Fr Xavier Writes 15th October 2023

Tim: I wish I had the money to buy an elephant.

Tom: What do you want with an elephant?

Tim: Nothing, I just want the money.

Money becomes one of the essentials, if not the most, for any initiatives in family and institutions like our parish. I would like to congratulate our parishioners, the financial head including all the members in getting our parish with good responses and we seem to be in a better position compared to some of other parishes in our deanery. This is mainly because of a far sighted planning and a very good response by the members of our parish. We need to keep it going and be more generous so that many more activities could benefit in the forthcoming months.

I am so happy with the initiative of ‘The Covenant with the Poor’ and our adoption for the past 25 years. Having been a person myself working for the development of poor in my state Tamil Nadu in India it’s so impressive to me and do appreciate your interest, involvement and generosity in the welfare of the people in the periphery. As I understand it is not only the Giving but also has other components of Advocacy, Study and Reflection with Prayer and Worship that makes our greater concern for a sustainable development. We shall celebrate it with our loving Bishop Richard on Sunday.

With Israel declaring war on the Gaza Strip after an unprecedented attack by the armed Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday, the world’s eyes are again sharply focused on what might come next. Hamas fighters have killed more than 800 Israelis in assaults on multiple towns in southern Israel. In response, Israel has launched a bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 500 Palestinians. It has mobilised troops along the Gaza border, apparently in preparation for a ground attack. And on Monday, it announced a “total blockade” of the Gaza Strip, stopping the supply of food, fuel and other essential commodities to the already besieged enclave in an act that under international law amounts to a war crime.

We need to keep them all and Ukraine as well in our prayers, and that God may inspire world leaders in their intervention for a peaceful settlement and that Jerusalem becomes a house of prayer for all peoples. Dear all

Please do say a prayer for me on 18th October, that is my Birthday.

Have a prayerful week ahead…..