MRS BOSTOCK’S FAREWELL:

After the Leavers’ Mass in the church on Thursday morning, there was a heartfelt and emotional assembly in the school for Mrs Bostock, followed by lunch in the playground for everyone, and a BBQ in the evening. On behalf of the parish, I extend to Debbie our immense thanks for her untiring commitment to our school for well over twenty years. The Prayer Garden, which is already well in progress, will be dedicated to her memory and we wish her a long and happy retirement.

THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

As you know, the past week has not been short of special events. Fortunately, we have been able to fulfil all our commitments, which included covering a couple of funerals for Fr Matthew Nunes in Halewood, after he tested positive with Covid.

THE FEAST OF THE HOLY REDEEMER:

The third Sunday in July is celebrated in all Redemptorist communities and churches as our Congregation’s titular feast. The late Dr Martin Luther King once said: “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world – for love, love is the only way.” I cannot think of a better way of describing today’s feast. Please join with me and my confrères in asking God’s blessing on our ministry; and may we all continue to strive to be God’s redeeming presence in our broken world.

SUPPORTING THE TRAINING OF OUR REDEMPTORIST STUDENTS:

As you know, the region of Zimbabwe, which is part of the London Province of the Redemptorists, is where we still have a large number of young men in training. This weekend, we will be grateful for anything you can give us to help defray that expense.

TIME TO RELAX:

Holidays are HOLY DAYS, and we all need them to keep a good balance in our lives. After the trauma of the last few years, I sense that, in spite of the huge challenges that remain, we are gradually returning to the way of life that will enable us to find that balance. Indeed, now that the schools and even the Government are having their summer break, I believe that we have reached a watershed which will provide us with time to stop and reflect on what we have learnt and how we should move on when the next academic year begins in the autumn.

From a personal point of view, I feel truly grateful that my health has held up and that I have been able to continue to minister in our two parishes throughout the last two years. During this past week, in which I celebrated the 52^nd anniversary of my Ordination to the Priesthood, it has been a joy to enable so many of our children to receive their First Holy Communion. With them and their families I have stressed the way that even when we are young the Lord chooses us to be his disciples, with the vocation of taking his message of love, peace and compassion wherever we may go.

My prayer is that when we reassemble in the autumn, we can all have a good look at how we can bring our gifts to develop the life of our two parishes, rather as we did a few years ago when we had that wonderful ‘Awakening Day’ at St Julie’s School and so many new initiatives were taken. Meanwhile, I plan to take time out during August and enjoy some rest and relaxation and I will be away on holiday during the final two weeks of the month. I hope that everyone will be able to do something similar. Fr Maurice O’Mahony will be returning at the end of next week, so we should be able to keep the basic timetable running, but you will gather from what I have written, that we will be grateful if you could hold anything that does not require immediate attention until we are all back in harness in the autumn.

Enjoy the summer.

PRAYERS PLEASE

We have received news that Catherine Higgins, who plays such a significant role in the life of St Mary’s parish and school has had a serious cycling accident: please pray for her recovery.  

ST MARY’S

The work on the sanctuary is continuing and so far it all looks hopeful. The damage would appear to be confined to the gable ends and we do not have an asbestos problem. Let’s hope that we will have the church back in good order sooner rather than later

KRIS REEDS:

On behalf of the Redemptorists and the whole parish I also wish to thank Kris Reeds for well over twenty years of unstinting service to Bishop Eton. She first took on a secretarial role in the time of Fr Dickinson and formally retired only a few weeks ago. The Feast of Saint Alphonsus happens to coincide with her birthday and her wedding anniversary so we thought it would be fitting to have a reception in the hall after the Mass to thank her: please join us.

THE FEAST OF SAINT ALPHONSUS:

The month of August begins with the Feast of our beloved founder, St Alphonsus Liguori. At the lunchtime Mass in Bishop Eton this Monday we will mark the occasion and give thanks to God for the Congregation he founded in 1732. Alphonsus faced enormous problems getting the Redemptorists established in his own day, but he was convinced that the Lord intended his priests and brothers to make a unique contribution to the life of the Church and he was also convinced that the work would endure. In spite of the problems we face in our own part of the world, which are by no means unique to us, the Congregation continues to flourish elsewhere. Indeed, with your wonderfully generous help, in recent times we have been able to offer substantial support to our confrères in Zimbabwe and Ukraine as they struggle with challenges which make ours almost pale into insignificance. Thank you again for all your loving support of us and our Congregation and if you are able, please join us for the Mass on Monday.

THE RETIREMENT OF MRS DEBBIE BOSTOCK:

When it comes to commitment, there must be few who can complete with the retiring Head Teacher of Bishop Eton. Her 24 years of service (22 as Head) have seen our outstanding School continue to develop and flourish. We owe her an enormous debt of gratitude. The Prayer Garden in the School will be dedicated to her memory and provide a lasting tribute to her. The Leavers’ Mass at Bishop Eton will also be a very special occasion for her this year.

MULTIPLE CELEBRATIONS

CONFIRMATION:

I was delighted to be with Archbishop Malcolm last Thursday evening when over twenty of our young people received the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was a relaxed and happy event at St Ambrose church in Speke. Congratulations to them and their families and our thanks to all those who helped prepare the candidates and ensured that the liturgy was so beautiful.

FIRST COMMUNION:

This weekend we have the first celebration Mass in Bishop Eton: the other ten special Masses will be during the week, beginning on Monday, 18^th July.

Once again, we are indebted to our teams of catechists who have worked so hard throughout the years of the pandemic until now, ensuring that all those who wish to receive Our Lord in this wonderful Sacrament may do so. Please join me in praying that our parishes will be enriched by the celebration of these sacraments, and accordingly grow in faith and commitment in the service of the Lord.

LEAVERS’ MASSES:

In the coming week I will celebrate Masses in our three Primary Schools for those who will move to Secondary in September. Once again, I beg your prayers for all our pupils that they will make a happy transition and flourish in their new schools. This also provides me with an opportunity to thank all the staff of our schools whose commitment to the education of our children is outstanding and who have gone the extra mile amidst the considerable challenges of the past few years.