Our season of Lent began with our parish retreat in the beautiful surroundings of Keswick. I think many of us reflected on what a spiritually uplifting gathering it was. Thanks to all retreatants for their full participation. Thanks also to Katie Flood and her young Team for their welcome and participation. Br. John continues his much appreciated talks on prayer on Monday evenings. Thanks John. On Tuesday next week (7th March) we will show the first of our Lenten films. Each film will have a theme of courage in extreme adversity. This first film will be very diverse in its journey of four pilgrims to Compostela by sea. Do join us at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Room at St. Joseph’s. Time allowing, we will reflect on each film and its relevance to our own journey in Faith. Congratulations to Rita Harrison on her landmark birthday recently. Happy 90th Rita. Congratulations also to Barbara and Ian Robertshaw on their Golden Wedding Anniversary. As our church numbers are still not what they were pre-Covid, we will celebrate Easter in our two churches instead of St. Leonard’s. This will no doubt please some but disappoint others, me in particular. Easter and Christmas were always occasions for us to come together as a parish family. Just this week a parishioner spoke of his meeting his fellow school friend at a Christmas Mass in St. Leonard’s for the first time since primary school days at St. Godric’s nearly 80 years ago. Many young families also engaged with each other for the first time in years – because they had the space to do so! These positives must be held on to and built on. The times of this Easter’s service are now inside the bulletin.
John Greenleaf Whittier ‘Forgiveness’
My heart was heavy, for its trust had been
Abused, its kindness answered with foul wrong;
So, turning gloomily from my fellowmen,
One summer Sabbath day I strolled among the green mounds of the village burial place;
Where, pondering how all human love and hate
Find one sad level; and how, soon or late,
Wronged and wrong-doer, each with meekened face,
And cold hands folded over a still heart,
Pass the green threshold of our common grave,
Whither all footsteps tend, whence none depart,
Awed for myself, and pitying my race,
Our common sorrow, like a mighty wave,
Swept all my pride away, and trembling I forgave!