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 52nd 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.
