A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Good morning - Happy Feast Day - an extra scoop of ice cream today, or an extra slice in your G&T

One of Our Lady’s traditional titles is ‘Queen of Peace’ and, Lord knows, we need her intercession more than ever these days. There seems to be so much political posturing across the world - and history tells us where that all too frequently leads to. It is surely no accident that VJ Day fell on the Feast of the Assumption - the survivors of Nagasaki would not have been surprised.

Last year, as I went to give the retreat in the seminary in Burma/ Myanmar, I was privileged to visit the Commonwealth War Graves at Taukkyan in Rangoon/Yangon. It was immensely moving to see those thousands of graves of all those who had died men and women from these islands and from across the globe, each buried and remembered according to their tradition: Christians, Jews, Moslems, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist. And of course, so many from each side with no grave but remembered in blessing.

Mary shared immediately in the resurrection of her Son; she who was Mother of God was guaranteed to share in his divinity. She is our precursor too; in her sharing in his humanity and divinity she holds out for us, in our own weak humanity, the promise of a similar sharing both now and for eternity. That promise holds good for all humankind but it also calls forth the best in each of us - to be those people of integrity and truth and submission to the grace of God. Mary is our model, our exemplar; we must turn to her in prayer frequently.

Today more than ever we strive to be the builders of bridges not walls, to build relationships rather than divide peoples. And so … we must pray that our politicians - of all persuasions - be men and women of truth and integrity, be bridge builders.

There’s an old Jewish saying:

Why did God create just one Man? So that:
No one can say my father is better than your father;
No one can say my people is better than your people;
No one can say my God is better than your God.

Can we please remember in our prayers all our parish family, especially those who are part of the frontline, doctors, nurses, carers and essential workers of all kinds:
Joseph, Lisa, Patrick, Chris, Catherine, Anne, Terry, Mark, Theo, Clare, Richard, Anthony, Jane, James, Andrew, Mary, Francis, Ruth, Tony, Sue, Dan, Fiona, Katy. Ian & Bethany

We must pray for our young people who are facing uncertainty after the results of their A levels and their GCSE this week. All our teachers have worked so hard through the difficult times of lockdown - and next term doesn’t look much easier.let us support them as best we can.

Thank you for all you are doing to support the vulnerable and isolated during these times. Please remember our support for the Food Bank - even more essential during these summer months.

St Joseph, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John

PS Rosary and Benediction at 3.00pm today