PROJECT ZIMBABWE UPDATES JULY 2024

We have received a couple of videos from Zimbabwe, one is a thank you, the other shows you how work has been progressing

THANK YOU FROM SOUTH LIVERPOOL FOODBANK.

In the first six months of the year, you helped feed 3,535 people in our local area. Thank you to our wonderful SVP team who organise this initiative and please remember donations can be made at the Monastery Monday-Friday, 9.00am—4.00pm. They especially need food during school holidays, particularly tinned meat, fish, fruit juice, long-life milk, custard, rice pudding and biscuits.   ed

A JAPANESE JAUNT 

A JAPANESE JAUNT

The warmth of friendship permeated the venue,

Aptly arranged for the events which were to follow.

A gentle hum of voices and laughter

As friends fortified themselves, with all manner of sustenance

(Free from expertise suitability/unsuitability opinion)

In preparation for the excursion which was to follow.

Suitably sated, the group welcomed the Speaker

Who would take them on a trip to Japan -

Without the effort of physical discomfort!

We watched and listened as facts and illustrations

Were amusingly demonstrated by the popular Speaker.

Then, it was time for audience participation!

The years were shed as fingers and acumen,

Somewhat impinged upon by the passing years,

Struggled with the intricacies of Origami.

But, with the industrious assistance of the Expert,

Eyes aglow, the satisfied participants eventually viewed,

Their souvenirs of a very pleasant afternoon -

A Bookmark and a Butterfly.

Watch this space for the Advanced Class!

Eileen Murray © 3 July 2024

J&P GROUP - THANK YOU

The Justice and Peace Group would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who supported their campaign for MARY'S MEALS. We were completely overwhelmed by your kindness! We managed to ra ise over £4000!!! Plus, there were people who filled in the form to make regular donations and a big sum from the SVP group in St Mary's and on top of that we have been able to Gift Aid it so that's a few hundred pounds on top of that too! We will let you know the exact sum when everything is in. If you forgot to bring your donation, please drop in at the Monastery or St Mary's office. Together we are feeding over 200 children for a whole year! Thanks again from J&P and please keep us in your prayers so we can continue on our journey!

PODCAST 'HOSPICES HELP YOU LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE'

This podcast challenges the myths that exist about Hospices

Hospices “help you live until you die”

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR CHRISTOPHER MCELROY

Dr Christopher McElroy on the Catholic University of America's podcast Director of Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Dr Christopher McElroy, recently took part in a nterview at the Catholic University of America on the subject of Sacred Music, Catechesis and Beauty.

THANK YOU FROM THE J&P GROUP

The Justice and Peace Youth Group would like to thank everyone for their support so far in their campaign to help Mary's Meals. Just a reminder if you can please try to save £19.15 in the boxes or in an envelope that will feed a child one meal a day for an entire school year. 

We will be collecting again on 23 June at the beginning of all the Masses. 

Thanks again for your support for this amazing charity.

THE BEST LAID PLANS

A brief conversation of future plans,

For neighbours' garden revamp,

Emerged from misty realms of memory.

A recent verbatim reminder materialised

With the early morning appearance

Of various vans and lorries

Bearing the instruments of change

And the prospects of noisy disruption

For unspecified weeks.

Agreement having been reached,

Though not without some misgivings,

Settled peaceably and quickly,

Read more: The Best Laid Plans - from our resident poet

REMEMBERING D-DAY 80 YEARS ON

To mark the 80th Anniversary of D-Day our resident poet has written a poem

THE DAWN WILL BREAK 

Eighty years on,

And still the endless tides and currents

Scour the Normandy beaches.

The light reflects on foam-kissed waters,

Glints on the trillions of sand grains,

Reflects on the newly buffed medals

Of the few remaining survivors -

Heroes of an age long gone -

Who hold dear the memories

Of tragedy for many,

Yet glory in concept and execution.

What tales of valour and sacrifice,

Recorded poignantly in historic annals,

Are brought to mind today!

War and Victory are strange bedfellows,

With Peace the reluctant go between.

Still, the restless English Channel

Flows ever onwards,

Enfolding the tales of courage and fortitude

Of all the participants

Who struggled against stacked odds,

For the Right to Freedom.

Eileen Murray © June 2024

CALLED TO BE PEACEMAKERS

Bishop  William Kenney reflects on a new document that looks at a a Catholic approach to arms control and disarmament.