Our Lady and St. Benedict
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There is an old Hebrew prayer that recognises the journey of life upon which each person embarks.  Beginning with birth and honouring death, not as end, but as the destination, success is measured by the way in which we embrace each stage in our lives.  This life journey takes us “from youth to age, from innocence to awareness, from ignorance to knowledge, from foolishness to wisdom, from weakness to strength and often back again, from offence to forgiveness, from loneliness to friendship, from pain to compassion, from fear to faith, from defeat to victory, and from victory to defeat, until, looking backward or ahead, we see that victory  does not lie at some high point along the way but in having made the journey stage by stage.  It is indeed a celebration of a ‘graced life story’ 
 
Growth on the journey centres on the struggles we experience at the various stages in our lives.  In journeying from resistance and denial to anger and bargaining until we reach the moment of acceptance, we travel from that place of wilderness where nothing satisfies our dropping spirits to coming home to that place of peace where we experience a deep sense of “God-is-with-us.”  It is the journey where I learn to leave to leave behind the Pharisaical attitude that “I am self sufficient” and able to go to that place where I hear the Lord’s invitation to adopt the heart of the Publican who realised his deep need for God.  It is a pilgrim journey that is deeply blessed. 
 
“the pilgrims paused on the ancient stone in the mountain gap.
behind them stretched the roadway they had travelled.
already a far journey.. was it a lifetime?
ahead, mist hid the track
. unspoken the question hovered.
why go on?.. is life not short enough?
why seek to pierce its mystery?
why venture further on strange paths, risking all?
surely that is a gamble for fools.. or lovers
. why not return by the known road?
why be a pilgrim still?.. 
 
a voice they knew called to them saying;
this is Trasna, the crossing place
..choose!  go back if you must
,you will find your life easily by yesterday’s road.
you can pitch your tent by yesterday’s fires
.there may be life in the embers yet.
if that is not your deepest desire, stand still
.lay down your load.
take your life in your two hands,
[gently.. you are trusted with something precious]
while you search your hearts yearnings;
what am I seeking?  What is my quest?
when your star rises deep within,
you will have light for your step.
..this is Trasna, the crossing place.  Choose!
​.. this is Trasna, the crossing place.  Come!” 
 
[Sr Raphael Considine PBVM] 
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  • Home
    • Church History
  • Mass Times
  • Homilies
    • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Baptism of Our Lord
    • Epiphany of the Lord
    • Homily; 1 Jan 2021; Mary Mother of God
    • Christmas Midnight Mass
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent
    • Homily 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • Homily; 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty-third Sunday
    • Thirty-second Sunday
    • All Souls
    • All Saints
    • Thirtieth Sunday
    • Twenty-ninth Sunday
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    • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
    • The Most Holy Trinity
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    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
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    • Transfiguration of the Lord
    • Cemetery Mass
  • Newsletters
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    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • Second Sunday after the Nativity
    • The Holy Family
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
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    • 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty third Sunday
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    • Twenty-seventh Sunday
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    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
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  • Coronavirus
    • Caritas Middlesbrough helpline
    • Live streaming
    • Home Prayers
    • Our Advent Journey to Christmas sheet
    • Blessing of Advent Wreath
    • O Antiphon thought for each day
    • The Tablet
    • Seized by the Holy Spirit by Abbot General
    • Letter to Daniel
    • Joyce Rupp reflection
    • The Rev Julie Nicholson
    • Noah's Ark story part 3
    • Wind beneath my wings; Bette Midler
    • Lockdown poem
    • Our Lady and the child Jesus
    • Noah's Ark story part 4
    • Pope Francis Rosary
    • Seven gifts sheet
    • Women & the post-covid church
    • Jesus images
    • Noah's Ark story part 2
    • Ark
    • Why I'm not opening church's yet
    • Abbot primates five blessings
    • Holy Spirit
    • Angelus & Come down O Love divine hymn
    • Simon & Garfunkel song
    • Noah's Ark story part 1
    • Trasna Poem
    • The seven I am titles of Jesus
    • Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat by Simon de Myle
    • Angels Unaware
    • Be still and know that I am God
    • Extraordinary moment of prayer
    • Halik
    • Don't be fooled
    • Home picture
    • The Last Supper
    • Iona Gate
    • Caravaggio 1
    • Caravaggio 2
    • Poems 1
    • Poems 2
    • School
    • Leeds
    • 5th Station, Simon of Cyrene carries the Cross
  • Hospitality & Outreach
    • Middlesbrough Food Bank
    • The Sick and the Unwell
    • The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)
    • ​Together Middlesbrough and Cleveland (TMC)
    • Zimbabwe missions appeal >
      • Mashambanzou Bulletin September 2020
  • Gallery
    • Bernard's bench 2020
    • Cherry tree in blossom 2020
    • 2016 in our Church
    • Church Photos
    • Historical Photos
  • Contact us
  • 100 Club Winners
  • GDPR - Privacy Notice
  • Justice & Peace
  • Knitting for Refugees
  • Parish Hall for hire
  • Rosa Ampleforth
  • Safeguarding
  • Useful Links