Weekend Masses

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It was nice on Saturday evening and on Sunday morning to see people sitting in their usual places. It was as if time had stood still but then I noticed some of the children and how they had grown and matured in one short month…. God help the parents who cloth and feed them. Then there was the collage in the gathering area that reminds us to pray for our students in College… a very strong reminder of the passage of time. Scripture reminds us of all of these things in the words” there is a time to live and a time to sow…” We are reminded constantly of the need to have Christ at the center of our lives. Time does not stand still. We very often (over) worry, but not always about the right things. On my recent travels I had all sorts of plans for what I wanted and needed to do. None of my plans came to fruition because of my brother’s ill health. I still had fun and enjoyed myself. Why? Because I spent more time with my brothers than I normally would. I walked a lot which was good for my health and my back.. Letting go and letting God into the driving seat can work wonders. If you have faith in God then you will have faith in yourself. As we journey together in time we realize in the words of Patrick “if Christ is with us who can be against us” We journey every day into the unknown. We do not know what we will face and so we continue to pray Christ be with me Christ be before me and he will be our guiding light leading us onward and safely till we rest with him. Let the journey continue. Pray for me as I pray for you, Fr Karl  

Dear Brothers and Sisters, When I left for Ireland I had all sorts of plans. Most of them did not work out because of my brother’s continuing illness. I ended up visiting the hospital most evenings. The good side of all of the plans that did not come to pass was walking in places that I had not walked in a long time. Most evenings after visiting the hospital I went walking and the Irish weather co-operated. Walking after visiting a hospital gives you perspective. You are alive and fit enough to walk something to be grateful for. It helps you realize how fragile life is, and how blessed you are to have reasonable good health. It also helps you realize how dependent we are on others, when it comes to our health. We need doctors, nurses caregivers to look after us. Very often the family of someone who is ill is stressed and put to the pin of the collar in order to support their loved one. Next time you think you have some gripe, maybe its time to think of those who day in and out selflessly take care of a parent, spouse or family member who is in dire need and pray for the doctors that in their diagnosis and dealing with their patients that they might do so with compassion and sensitivity. Time flies and by the time you read this I will be back among you. Let the journey continue, Fr Karl