MY HEARTFELT CRUSADE:

I am hoping that this week’s recorded message will be viewed by as many of you as possible, but especially by the parents of our children.

The juxtaposition of two events in this past week – namely, a meeting with the parents of next year’s First Communicants in Bishop Eton and a School Mass the following morning – brought home to me just how challenging the situation has become. The fact that the majority of our children are simply not familiar with the church and cannot respond to the dialogue of the Mass leaves me wondering where is it all leading? I want a conversation about this and so many other issues in the coming weeks. In spite of the adjustments which we have made post-covid, it is highly likely that there will be fewer and fewer Masses in the not-too-distant future and we, as communities of believers, need to be planning accordingly. At the same time it is the Eucharist which binds us together and is at the heart of our worship.

Surely it is incumbent on us to ensure that from an early age our young people learn to treasure it?