A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Good morning

Having more time to browse these days, I don’t know if you saw the report of the debate from one of the state legislatures in USA about the need to wear face masks. You might have seen one man say that he would refuse to wear one because it would deprive him of the right to breathe God-given air.

This raises all sorts of questions about other peoples' right to continue to breathe any air because of contracting the virus - our responsibility to take care of each other as well as ourselves.

However, I think the notion of God-given air is vital to so many aspects of the current debates. I’m thinking about climate change especially; this is the time when national leaders must begin to think deeply about the impact of pollution on our God-given world and when we as individuals take our own share of responsibility too.
And we know the arguments so well that there is no need to reiterate them here and now; although I did notice on Sunday that the smell of exhaust fumes on Manchester Road was getting much worse than has been the case recently.

I wonder if we might take this into our prayer; not just praying for our world, our political leaders and industry but actually making it our prayer. When we sit in our prayer chairs - inside or outdoors - let’s be conscious of the air we breathe, breathing slowly and quietly, making every breath count, helping us to relax into our prayerful space.
As we do so we can become more aware that we are in the presence of God, the One who loves us and cares for us - giving us that peace and calm that we need especially in these days. Let your breathing almost become your prayer - your growth in openness to God’s love.

It is your right to breathe God-given air; it’s actually what God wants too. And I think it might be a good way to prepare for whatever this weekend of lift-off might bring - Lord help us!

Masses received:
Emily Louise Jones, Freda Jones, Susan Petrie, Ethel Noone, Paula Szynkar, Michael Scott, Tony Carr, Jim Hampson, Tony Dean, For a heart operation, In thanksgiving, Mike Wilmot, Gerard Lohan

Please pray for Sheila Riley who died yesterday

Christ the King church will be open for quiet private prayer this evening from 6 - 7.00pm

St Joseph, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John