A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Good morning - it’s a bit on cloudy but still no rain

Another quote: this morning from Karl Rahner - probably the greatest theologian of the 20th century - on the subject of death. His theology was based on his prayer - his spirituality books are somewhat easier to read than his massive tomes of theology.

'The great mistake of many people - among them even the most pious persons - is to imagine that those whom death has has taken leave us. They remain. Where are they? In darkness? Oh no, it is we who are in darkness. We do not see them, but they see us. Their eyes radiant with glory are fixed upon our eyes filled with tears … Though invisible to us, our dead are not absent … but living near us, transfigured; having lost in their glorious change no delicacy of their souls, no tenderness of their heart, no special presence in their affection. On the contrary they have, in depth and devotion, grown larger a hundredfold. Death is for good, a translation into light, into power, into love. Those who on earth were only ordinary Christians become perfect … those who were good become sublime.’

We continue to pray for all those who have died - lately dead and those who never leave us:

Fr Peter, Roy, Alf, Malcom, Elsie, Matthew, Stella, Chris, Kenneth, Carol Ann, Ingeburg, Winnie Y., Patricia M., Eileen Maureen, Joan, Frank, Robert, Lynda, Cecilia, Lourdes, John, Michael, Eileen, Dale, Michael, Graham, Maria, Andrew, Gladys, Patrick, Pauline, Michael, Alice & Mary

We remember too all those who mourn them.

There is a very helpful check list for mental health during lockdown in this week’s Tablet

Sleep well

Eat well

Meditate and pray well

Identify someone you trust who you can talk to - really talk to

Improve your listening skills

Avoid social media and too much news

Take up or revive a pastime or hobby

As they say - GO FOR IT!

St Joseph, hope of the sick, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John