A message from Fr John

Posted on: 26/05/2020

Dear Friends

I came across an interview with the previous General of the Jesuits, just before he retired. He had spent his apostolic life in Japan and Asia before being called to Rome and the interviewer was asking him to reflect on his time as General. It goes as follows:

You’ve traveled a lot and have a broad vision of the world. In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges in the world of today?

"Trying to respond to the question as to why so few Japanese became Christian, a Japanese bishop used to say: “Jesus said: I am the way the Truth and the Life. Most Asiatic religions are religions or spiritualities of the Way: Shintoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Kendo, Aikido, etc., but the majority of western missionaries have come to preach and speak of the Truth.” In that sense, there hasn’t been a true encounter with Japan.

The more I travel around the world, the more I think that bishop was right: Asia is the Way; Europe and the United States are preoccupied with the Truth; Africa and Latin America are Life – they keep alive values (friendship, family, children, etc.) which we’ve forgotten in other parts of the world. It’s significant for us Jesuits that – if I understand rightly – St. Ignatius was more interested in the Way, that is, in how to grow and be transformed into Christ, than in other things. The challenge for us Christians is that we stand in need of everything, of all the sensibilities of all the continents, to come to the fullness of Christ – which is also the fullness of our humanity. This vision is present behind all the appeals of Pope Francis in favor of migrants and refugees."

I think such a vision asks many questions of us as a parish; we are a changing parish in so many ways: fewer priests, fewer Masses, more parishioners from all parts of the world. As I look at us, I am sure we do wonderfully well at welcoming the stranger, helping them to become part of our family. I’m just wondering how we can draw on the individual experiences of the universal Church as part of our rebuilding the parish after lockdown is lifted. There are so many riches we can draw upon including these islands’ remarkable tradition of faith enduring under adversity.
I don’t have anything specific in mind but we all know that ‘normal’ cannot continue to be normal. Any ideas? 
This is going to be an opportunity for us to grow, as a parish and as individuals into the missionary disciples that Pope Francis and Bishop John call for.

Let us continue to pray for those who are sick:

Evelyn, Adela, Winnie, Sylvia, Joe, Susan and Audrey

And for those who have died:

Fr Peter, Michael, Roy, Alf, Malcolm, Elsie, Matthew, Anne, Stella, Chris, Kenneth, Carol Ann, Ingeburg, Winnie, Patricia, Eileen, Maureen, Joan, Frank, Robert, Lynda, Cecilia, Lourdes, Dale, John, Eileen, Michael, Graham, Maria, Andrew, Gladys, Ellen, Patrick, Pauline, Michael, Alice, Gordon and Mary

St Joseph, guardian of this parish through these times, pray for us
Every blessing
Fr John
Please continue your generosity to the food bank

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