HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year to all.
I had a different Christmas this year. For the first time I was not in a parish and did not have the usual events in school and parish to attend so there was not the normal run up to Christmas that i am used to.
I said Mass on Christmas Eve night at the Carmelite Convent in Upholland and then on Christmas Day I was at Seel street in Liverpool city centre which is the home of the Missionaries of Charity.
Over Christmas my mum was in hospital and so as a family we were visiting her in hospital so Christmas was different for all of us as she was not at home for it. She is back home now.
My hopes for 2008 are quite simple. More vocations. It is interersting to go around the diocese and to know that people are saying that they think so and so has a vocation to priesthood but he has not made his mind up yet. Well if you are a one of those men who are thinking about it then stop thinking and do something about it. It would be great to hear from you. Let 2008 be the year that you take the next step and offer yourself for the priesthood and explore the pssibilty that God is calling you.
The prayer continues and this Friday( January 4th ) we have 1st Friday prayer at Carmel in Knotty Ash Liverpool from 5.00pm to 8.00pm
From next Wednesday 9th jJnuary the prayer begins again at St Richard's Skelmersdale with a new time for Adoration. From next week it will be 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
Keep on praying and have a wonderful and grace filled 2008
God bless
Fr Steve