part of our world has drawn your sympathy and prayer – Ethiopia, California, Yemen, Australia, Nigeria? Which issues have pre-occupied you – Brexit, Covid-19, collapse of big businesses and loss of employment, hunger, refugees? Suppose you were asked…
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IICSA Report – Church Sex Abuse (3)
Thank you for your sympathy for the people who have been abused in the Catholic Church and for the shoddy treatment they have been given over the years – not being believed, being told they should say nothing, being blamed for the scandal that has shocked us, for being ignored by major and minor officials.…
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Love And Understanding – Covid 19
As I begin to write the news comes of two clothes’ chains (Peacocks and Jaegar) going into administration, with the fear of over 4,000 job losses, and Eon laying off over 700 workers. Poor people. All of us who have know unemployment in our families know the worry, the strains of looking for new work…
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IICSA Report – Church Sex Abuse (2)
The report on the Church’s failure in child and adult sex abuse is a shock, as are the attempts to hide that abuse – particularly in our noted Catholic schools, Downside and Ampleforth, which are criticised for the abuse, the hiding of it, and failure to co-operate with safeguarding measures laid down for the Church.…
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“Good News for the Poor”
Jesus lived in occupied Holy Land all his life. He does not refer to an occupation. The beauty of his ministry was in revealing God’s love, encouraging people to live good lives, questioning unjust religious authority and bringing comfort to God’s little ones, “the Anawim”. He was not famous. St Paul, only eight years younger…
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God’s Love
This week we celebrate All Saints and Holy Souls, look forward to the American election, look back to Pope Francis’ statement on same-sex unions. Faith, politics, morals. Are you clear where you stand or kneel, where the Church does, on each of these issues – as on the many others facing our beautiful sad and…