END OF TERM CELEBRATIONS:

Please pray for the staff and pupils of our schools as we celebrate the various events that mark the end of another academic year. A special remembrance for those who are moving on in life, either to new schools or to university, with all the fresh challenges that accompany these momentous times.

PREPARING FOR THE SUMMER BREAK:

I sense that most people are more than ready for the summer break, and I am hoping it will provide us all with an opportunity to step back and recharge the batteries. I also sense that we are in danger of being weighed down by the complex social and political problems besetting our society and the wider world. To begin with, I do hope that the powers that be will find better ways of resolving all our industrial disputes than through these constant stand-offs. I am not an economic expert, but the glaring disparities between the rich and poor of the world are a constant reminder that market forces cannot be allowed to remain the sole criterion for governing financial settlements. All our disputes have to be resolved eventually, and, surely, they require a willingness to sit down and talk things through until an equitable solution can be found?

On the brighter side of life, last Sunday’s celebration with our newly committed Lay Redemptorist Missionaries was a perfect example of how different things can be when people selflessly reach out to serve the community and share their gifts. May their example be an inspiration for all of us to continue on the synodal path of walking together with the Lord.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION:

Please pray for our young people from both parishes receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation during this coming week. Those from St Mary’s will be at St Francis in Garston on Wednesday (12 July) evening and those from Bishop Eton at St Anthony’s, Mossley Hill, on Thursday (13 July). Happily, I have managed to rearrange my timetable of Redemptorist meetings so that I will be able to attend both ceremonies.

THE LAST WEEKS OF TERM:

I am now gearing myself up for the final two or three weeks of the school year and all the special events that come at this time, which this year will include the Confirmation ceremonies for many of our young people.

FEASTS:

Our celebrations during the past week have been truly blessed occasions and I wish to thank again our musicians and singers for helping us celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and the solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, when we also gave thanks to God for Fr Richard Reid’s Silver Jubilee. Our thanks as well to Christine, our cook, for the wonderful spread at the reception afterwards.

In the midst of all the excitement of these occasions I failed to mention that we were also keeping the memory of our Redemptorist Ukrainian Martyrs of the last century (on Wednesday): how much we need their prayers today. And on Friday we remembered Blessed Gennaro Sarnelli, one of St Alphonsus’s early companions, who worked tirelessly in Naples among the most abandoned.

THE COMMITMENT OF OUR REDEMPTORIST LAY MISSIONARIES:

I am regularly speaking of the special occasions which we have in our two parishes and this weekend we have a uniquely special occasion: the commitment of four of our Redemptorist Lay Associates who are dedicating themselves to be Redemptorist Lay Missionaries as well. This will take place at a ceremony during the 10am Mass this Sunday. As a member of the Provincial Council, I feel honoured to be able to receive their commitment. I do know each of them and indeed, their commitment is really just confirmation of what they have already been living.

Frances Sibert, a parishioner of Bishop Eton, has become more involved in the life of both parishes and as you know has not only supported our Zimbabwean Mission with fundraising, but has been to Zimbabwe and worked with our confrères there on a number of occasions.

Nicole Barber is from Kent and got to know the Redemptorists when our students gained pastoral experience in her parish of Orpington back in the 1990s. I had the joy of working with her on a Mission at St Bede’s College, Manchester, back in March 2001: also with me were Ralph Heskett, Paul Douthwaite and Linda Longstaff from Sunderland. Nicole has worked with many Redemptorists on all sorts of ventures and is now Assistant Director of Redemptorist Publications.

For years Marie Hogg has worked with Redemptorists, most notably alongside Fr Jim McManus. They have shared in the presentation of retreats and courses as well as co-operating in writing many books.

Elisabeth Neefs will be well known to many of you during her years living in Bishop Eton parish, where Greg, her husband became our Deacon. Although the family has now moved to Hungary, we are deeply moved by the way Elisabeth has been captivated by our Redemptorist spirituality and it is heartening to reflect that she will be seeking missionary opportunities to share this same spirit with others in Hungary.

TIME MANAGEMENT:

As we move towards July, I am aware of how complex my life is becoming. As a Redemptorist Provincial Council we have set ourselves to visit each of our communities and ensure that each confrère is coping with the recent changes. At the same time, I am trying to juggle the Leavers’ Masses in our schools and the prospect of the Lourdes Pilgrimage at the end of the month.

Please pray that my dodgy shoulder holds up!

RENEWED THANKS:

I wish to renew my thanks to all those who helped prepare and celebrate the First Communion Masses this year. It is the first time since the pandemic that we have been able to return to something closer to normal. I believe it was providential that I was able to share the recorded meditation from the devastated Basilica in Chile: it seemed to touch many hearts and set the scene for each Mass. For this I am grateful for the cooperation of both schools: Bishop Eton for making the large screen available and Much Woolton for helping to transport it to St Mary’s.

Now we turn our attention to the Sacrament of Confirmation for our young people in the middle of next month. Unfortunately, because of the large numbers, it has not been possible to arrange for both parishes to participate at the one ceremony and my timetable is such that I will not be able to be with the group from St Mary’s. However, I do hope that in the autumn we may be able to arrange some kind of joint celebration for both parishes, reassuring all those who have chosen to make this commitment of how important they are to our parishes and indeed for the future of the Church.

A WEEK OF FEASTS

TUESDAY: OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR.

As we strive to develop our Shrine Ministry project, I hope we can use the Feast this year as a focus for prayer to Our Lady, asking for the wisdom to know how best to plan for the future for the good of our communities and the wider Church.

Masses: Noon in both parishes and a Sung Mass at 7.00pm in Bishop Eton.

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THURSDAY: SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

Masses:

St Mary’s (7.00pm Vigil) on Wednesday evening and noon on Thursday.

Bishop Eton: Noon and 7.00pm on Thursday.

Please remember that we are taking the opportunity of celebrating Fr Richard Reid’s Silver Jubilee at the evening Mass on Thursday: you will be welcome to join us for asimple reception in the monastery afterwards.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR (27 JUNE):

We will keep the Feast with midday Masses in both parishes and an evening Mass at 7:00pm in Bishop Eton. Please remember that we now have Novena Devotions at 7:30pm every Wednesday and please pray for the Shrine Ministry which is gradually developing and which we hope to expand over the coming months.