A message from Fr John

Good morning - I hope you’re well

The rain has arrived - welcome relief for lawns, vegetables and flowers

I have a lovely rose in my back garden that someone gave me after my brother died - it’s called ‘Sweet Memories’ and its blossoms are responding so well to the warmth of the sun. I have another couple od roses which are just beginning to bud and it’s great to have a little more time to watch them grow.

It brings to mind a lovely verse from 

Fruit Gathering by Rabindranath Tagore

No: it is not yours to open buds into blossoms.

Shake the bud, strike it; it is beyond your power to make it blossom.

Your touch soils it, you tear its petals to pieces and strew them in the dust.

But no colours appear, and no perfume.

Ah! It is not for you to open the bud into a blossom.

He who can open the bud does it so simply.

He gives it a glance, and the life-sap stirs through its veins.

At his breathe the flower spreads its wings and flutters in the wind.

Colours flush out like heart-longings, the perfume betrays a sweet secret.

He who can open the bud does it so simply.

We probably need rather more rain for the full blossoms to emerge …. Which leads us on to ..

Let us pray for our children and teachers, those in school and those at home. May the Holy Spirit inspire and strengthen them throughout these days.

Thank you for your kindness towards the food bank and for your continuing donations to the parish.

Maybe you could also remember our regular charities - APF/Red Box and Cafod

St Joseph, guardian on the poor, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John