Fr Joe Words

Last weekend a group of young singers from the Mount Merrion Family Mass Choir travelled to Cork to participate in the Choral Festival there. They were accompanied by adult leaders and some of the older teens. At the same time a group of 15 boys from Oatlands College headed off to Taize with two of their teachers, for a week of immersion in the culture and music of that special monastic community. On this trip, the young people willingly volunteer for ‘jobs’, our boys were on kitchen clean up, and yes can they mop a floor and make it shine! They encountered young adults from other countries, had an engaging conversation with Br Jean from the community and participated in the liturgy with the wonderful Taize chants. These are just two practical examples of good practice in our Trinity of Faith partnership where adult leaders make great life experiences possible for our younger members. A huge thank you to all of them. At the same time, we are moving through the First Holy Communion Masses with all the emotion and joy that they generate for the families concerned. It is fascinating to see the children with real excitement meet this moment of receiving the Eucharist for the first time with joy and reverence. Their innocence and openness is no different to that of all the generations who have experienced this beautiful ritual in the past. Their grandparents, who often travel great distances to participate, radiate love, affection, pride and joy and really make a huge difference to the celebration. In between the children and the grandparents are the parents and siblings, who in their own way share immense pride and satisfaction participating in their son or daughter’s special day. The schools and parish groups who have taught the Grow in Love program and presented the Do This in Memory Masses, are also so happy to see the completion of their work on such a happy day. With so much time and effort invested in providing this experience we have to hope that the children will find ways to deepen their participation in the life of parish and grow in faith. Hopefully some of them will sing in the family mass choir, or one day go to Taize! We wish them all every joy and blessing.