Dear brothers and sisters,

This year is nearly over and we are getting closer to a summer break. Even the Parish’s Summer Fayre is now behind. Children are already or about to go on holiday, while many of us are ready for a welcome change.

One could wonder what life is all about. Is it starting again and again; considering last year at about the same time, what has changed in truth actually? As says the Qohelet “What do people gain from the efforts they make?” (Qo 3:9). When we reach a point which looks in all ways similar to where we were previously, does it really mean that we have not moved? If we consider life as a wheel, one could ride without moving, like what would happen on a home cycle or at the gym.

Yet life can most of all be considered as a journey, in which every new start is different because circumstances and events have changed as well as ourselves. When we take into account a point in a bicycle wheel, the bicycle reaches a different place each time the point touches the ground. We might be tired of repetitions and feeling that we are not moving forward but our faith invites us to believe that each start is different. Every time we touch the ground and feel like we are back to square one is in reality a step forward on our journey.

The Lord is more interested about the journey than with our achievements or about us reaching the finish line victoriously. Every step made in secret is precious on the road with Jesus. Moreover, it is also on purpose that we do not grasp the beginning and the end of our existence, they are in the hands of the one who created us “Although he has given us an awareness of the passage of time, we can grasp neither the beginning nor the end of what God does” (Qo 3:11). We are thus invited to a step of faith and trust in the Lord’s achievement, our lives are in his hands and he does it the right way and at the right time, may it be ours or not.

I wish to all of you a good summer break preparation.

Fr Pascal

Focus of the week

Prayer for those affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela

Faithful God, even when the earth shakes, your love remains firm. You are our refuge and help. Be near the people of Venezuela, in this time of grief and fear.

Welcome into your light those who have died, comfort those who mourn, be close to those who are injured and bring renewed hope to those who have lost all that they built.

Move us, and the world, to respond urgently and generously, in this time of crisis and keep us united in solidarity, walking with the people of Venezuela, in the long journey of recovery ahead.

Our Lady of Coromoto, Patroness of Venezuela, pray for us.

Amen.