A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Good morning

Following on from yesterday, I thought the following poem, which came up in our poetry evening, might help us to focus again on the world around us

W. H. DAVIES
Leisure

WHAT is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?—

No time to stand beneath the boughs,

And stare as long as sheep and cows:

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance:

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

And … while we stand and stare, let us remember those who cannot stop - refugees, slave workers, enforced migrants, the homeless who can only look down; remember too the imprisoned who can only stare at four walls.

And … we give thanks for all the blessings we can share

Please pray for Bridget Walsh whose funeral we celebrate today

St Joseph, guardian of refugees and exiles, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John