DID NOT OUR HEARTS BURN WITHIN US?

This weekend’s Gospel is an interesting reflection on the dichotomy between moving and standing still: both are necessary to see clearly what is real. Jesus travels with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, explaining the Scriptures so that their ‘hearts burned within’ them. But it’s not until they press their mysterious companion to come inside and ‘stay with them’ that they stand still for long enough to recognise Him for who He truly is.
 
Circumstances have forced many of us to stop moving – so let’s make the most of the opportunity to stand still for a while. Let’s press Jesus to stay with us, make Him welcome into our homes, and recognise Him in the smallest details of our lives: the faces of our families, the warmth of the spring sunshine, and the breaking of bread.
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WATCH AND PRAY
A new hymn, Shelter Me, based on Psalm 23, composed by Fr Michael Joncas (known for the song On Eagle’s Wings) for the time of the COVID-19 crisis.
 
For the musical score, and more about the composition of the song, have a look at this article from the Catholic Universe.
If you haven’t yet caught the first episode, do have a look at Letters from Lockdown: A guide to Philippians, a collaboration between Joseph Meigh and Stuart Ford, to work through St Paul’s most joyful letter, and help us hold onto the joy of Christ’s resurrection during this period of ‘incarceration’… and if you have already seen it, don’t forget to have a read of 1:22 – 2.12 ready for the next episode!

The funeral of Amar Dias was livestreamed for his family in India last Friday (24th), and can be viewed on YouTube.


 
Burma’s Cardinal Bo has given some wonderful Easter messages of hope and solidarity during the COVID-19 lockdown. Click below to read:

CLIFTON DIOCESE MAILING LIST
We hope and pray that these emails are helpful in keeping people connected to our community of the Catholic parishes in Weston. If you enjoy them, you may like to sign up to the newsletter from the Clifton Diocese, to hear more about what’s going in our wider Catholic family in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.
 
Click here to visit the Clifton Diocese website, and to sign up to the mailing list just add your email at the very bottom of the page.  
 
For example, on the podcast feed this week they have the first in a series of 10 minute reflections from people around the diocese and beyond about their experience of living in isolation during COVID-19, beginning with Deacon Steve Boughton from Malmesbury.
 

KEEP SMILING
You’ve probably heard that local businesses have really been struggling recently…
A local bra manufacturer has gone bust,
a submarine company has gone under,
a manufacturer of food blenders has gone into liquidation,
and a dog kennels has had to call in the retrievers.
The origami paper supplier has folded,
the firework makers have just gone bang,
our fish and chips shop sales have taken a battering,
and the clock makers have been wound up.
The bread company has run out of dough,
the Chinese has been taken away,
the Heinz factory has been canned as they couldn’t ketchup with the orders,
and the Branson factory is in a right pickle.
I see that Mapmakers have lost their way,
the tarmac laying company has reached the end of the road,
and the shoe shop has had to put his foot down and give his staff the boot,
and even the launderette has been taken to the cleaners.


In other news, there are signs that this ‘pundemic’ is getting out of hand…
With our prayers,
Canon Tom Gunning (Parish Priest)
and Joseph Meigh (seminarian)
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