Fr Rory Writes

A very special memory; a lovely event.

Last Sunday at St George’s Church we celebrated the baptism of “Jamie-Leigh”.  Please God, it will continue on the trajectory that it was  launched on.  She established contact with us when the coronavirus had first afflicted us, with the limitations that were established to provide the safety that was needed to counter the effects of the virus.  She began to tell her story and we recognised a great point of connection.  She was a carer for our Mary Parhon and still is.  We have really missed Mary every Sunday from our morning mass at St George’s.  When I met Mary in her home during lockdown, she was as lovely as ever – and as ever she was not going to allow the virus to cause her to change her behaviour, she insisted upon greeting me with a big hug, no social distancing for Mary, and as a consequence her carers have to modify her outings.  She is a great witness for the value of screening services as she too chooses her Sunday morning services.

As part of our preparation for Jamie-Leigh’s baptism that had to be modified, very rewarding and seeds for a new generation.  It highlights our faith and what is at the heart of it, how we share it and how we renew it.   Our faith, how we live it – How we believe it – How we renew it and when choosing the best reading from scripture for her to read at her service of baptism.  One suggested was a reading from the first moments of St John’s letter, and like the first moments of His gospel – compelling.

John 1-4

The Incarnate Word

Something which has existed since the beginning, that we have heard,

and we have seen with our own eyes; that we have watched

and touched with our hands:  the Word, who is life —-

this is our subject.  That life was made visible;

we saw it and we are giving our testimony,  telling you of the eternal life

which was with the Father and has been made visible to us.

What we have seen and heard we are telling you

so that you too may be in union with us, as we are in union

with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

We are writing this to you to make our own joy complete.

We are now really looking forward to our special event on Sunday 26th at St George’s.

Please God,  we will step out as a new generation looking forward to sharing our lives with hope.