A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Good morning - still waiting for the Indian summer

Our children are returning to school today; they are eager to see their friends and new teachers, and the teachers are so excited to see the children they love and care for.

It’s important to remember that for some children these have been a very difficult few months; some parents have struggled to build a routine, some have been out of work, others have had to shift their place and mode of work - but you know that better than I do.

I thought a little reminder of some of those struggles might help to focus our prayer today:

'Timothy Winters'
Timothy Winters comes to school
With eyes as wide as a football-pool,
Ears like bombs and teeth like splinters:
A blitz of a boy is Timothy Winters.

His belly is white, his neck is dark,
And his hair is an exclamation-mark.
His clothes are enough to scare a crow
And through his britches the blue winds blow.

When teacher talks he won't hear a word
And he shoots down dead the arithmetic-bird,
He licks the pattern off his plate
And he's not even heard of the Welfare State.

Timothy Winters has bloody feet
And he lives in a house on Suez Street,
He sleeps in a sack on the kitchen floor
And they say there aren't boys like him anymore.

Old Man Winters likes his beer
And his missus ran off with a bombardier,
Grandma sits in the grate with a gin
And Timothy's dosed with an aspirin.

The welfare Worker lies awake
But the law's as tricky as a ten-foot snake,
So Timothy Winters drinks his cup
And slowly goes on growing up.

At Morning Prayers the Master helves
for children less fortunate than ourselves,
And the loudest response in the room is when
Timothy Winters roars "Amen!"

So come one angel, come on ten
Timothy Winters says "Amen
Amen amen amen amen."
Timothy Winters, Lord. Amen

Charles Causley
And make no mistake, Timothy Winters was a real boy whom Charles Causely taught.
Pray for our teachers, parents, children - and our schools’ governors who give their time so generously
St Joseph, guardian of the young, pray for us
Every blessing
Fr John