I’m a resident at Holy Cross in Sunderland. Friends find it amusing that I’m now living near the Stadium of Light when I’ve spent so much of my early life at St James’ Park! But I feel very much at home here.
We’re all very well looked after here, although we’re, like many of you, missing our families and friends.
I enjoy walking in our lovely garden and saying a prayer at our Lourdes grotto. Looking at the statue of Mary, this is the sort of prayer I would say:
“Mary, mother of Jesus, ask him to look after us, our families and friends and all the generous people who are caring for us. Mary, we ask you to smile on all the terrific people who are being so unselfish in these hard and puzzling times. Please ask Jesus your son to be as caring to all of us as you were to him when he was a young lad growing up in the north of your country.”
Continuing my walk in the garden, I pray “Jesus, help us to keep cheering one another up!”
I’m off now to watch Judy Garland in ‘Meet me in St Louis’ over a cup of tea and cake in the comfortable residents lounge. I will continue to pray for you all.
Take care
Fr Bob