A Note from Fr Ian for the 5th Sunday of Lent

Greetings to you all from Clare Priory. Fr. Emmanuel, your new Parish Priest, arrived on Monday morning and with the announcing of a UK lockdown in the evening, it was agreed by all parties concerned that Fr. Sean and myself leave early the next day. Fr. Sean is now at the Augustinian parish in Birmingham and I am with the Augustinian Community, at Clare Priory, Clare.

The speed of our departure meant there was no possibility of any form of fair well. So I am taking this opportunity together with Fr. Sean to say Thank You for happy and fruitful years at St. Joseph’s. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.

This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The Gospel is Jesus raising his dear friend Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-45). Like Lazarus’s sister Martha, we too respond to Jesus with simple and profound faith. In her sadness and distress at the loss of her brother she was aware of the presence of Jesus. Likewise, in the these worrying and distressing times we too acknowledge that Jesus is always near us, especially during the difficult times.

Finally, as we get ever closer to Easter we like Martha are to be consoled for Jesus is indeed ‘the resurrection and life eternal.’
Blessings.......... Fr. Ian o.s.a.

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Fr Sean's new address:
St. Mary’s Priory,
Vivian Road,
Harborne,
Birmingham,
B17 0DN.
Tel. 0121 427 2538.​

Fr Ian's new address:
Clare Priory,
Ashen Road,
Clare,
CO10 8NX.