YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS

If the headline reminds you of a song, it does me too. Casablanca and Ingrid Bergman urging Sam to "play as time goes by" and reluctantly he does. Ah!  lovely, the old ones are the best.

But I'm not thinking of Humphrey Bogart or the song, "As time goes by" just now, rather I'm thinking of something much closer to home. I'm thinking of something that appeared on this blog just a few days ago. It was under the heading, "Love in the Church" and the writer was saying that if we use LOVE properly in the church, we shall be able to see past the weaknesses of others, even the priest, to what really matters. Here are the actual words of the writer: "Then they lost him (the priest) and they remembered as they reflected and said goodbye. They remembered he created the community they were so lucky to enjoy.

You must remember; it was such a good point for all of us. Not using LOVE as something to make us feel good about ourselves but as a way of seeing past the surface things to the deeper bits, the parts that really matter.

Of course it's tempting for all of us to tell the man at the piano "to play it again", bring back the old times, the good times. But what really matters is that we learn the lessons of the past to make a much better today and tomorrow.

 

LOVE IN THE CHURCH

 "Wouldn't it be wonderful if  LOVE  was the message that spilled out from all the activities known as Church? "
 

 EXTRACTS FROM PRIVATE LETTERS RECEIVED

(used ONLY with permission of the writers)

1. Love in the Church.
It's all in the people really. But our mass can be a solitary experience apart from a quick hand shake and "Peace ..."
I know in large parishes, with good priests to lead and support the people, things can be different. I know of parishes where there is real life and love is given and received and shared.
But here in my little parish, even here we have love in action.


2. I fell in love with a Catholic

When I started attending the church it was because of love. I fell in love with a Catholic. I found the church welcoming, friendly and met some lovely people who had a great sense of community. I also very much liked the Priest. However, I didn't feel the congregation always remembered the message of love. They took offence easily when the priest was sometimes grumpy or a bit abrasive. People forgot to see him with love, to remember the years of service, the sacrifice of a life without a wife and family so many enjoyed that he made, to remember the pain and suffering he faced with illness. Sometimes, not always, they just heard the harsh words.

Then we lost him and they remembered as they reflected and said goodbye. They remembered he created the church community they were so lucky to enjoy. Sometimes we need to use love to see past what is on the surface and in front of us.

 

THE IDEAL CHURCH LEADER

Whether it's the Pope blessing us from the balcony, the Head of our local school reminding us of everything involved in raising young people as Catholics,  or a Parish Priest trying to make us all feel "wanted" at the Sunday Mass, most of us will have some idea of what it takes to make a good CHURCH leader. Try these for size.

1. You can get a bright spark who feels like a breath of fresh air, at first, but after no time at all is just too darned bright and only a bunch of similar clever clogs can live with him. 

2. Or you're saddled with the quiet gentle type and the place just goes to sleep. 

3. And of course you can also find yourself with someone whose been shouting from the back seat for ages, but just can't motivate others. With them it's always someone else's fault or the stupid system. 

4. Go on a parish retreat and some kindly old chap may remind you that Jesus didn't run leadership courses but relied on a few willing souls who were ready to be taught, often through pain; theirs as well as His.

5. Whole groups of people may enjoy reading about these things, but run a mile from offering an opinion. We're not selfish - just private!

6. Some people do seem to have the right idea at first but end up disappointing us, while others upset everyone from the start, and stay that way. The ideal Church Leader; anyone know?

ANONYMOUS ANSWERS 
1. The best parishes have to be the ones where the people are fully involved in all aspects of their church.
As a visitor you can spot them a mile off.
Where the priest has the ability, as you say, to make everyone feel welcome. Where people want to be involved and feel it is their church, their home, their responsibility.

2.???This place is waiting for YOUR suggestion 

ANYONE LIKE THE PICTURE?