Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: John Melvin, (Anniv).
11.00: Lou & Billy Buchan, (Anniv).
6.30: Doreen Lydon, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

I baptised two children on Saturday last. In both cases, the godparents were unable to make it to the ceremony. Eyjafjallajokull caused chaos everywhere (and not just among our news readers and godparents!)

However, Icelanders think that this whole volcano business is funny, their sweet revenge on a greedy Europe. (You will recall that, in a poll in March, voters in Iceland rejected a plan to repay Britain and the Netherlands 4 billion euros. The British went on to seize Icelandic assets in any case). The wily citizens are now busy amusing one another gleefully with pertinent jokes. (eg. It was the last wish of the Icelandic economy that its ashes be spread over Europe! Another has Iceland misunderstanding what Europe was requesting: "We wanted cash," Europe says, "not ash.")

But not everyone sees the humourous side of this, understandably. Frustrated passengers and panicky company auditors alike are victims of this 'Act of God'. Schoolchildren are missing classes and millions of Euro worth of roses are rotting in Kenya. A volcano, as we are learning, is not like other natural disasters. An earthquake may last only a minute; a hurricane a few hours. But we are now assimilating the fact that a volcano can puff merrily away for much longer. In 1821, this volcano was active for a whole year at a stretch.

But, in 1821 of course, only a few of us would have known or noticed. A light shower of dust in some northern parts, plus some pretty sunsets, and that was about it. Now, however, in our technologically dependent world, our cleverness has turned into our vulnerability. Particles of ash too small to see can seriously annoy jet turbines. Airports may slowly start to open again, but no-one wants to risk multiple engine shutdown on an Airbus.

Confronted with the elemental force of a spouting volcano, our know-how can do little.

A gaping hole in the earth is something which awakens basic fears in us. We gaze into an abyss. It's like looking into someone's living heart or brain exposed in an operating theatre.

Does the plume of ash and fire mean anything? Are the seismologists' explanations enough? Looking into that terrifying pit reminds of of the fragility of ourselves and the futility of our much-vaunted technology. A few miles above our heads, there is the hostile cold of space. A few miles beneath us, raging magma. We are perched on the thinnest of membranes between the two.

Life, as the prophet Isaiah writes, is a miracle of balance. "Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?"

It is amazing that the gigantic forces of nature have permitted a hospitable atmosphere capable of sustaining life for uninterrupted millennia now. As we grumble and search for substitute godparents, let's marvel at the unlikely fact that we are here at all! That's the real miracle.

-Dick Lyng

Items of Great Interest

The Late Pascal Leahy

The late Paschal Leahy

As I complete this newsletter, the very sad news has come through that Pascal Leahy passed away suddenly and peacefully at his home in Roscam this Wednesday afternoon.

While his death came quickly in the end, he had been ailing for some time. He fought his illness with great fortitude and patience. He even attended Mass in St. Augustine's here on Sunday last.

Pascal was a great servant of St. Augustine's and he was a very conscientious and effective chairman of our Church maintenance committee.

Please remember Kathleen and his family in your prayers at this sad time.

May he rest in peace.

A PASTOR'S PROGRAMME

-Fr. Donal O'Leary, Diocese of Leeds.

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