Tag: Fr John’s Weekly
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My Rosary
Each of the beads on my rosary is prayed for someone or something. Sometimes I just let the people come into my mind from my memory (amazing jumps and associations my mind and memory make!); other times I imagine myself walking the streets of the parish and praying for the people who live there; and…
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Living Home-Church Communities
The lovely basilica of St Mary Major in Rome is the setting for a beautiful custom. In the Blessed Sacrament Chapel every thirty minutes there is a Holy Communion service. People gather quietly and prayerfully. One of the priests comes. A simple service (“Lord have Mercy/Our Father/This is the Lamb of God”) and those who…
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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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Parishes Of The Future(1)
Last year, for a short while, Paul was unable to be with us at Sunday mass, but he was able to watch and share our mass on YouTube. He was grateful for this opportunity and wrote, wondering if this might be a way of planning for the future. With the continuing fall in the number…