From Father Peter’s Desk: 20th March 2020

Third Week of Lent:

A very interesting Lent this 2020. We have been placed into a situation that we couldn’t have imagined. Sadly people have been infected with Coronavirus, people have lost their jobs and many have been filled with fear. However there is so much light on the horizon, our hospital staff have worked tirelessly to look after the sick, our leaders have tried to make the best decisions with limited information and many volunteers have turned out to make sure that those in need were not forgotten.

In our parish we have been able to webcam the Mass, keep the Church open from11.00 to 13.00 and respond to the call of the Pope to pray the Rosary at 20.00 on Thursday. The Altar society has kept the Church prepared for Mass and the St Patricks day Altar was just beautiful. There are lights kept on in the Church every night to remind people that in darkness there is always hope. Never before was the ‘presence of God in our midst’ felt as a consolation.

Over the next week:

1. We will continue to broadcast Mass at 10.00 every morning.
2. We will continue to broadcast Sunday mass at 10.00 and 12.00
3. We will have a broadcast Rosary on Thursdays at 20.00

We will have all mothers and mothering in our hearts and prayers on this fourth Sunday of Lent and we will unveil a few new initiatives so that we can be spiritually united while we are physically apart.

When This is Over

“When this is over,
may we never again
take for granted
A handshake with a stranger
Full shelves at the store
Conversations with neighbors
A crowded theater
Friday night out
The taste of communion
A routine checkup
The school rush each morning
Coffee with a friend
The stadium roaring
Each deep breath
A boring Tuesday
Life itself.
When this ends
may we find
that we have become
more like the people
we wanted to be
we were called to be
we hoped to be
and may we stay
that way — better
for each other
because of the worst.”

Laura Kelly Fanucci