THERE IS A VERY BAD COLD GOING ROUND AND I AM TRYING TO RESIST IT.

  THERE WERE EIGHT OF US

Can our families help us think more clearly 
about the church and its future?

Listen everyone:

You heard it in the musical Argentina,"the answer was here all the time". Remember?

Often when we church people are faced with a problem, we rush to call in experts with big theological books. But the answer may be much closer to home. Our own families may provide the answer.

Please read the first post which looks as if it's just about my  own family. But read between the lines and I hope you will be led to think of the church in simple Family terms. Then do as requested at the end in red. PLEASE

thanks,

val

 BEGIN HERE
 

A man who goes out into the world armed with five sisters, is clearly well off.  
I was one such and  I still recall my sisters names in strict chronological order in my, as ever,  hastily said, night prayers. Following on the heels of Mammy and Daddy and sweeping us three boys rudely aside, they announce themselves as Peggie, Frankie, Gerty, Molly and Angela. There are  just four now, to watch me stumble round in my seventies.  Frankie (Frances) departed for home awhile ago at a mere eighty one years. For the record I am the one remaining boy.

My feeling of being "well-off" with all these sisters began with my mother's allocation of domestic duties. The making of beds, peeling of potatoes, running of messages to shops in the village, these were all deemed "fit for females" while such onerous duties as gardening,(often entirely neglected), feeding the hens (chickens), and talking to neighbours and strangers approaching our gate, needed the attention of males. Ah, me! What a wise little world it was back then and what well trained wives each made in later life.

The birds have of course, long since, left the nest, flying in all directions but always careful to leave a forwarding address. Nor did the girls cease their caring role after the great scattering was done. Dear me, no! At family gatherings such as weddings for instance, or my own celebration of 50 years in the priesthood, the sisters have always unashamedly assessed the state of their male siblings as they carried out their social duties. A sagging midriff (me) always brought a frown of resignation while a smart handsome profile led to a smile of approval and the linking of arms. 

Now what's the point of all this on a blog meant to have universal appeal? Surely not a display of pride of appearance! Well, yes and no. For a start and to whet the appetite, readers might like to say which of the girls they think responsible for the medical warning that makes the title of this piece. But following that I don't mind saying that I do believe that as a unit we were/ are, worth getting to know. Indeed readers might find it helpful to compare notes with us to bring them to a proper appreciation of their own hatching and indeed to a proper understanding of that still greater hatching, the one known as The Church. For in these days of squabbling about roles and ministries in the church, the domestic layout of the Farrell brood, and of yours too, be they accidental  or otherwise, may have something to offer in securing a happy outcome to that great debate.

One last thing (or should that be final?) it may be that readers have questions to ask. Apparent contradictions may have shown themselves or even clear exaggerations. Well if you do have such questions, let me tell you that you can keep them to yourself. Whatever differences there were among the eight of us, we are the offspring of Mammy and Daddy Farrell and that should be enough to satisfy all visitors at our gate. Bye, bye, now.

USING OUR FAMILIES AS MODELS  FOR TODAY'S  CHURCH LET'S  ASK SOME SIMPLE QUESTIONS OF OURSELVES

AND SHARE OUR ANSWERS 

1. "A man who goes out into the world armed with five sisters, is clearly well off." What riches is the Church ignoring?
2. A Bad Cold Going Round: What could that be for the Church today? 
3. Attitude to strangers at the gate?
4. Allocation of duties in the church
5. What are we to make of "birds flying the nest"? 
6.What could it mean to leave a forwarding address?
7. Do we dare tell people that we are worth getting to know
8. Do we LOOK the part?