Thank God we have been able to bask in the much deserved glorious sunshine this week. It has been a particular blessing to teachers and young people alike. And with Covid variants sweeping around us, we are being given a reminder that we still must go gently into an unpredictable summer. The good weather makes this uncertainty so much more manageable. Our Masses also continue to inject that much needed boost to our stretched patience. Restricted though it still may be, the mere fact that we can gather is a tonic to the system. With the celebration of the Feast of The Body and Blood of Christ this weekend, I think we can celebrate it as in no other year previously by simply being thankful, especially for those times of private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament we had when weekend Masses were not available during lockdown. There was(is) a silent solidarity also among those physically present. Nothing dramatic, just the ordinariness of the moment, but ... “ do not forget that the value and interest in life is not so much to do the conspicuous things... as to do the ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value.” Teilhard de Chardin A special thanks to all of you for cards, messages and Masses for my brother Liam. The regular listing of Masses intentions have been a reminder of the value of support, especially at this time when it seems travel restrictions to Ireland may not make allow a family remembrance of Liam’s life until mid July, at the earliest. So a sincere thank you. I say that also on behalf of Liam’s wife, Moira and family, whom I keep up to date on all Masses and prayers.
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- May 28, 2021
I joined the year 13’s on Thursday for the annual school leavers’ Mass at St. Leonard’s. It is very difficult to fully understand the challenges young people have had to cope with over the past 18 months. However, all one can do is to encourage them as they enter a new dimension of their development. This was the first school Mass to take place in nearly two years – the longest period of time that St. Leonard’s has gone without Mass. The teaching staff have been magnificent. Speaking to two students before the Mass, I expressed my sympathies with the hardships they have had to cope with, but one of them shot straight back saying that they were lucky, as students in some schools had not had access to the virtual educational facilities that St. Leonard’s provided. I was impressed. Maybe that’s a pointer for us all. Perhaps many people of all ages have coped much better than we think? Perhaps lockdown has been an opportunity for real growth on an individual and collective basis? Good things are happening. Perhaps we, as parish, can also take a lesson from our young. Perhaps we listen too much to the negative and not realise the positives taking place that go almost unnoticed. “If you don’t read the newspaper you’re uninformed. If you do read the newspaper, you’re mis-informed.” Mark Twain. As our churches now begin to get back to some normality, we must reappraise the word “normal”. Some parishioners have risen to the challenges ensuring that our Services continue. Parish packs have been a great source of comfort for the housebound. There are so many examples of younger parishioners taking the initiative. And what of the future? How will our numbers be affected? An interesting study was taken by York Minster in an effort to anticipate what the changes in their attendance might be. It is anticipated that their footfall will take three years to return to 70% of what it was pre-Covid. Let’s be patient
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- May 21, 2021
Perhaps one of the areas of greatest concern right now is the health of our young people. Sometimes overlooked in the broad scheme of things. Their struggles have been intense, particularly in the more marginalised areas. Our gratitude to our schools for rising to the challenge. The Leavers Mass is this coming Thursday at St Leonard’s, so do keep all our students in your prayers. Can one really appreciate the difficulties they have had to cope with over the past two years? The building work necessary for Tenter House begins soon. The builders will require the use of St. Godric’s car park during the week. Can I ask you to avoid using the car park for the next couple of months. Thanks.
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