Thought from Fr. Colm - 22nd September 2024

I am on pilgrimage from this weekend. I begin walking the Portuguese Way with my brother Joseph, on Monday. This route, familiar to a number of parishioners, begins in Portugal, but quickly crosses the border with Spain. Unfortunately, bush fires have caused havoc in the region over the past week, but I am delighted to see cloudy skies forecast for the coming days. This will be the 21st anniversary of my first Camino. I’m 21 years older, and so a more measured approach may be necessary. We’ll see.

“I sat down on a bridge, and wondered; I saw before me hundreds upon hundreds of

miles, painful and exhausted, and I asked heaven if this was necessary to a pilgrimage.”

Hilaire Belloc, The Path to Rome

My apologies for going on, but I’m now aware of a throbbing sense of unspoken injustice

locally at the road closures leading to the church and school from Sherburn Road. There

is a genuine sense of grievance at voices being ignored, indeed simply dismissed, despite

being told otherwise, and despite Corporate PR efforts at damage limitation.

The Feast of St. Francis is soon, and the Community of Capuchins are planning a

celebration of their patron. Details will be in next week’s parish bulletin.

Thought from Fr. Colm - 15th September 2024

Laudate Deum prayer

A prayer inspired by the Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum

released by Pope Francis on 4 October 2023.

Laudate Deum,

O God we praise you, for the world sings of your infinite love.

Forgive us our failure to agree a way forward to protect this earth

and our children's future.

For the way the powerful shelter behind their wealth,

while the poorest people are disregarded and the earth is at breaking point.

Guide our leaders to set aside their own interests in the interest of us all

and grant us all the courage to turn our concern into change.

Strengthen our faith and let us never lose hope

so together we may rise up responding to the urgent call

of your people and all creation.

Amen.

Prayer: Catherine Gorman/CAFOD

Thought from Fr. Colm - 8th September 2024

Welcome back schools’ staff and pupils. I hope you all had a good rest over the summer break. Always a challenge starting up again, but good to have you back. “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall” F. Scott Fitzgerald.

 Next Sunday, 15th September, is the re-arranged date for the International Meal.

I’m afraid I’m hitting a brick wall (excuse the pun) getting any satisfactory responses on the protracted road closure linking Mill Lane and Sherburn Road. Building Regulations appear to support private enterprise, regardless of safety, and not to mention huge inconvenience. Please be careful if you have to drive via Frank Street, as there are quite a few young families there, whose children will be unfamiliar with an increased volume of traffic. Please be careful also with the restricted public path use on both Mill Lane and Sherburn Road. And a final word of apology to the families of children attending St. Joseph’s School. Sadly, this intrusion is our lot for at least a year.