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Be A Volunteer
Some years ago a city-centre church, open all day for prayer, suffered some thefts and vandalism. The insurance company said it would not pay out unless there were people on watch during the day. The parish priest asked for volunteers. No one volunteered. He closed the church except at times of mass. People protested loudly…
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Suffering People Of Lebanon
When I was studying in Rome I was friendly with a student from Lebanon. He told me of his beautiful country, of his lovely people, and how he was looking forward to going home to serve them as God’s priest. A beautiful country in the 1960’s but now a country devastated by civil war, injustice…
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Fr John Health Update (3)
It has been a wonderful first week at home. When I did come I was weak but happy to be home again, and day by day I have grown stronger. I have been so happy reading the letters and cards and wishes and emails from you – I feel overwhelmed. You have surrounded me with…
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Fr John Health Update (2)
I came home from hospital late on Wednesday evening. I was very happy. I had had wonderful attention at the hospital for two weeks, surrounded by kindness and a wonderful variety of skills. The only regret is I could not easily sleep – but I discovered that I was enjoying the extra hours of prayer,…
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Letter From Fr John – Health (1)
Dear Everyone, Here at the hospital, I am surrounded by kindness and skills. Each is kind in her or his way – businesslike, gentle, patient, encouraging – all so kind. I feel safe and in good hands, and am very grateful. And then there are you. I am aware of all of you, your love,…
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Update On Fr John
For some of you this will be the first you know that an update on Fr John is needed. But he is at present in hospital, taken in by ambulance on Thursday. Those watching his daily YouTube streamed mass will have witnessed he has been struggling to get around for a little while now and…
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Racism – George Floyd
We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the USA as they challenge the evil of racism and the brutal killing of George Floyd. As the US Bishops made clear: ‘we cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a…
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Prayers
Prayer of St Thomas More Thank you, dear Jesus,for all you have given me,for all you have taken away from me,for all you have left me. Poem for a Hospital Wall Love has been loitering down this corridorhas been seen chatting up out-patientsspinning the wheels of wheelchairsfluttering the pulse of the night nurseappearing, disguised,as a…
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Covid 19 – Church Reopening
Bishop Patrick is exploring possibilities for the opening of churches in the diocese and some of you have been asking about this. There are many considerations and here are answers to some of the questions I’ve been asked about the church’s being open for quiet prayer and open for mass: (1) Quiet Prayer. (a) We…
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Covid 19 – Church Finances
We’d never heard of it – experts moving into the parish to increase church income. We were told the experts would call to the parish homes (no newsletters in those days) and talk about the needs of the church. My parents were upset. They knew what pressure was. Would they fall for the smooth talk…
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Covid 19 – Our Trials
Thank you for the many greetings, cards, gifts that came for my birthday. It was a full day of calls, emails, prayer and thanksgiving and I was sorry when it came to an end. Many of the days of “lock-down” have been similar in terms of busyness and I plead with God to help me…
Daily Prayers
Prayer is Love, I want to Love