LEARNING SOME LESSONS:

All who watched even some of the Queen’s funeral, no matter what their feelings about monarchy might be, must surely agree that it was the most remarkable demonstration of what can be achieved with careful planning and meticulous attention to detail. This country does have a unique place in history when it comes to pageantry and ceremony, and it is surely something of which we can rightly be proud. I have often shared with you my natural instincts when it comes to tidiness and good order, and yet I have also had to learn to accept that it is not always possible to escape the mess which surrounds all our lives.

Often, we have to accept that there is no obvious solution to the problems that beset us. Accordingly, we need to be patient and seek to discern the way forward. I was deeply struck by the quotation from the Queen’s Christmas message in 2002 and which I quoted at the Mass last Monday and in my Thursday message: 

Each day is a new beginning.

I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right…

To take the long view.

To give of my best in all that the day brings.

And to put my trust in God.

What a wonderful way to approach each day of our lives and I am particularly taken by the importance of taking ‘the long view.’ My thanks to those of you who have already taken initiatives. We are building up a group of short introductions to many areas of parish life and these will be available on the websites.

Originally, we had planned in Bishop Eton to hold an open meeting next Tuesday, but my instinct is that we are not quite ready for that. However, there are a few areas where an early response would be helpful:

• Cover at the front door of the monastery. Many of those who faithfully undertook this task over the years are either no longer able to do so or have gone to their eternal reward. Anyone interested in helping, please contact Hayley in the parish office.
• Ministers for Funerals: this ministry, initiated by Archbishop Kelly, has proved a wonderful support in both our parishes. Effectively, we now have just one minister in each parish. Anyone interested to doing the necessary training please contact the parish offices.
• The Journey in Faith or an Alpha Course: either would be a wonderful way of welcoming those interested in joining our parish communities. I would like a discussion about the pros and cons sooner rather than later. Again, anyone interested in helping, please contact the parish offices.

Elizabeth Parsons, whom many of you know, is now the Training Co-ordinator for Pastoral Development in the Archdiocese and has offered to help in whatever training programmes we may need.

My final thought in this long message is I think we have a number of examples in our two parishes of how things flourish with large teams of people, once the objective is clear. To offer you but two: The Dementia Programme at St Mary’s; the welcome of our wonderful Syrian Family in Bishop Eton.

FURTHER REFLECTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS