Dear One and All,
It is good to be back. I had some good family time and then, of course, a very busy two and a half weeks of the Josephite General Chapter, during which I was reelected Vic- ar General of the Congregation for another five years. The chapter has set a large agen- da for the congregation in the years ahead. I will have to get back to the travelling; we have to make up for the missed opportunities from the last two and a half years due to CoVid. So, I will be visiting Gabon in November later this year.
Also, whilst on holiday, I visited the great Northern city of Liverpool (where the Beatles came from). This city has really modernized like a phoenix and become a great place for a city break. Liverpool has two wonderful Cathedrals, wonderfully situated on either end of Hope Street! In the light of today’s Gospel, when Jesus warns that he is likely to spread division if this world is not set on fire through baptism, I got thinking… These two great 20th century cathedrals, at one time symbols of the divisions between the baptized, have become great centers of reconciliation. In the 1980s, during the turmoil of riots in Liverpool, the Catholic Archbishop and the Anglican Bishop became the leaders of recon- ciliation, rebuilding and growth in that city. They united as really great friends in the Holy Spirit’s fire to heal and bring justice and hope to that city. One of the great concerns and sadness of emeritus Pope Benedict was the division of Christians. So perhaps, we should stop portraying protestant Christians as our enemy but, rather, apathy, secularism, indi- vidualism and personalism. Let’s stand in the spirit together and thereby present a much more potent witness to God’s love and truth.
God bless you and your families, Fr. Aidan Peter CJ
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter