Obedience and the Friars

The Friars of our Province are at the Provincial Chapter where important decisions are made.  Individuals are assigned at the gathering to different posts like the Kensington parish or Beaconsfield or Oxford (Boars Hill) or Dublin at this Chapter meeting.  It is one of the areas where their obedience is regularly tested.  I do not mean that they may be tempted to refuse an assignment, simply that once you become a Friar you are liable to be sent where the Order decides rather than where you might have a preference to go. You put your life into the hands of the Order. Something similar is of course generally true of diocesan priests, who are in principle sent where the Bishop chooses.  It contrasts with the various Protestant denominations, where clerics can choose to move around the country - or indeed out of the country - at their own discretion.  Catholic clergy and religious are like the Church’s army officers, their lives are at the Church’s disposal, to be deployed where the need for them is greatest.  

Intercessions

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Fr Jon Bielowski (Plymouth Diocese), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Sister Daranee Teapthong, Theresa K

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (recovering from stroke)

Illness:  Hilary Solomon, Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

We are asked to pray for the Diocese of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand, as the Northern Mission celebrates its centenary. The process of selecting a new bishop continues.