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  PassionistsGlasgow

Father Frank's Log...

26/3/2020

9 Comments

 
FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 22nd – 29th MARCH 2020
To anyone who reads this, I hope you are keeping safe and well, and adhering to the advice we have received on how to keep the coronavirus at bay. Each of us will find the way to do this appropriate to our own personal circumstances. We can’t take chances as we seek to express our solidarity with each other, to protect ourselves, to protect our loved ones, to protect other people, and, as Pope Francis once said, to protect Christ in our lives.
 
As far as my own personal circumstances are concerned, I am living in a kind of semi-isolation. I come into the church from Bishopbriggs each day, completely empty except for the presence of the Lord in the tabernacle. I celebrate Mass, placing all of you on the altar, and maintain a watchful check on the place. I am reminded of when I used to sit in the empty church as a child, this was in St. Simon’s in Partick, while my father did some maintenance work in the boiler house. I was always fascinated by the sanctuary lamp and by what it signified, that Christ was present in the Blessed Sacrament. I would look at the tabernacle and imagine that this must be what my soul looked like inside of me, because I believed Christ was present there too. It was only my child-like imagination, but it was very real to me.
 
After making sure I have kept any essential administration up to date, I then leave to go and cook and clean for my younger brother. I am allowed to do this as he is a vulnerable person and I am his primary carer. The other carers who were coming called me to cancel for the foreseeable future as they were only doing life and limb care, as they expressed it, and so they asked if I could compensate for their absence, and I will do everything I can to sustain that.
 
I have only had to do one shopping for my brother so far as his needs are very simple, taking care to keep a safe distance from other shoppers as advised. I haven’t had any problem getting the things I need for him, no need for panic buying, and I even managed to get four toilet rolls. While his medication is delivered, I did have to go and collect some repeat medication for myself, forming part of an orderly and well spaced-out queue on the main street in Bishopbriggs, while only two or three people at a time were let in to the pharmacy. It was all done in a good spirit, and I think I am well stocked now for the next couple of months. I also had some minor surgery cancelled which I have to confess did not upset me one bit as I wasn’t looking forward, either to the procedure itself, or to what I was meant to do to prepare for it – I will leave it up to your own imagination to guess what it was.
 
I have also had to make preparations for Father Lawrence’s funeral, choosing the coffin, selecting the grave to be opened in our Passionist plot in St. Kentigern’s, and putting together whatever kind of service it is possible to have for the small number of blood family and Passionist family who are able to gather. Sometime in the future, when this crisis is over, we will have a memorial Mass for Father Lawrence as there are so many people who are saddened by his death, a sadness heightened by not being able to say a proper farewell.
 
Out at the house there are now just three of us; Fr Justinian, Fr Antony and myself. Fr Gareth managed to get away before the lockdown to be with his mum in Merthyr Tydfil, probably the best place for him to be at this time. We are practicing safe distancing within the house and finding new ways of being together, new ways of reaching out to the sick and housebound, and new ways of keeping the Passionist Young Team in contact with each other, one of whom organised a shared prayer time through a video conferencing site called Zoom. So, we are all doing whatever we can, and perhaps, instead of isolation, we can talk about solitude, a tried and tested practice in the Christian tradition that can draw us into a deep communion with God and with one another. Let us hold each other in prayer at this time.
 
God is preparing a treasure of graces and blessings for you in solitude (St. Paul of the Cross)

9 Comments
Eileen McElhinney
26/3/2020 08:54:44 pm

What a treat to get news of St.Mungo's 😀 Delighted to hear that Fr Gareth is in Wales with
His mother, good for them both. Thanks for looking after our church while caring for your own brother.
I am sure the funeral for Fr.Laurence will be a fitting one despite the circumstances and a mass at a future date sounds good. We are in lockdown in the Briggs but well provided for and enjoying access to the web with mass,rosary and services from all over the world! If desired 6am with the Pope how spoiled is that? Life is at a slower pace and time to enjoy each other. More phone calls that
Normal and family times on house party just like zoom!
Look after yourself and keep us all in your prayers.


Reply
Pat Beaton
27/3/2020 07:30:19 pm

Dear Fr. Frank,
God bless you for all that you are doing for St.
Mungo’s and your brother.
Assuring you of prayers of support.
Regards to all your brother priests.
Much sadness at our loss of Fr. Lawrence,
thought we have an intercessor in heaven.
Stay safe and thank you for your prayers too.
God bless,
Pat

Reply
Kathleen Mellon
28/3/2020 11:45:45 am

So dad to hear about Father Lawrence R.I.P. Missing you all so much so is Lauren and Aiden can you let Father Antjony know they are asking for him. Hopefully it will be over soon its great to a part of St.Mungos keep up the good work.

Reply
Bernadette
28/3/2020 01:53:48 pm

Fr Frank, thank you for your Log, it’s lovely to read each week but especially now. Please pass our regards to everyone in the house and so happy to know Fr Gareth and his mum are together. Your brother will also be happy knowing you are there for him too. Take care

Reply
Jim and Julie
28/3/2020 11:44:13 pm

Hi Father Frank, such a pleasure to read your update especially given all of the pressures around at the moment. Please pass our best wishes to everyone and take care. It would be great if you would keep us in your prayers as you and our Passionist friends are in ours. Hopefully we will see you all again soon!

Reply
David Meechan
29/3/2020 08:03:24 am

Thank you Fr's Frank & Anthony for the small mass last Friday for our uncle Lawrence it was much appreciated in these difficult times & we all look forward to attending the memorial service when this takes place.

Reply
Lorna McCann
6/6/2020 12:30:31 pm

Dear David
Firstly I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to you and your family.

I'm the daughter of Albert Trainer your uncle Lawrence's childhood friend. I spoke with your uncle only a few weeks before he passed away to inform him of my dad's passing. He said he'd call again after my dad's funeral. But he never did. I knew he wasn't keeping well. But had no idea how unwell he really was. So I assumed he was still trying to get well and did not phone him back. Lawrence has been in my thoughts often since. I have just learned today, that he passed away and so soon after I last spoke with him which was on the 10th March. I hope to attend his memorial where I can pass on my condolences in person.
Sincere regards to you and all.

Reply
Rosalind + Vincent
29/3/2020 09:30:21 am

Good to hear about your week and glad Gareth managed to get home to Wales. Hopefully he left his chocolate stash behind. I'm working from home and Vincent is well and in the Royal. He's now been fitted for face masks. I've been dropping him there in the morning and the streets are empty. This week he is driving in as car park is now free and two less trips for me. Good to keep in touch through social.media etc. Looking forward to.my first zoom event with my former school friends from Notre Dame. A good bunch of ladies that are a great support and always manage to find a new story from our school days. Stay safe and you know we are here if theres anything you need. God bless R

Reply
Jens Sutter
30/3/2020 08:26:47 pm

So good to read, ... read of good things and of sad. It gives a bit of normality in testing times.

Now that university is closed I am missing my midday Mass isle of light in the midst of busy work days.

Thank you
Jens

Reply



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