“There is risk to every life. Those who risk nothing risk much more the Talmud teaches. While we keep our heads down, our mouths closed, our public reputations unblotted, thanks to the silence we keep in the face of great public issues of the day, the pillars of society erode in front of us. The Constitution flounders against the political ambitions of the very people pledged to protect it. The poor get even poorer. The middle class watches their retirement go to dust. It is to us in this place that the scripture calls most clearly: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust & not be afraid.” We must not fear the darkness; we must simply resolve to carry light into wherever we are. The call to discern the difference between what is holy & what is simply popular, between what is & what should be, is of the essence of the good life. The work of God is in our hands. To ignore that is to ignore the very fullness of life. Every prophet contemplated the price of the risk & went on regardless - calling to the world to become its best self & so must we.” “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” T S Eliot “The Time is Now” Sr Joan Chittister OSB
Continued good progress on the process of amalgamating our three Churches. We are currently completing employment checks & procedures on our preferred candidate for the post of Parish Administrator, & we hope to announce the appointment soon. A member of the Coordinating Group will report back this weekend in each Church on their work to date, giving news of a combined gathering at OL & SB early in the New Year, following on from shared events in Gilling (Harvest Festival) & Oswaldkirk this weekend. Please keep one another & the process in your prayers, as we face the changes with faith, trust, risk, & confidence, as the Holy Spirit leads us forward together. Membership of the Group is: Gerard Simpson & Peter O’Neill (Oswaldkirk): Clare Lally & Francis Locke (Gilling) & Mary Borrett & Dominic Carter (Ampleforth).
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, a day of Special Prayer for our young people. We are delighted to welcome a number of pupils from St Benedict’s Primary School to Mass this morning, along with their parents & grandparents, weaving together more strongly the threads of faith & community forged between our School & Parish, each a “School of the Lord’s Service.” On your behalf, can I offer them the warmest possible welcome on this special occasion, & we hope & pray that they may season our Sunday Mass again with their valued contribution in presence, prayer & love. We need them. With my love & prayers Fr Bede