Thought from Fr. Colm - 7th December 2025

There are some parish events the are standout occasions, and last Saturdays Parish Fayre was one such occasion. It was an event that went beyond the parish and into the heart of the local community. There was a feel good factor that had depth of connection to so many. I met a cyclist this week who dismounted to ask two simple questions: How did the Fayre go?…and when was the next one? Thank you so many who contributed.

 The many groups who simply exist to help and make this world a better place for so many, especially those who are vulnerable. In a world of negative news, events like last Saturday lift our spirits. I must add a special word of thanks to Cynthia and Erica for their hard graft behind the scenes. Believe you me , they put an enormous amount of time and effort into it. Roll on next year.

“The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community.”

William James

Wednesdays PC meeting discussed :

Live streaming. Though I have reservations about it, perhaps it’s time to bite the bullet. How do we (the Parish Council) support the many parish groups? How do we support our stretched school teachers? We had a brief but extremely lively sharing of thoughts and reflections between members of the Parish Council and our BOP group on the Bishop Stephen’s recent Pastoral Letter.

Also discussed were some concerns for the senior members of our society especially regarding enabling them how to access welfare entitlements etc. ( This is the blessing of having a council member who was on the front line for many years with Age Concern).

We also discussed the attendances at all our Masses,  and noticed the changing profile ie the absence of so many familiar faces from St Joseph’s Saturday Vigil especially. The legacy of Covid still looms.

On a positive note; there is a noticeable increase in young people coming to both Sunday Masses.

How do we support the increased number of students who come and who don’t participate in the main chaplaincy facilities . Updates were given on Safeguarding and buildings. My thanks to our Council members.

Thought from Fr. Colm - 30th November 2025

Making the House Ready for the Lord by Mary Oliver

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but

still nothing is as shining as it should be

for you. Under the sink, for example, is an

uproar of mice - it is the season of their many children. What shall I do?

And under the eaves and through the walls the squirrels

have gnawed their ragged entrances - but it is the season when they need shelter, so what shall I do?

And the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard.

With the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow:

What shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling

in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly

up the path to the door. And still I believe you will Come, Lord: you will when I speak to the fox, the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,

as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

Thought from Fr. Colm - 23rd November 2025

We celebrate our annual Memorial Sunday Mass of Remembrance this Sunday afternoon at 3.00pm in St. Joseph’s.

Families who have been bereaved during the past year will be lighting candles for their loved ones.  It is an opportunity to be amongst other parishioners who also suffered bereavement during the year.

Fr. Colm will light three larger candles – one for St. Joseph’s, one for St. Godric’s and one for St. Bede’s Chapel – which will be lit at every Mass until Christmas.  These represent deceased members of the wider parish and our families and friends,

All are welcome, and please do join us in the Jubilee Room afterwards for seasonal refreshments.

Next Saturday morning (29^th), we have our Parish Community Christmas Fayre from 10.30am-12.30pm.  Once again we have been overwhelmed at the generosity of parishioners who very kindly responded to our requests for items over the past few weeks.

Please do join us and see the amazing stalls manned by various external and parish groups, not forgetting Santa’s Grotto!