A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Good morning - a lovely cool and fresh spring - Lord knows how long it will last.

We have had a few suggestions regarding the way forward for the parish which we can discuss tomorrow evening.

Four areas of concern have emerged:

- what are we doing for our young people; how can we attract them and get them engaged - Youth Masses have worked in the past but would they do so now?; does any other parish have a blueprint

- ecology outreach and awareness (might this be a way of attracting the younger parishioners?) - responding to the challenge of Laudato Si

- how can we continue to build relationships between parish, school and home

- how can the work of the Bereavement Support team be enhanced

If you have any other suggestions for Thursday’s agenda please let either myself or Maureen have them. Thank you

I was very struck by a few lines in yesterday’s first reading at Mass from the prophet Isaiah

'Learn to do good,
search for justice,
help the oppressed,
be just to the orphan,
plead for the widow.’

We might not use those categories now but the import is the same - reaching out to those in any kind of need. Whatever else we do in Lent, our compassionate outreach is surely at the heart of it.

St Joseph, safeguard of the poor, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John