Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

 If a priest preaches over 10 minutes - he’s longwinded.  If his sermon is short - he didn’t prepare it.  If the parish funds are high - he’s a businessman.  If he mentions money - he’s money mad.  If he visits his parishioners - he’s nosy.  If he doesn’t - he’s being snobbish.  If he has activities to raise money - he’s bleeding the people.  If he doesn’t - there isn’t any life in the parish.  If he takes time in a confession to help and advise sinners - he takes too long.  If he doesn’t - he doesn’t care.  If he celebrates the liturgy in a quiet voice - he’s boring.  If he puts feeling into it - he’s an actor.  If he starts late - he’s holding up the people.  If he tries to lead the people in music - he’s showing off.  If he doesn’t - he doesn’t care what the Mass is like.  If he decorates the Church - he’s wasting money.  If he doesn’t - he’s letting it run down.  If he’s young - he’s not expe...

This Sunday, in some parts of Europe and in Northern America, we celebrate Father’s Day. Father's Day is a time for all fathers to reflect upon their duties as responsible and well-integrated men.  Dare I say I have many special ‘fathers’ in my life that I remember with gratitude on this Father's Day. No, I haven’t gone mad or become a crack pot ( see my last post!).   On my First Profession with Dad, Rome 2004. My Dad, Ray, as he was known to most people, left us to go home to God in 2006. We still miss him so much. When someone close to you dies, you get a hole right through you, a hole in your life and your experience. You always miss them, and you are never the same. So Father’s Day is a bitter sweet day for me. It is filled of memories of Dad which bring our past into our present and manage to connect us to a future where one day we will meet again. But until then in our lives there is still a gap that cannot be filled and never should be. Emotions are frightenin...