A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Good morning - I hope you’re well. I managed 11,124 steps yesterday - a weekly average of 11,003.
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far.

We had a good meeting of the Parish Forum last night - thank you to everyone who attended.
Lots of issues were discussed, particularly about how we welcome families and young people to our celebration of the sacraments. The minutes will be sent out over the next few days.

One area of concern was our response to Laudato Si and how our young people's commitment to the environment might be translated into parish life. There can be no doubt that we of the later generations have a responsibility to hand on to those who are following us a world which reflects the power of God’s creation. And it doesn’t necessarily take a huge amount of effort.

Pope Francis in Laudato Si (para. 230) says:
Saint Therese of Lisieux invites us to practice the little way of love, not to miss out on a kind word, a smile or any small gesture which sows peace and friendship. An integral ecology is also made up of simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness. In the end, a world of exacerbated consumption is at the same time a world which mistreats life in all its forms.

Please pray for Shirley whose funeral we celebrate today

St Joseph, protector of those who are anxious or lonely, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John