Diocese of Achonry

A few moments ago, we prayed  “ God of power and mercy,

remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy,

so that we may share his wisdom

and become one with him when he comes in glory….”

“ The things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy…

Clearly one of the things that is riveting us and interfering with the joy that we expect as we prepare for Christmas, is the fall-out from the Murphy Report.

This day last week I issued a statement expressing the shame and the sadness that overwhelms me and so many of you, God’s people, at what emerged so starkly in that report.

Things have moved on since. And if anything, confusion, frustration and anger have taken over in the minds and hearts of many people. That anger has focussed on bishops. Unsurprisingly, considering some of the conclusions of the report. Cardinal Brady and Archbishop Martin have made repentant and strong statements. We who are bishops have to bear the brunt. We acknowledge the devastated lives. Yes, that above all.

We/I acknowledged also the work that has gone into structures that will ensure children are safe from now on in any church context.

But now I also have to acknowledge the anger with Bishops that is so palpable, rightly and understandably. 

St John the Baptist today proclaims what is essential in  preparing for  the coming of Christ at Christmas. ‘A baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins’. I ask you all today to please pray that we, bishops especially, may have the wisdom to know what precisely this ‘baptism of repentance’ now means for us.

I will be meeting with my brother bishops on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. We need your prayers, that the root and branch cleansing and renewal that is required may begin to happen. So that the person of Jesus come visibly alive….that Christmas truly happen in this wilderness moment in history too. 

Advent is about recognising the obstacles to Jesus and to his Spirit coming alive in our lives and in our church.

This calls for a demanding and costly personal honesty and confession of failure.

Please Pray for us bishops, pray for the whole church in Ireland

that we may genuinely   ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ and make his paths straight..’ this second week of Advent. 

‘Remove, Lord, the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, that we may share his wisdom

and become one with him in glory’.  Amen.