We went to St Catherine's Parish Eucharist this morning. Fr Roy Doxsey celebrated and preached. It must be more than a year since we last met over at St German's. Like me he's been busy with locum duties in Llandaff and St David's dioceses, and has also done a locum stint in St Helena, standing in for Bishop Richard Fenwick, a contemporary ordained in Llandaff the same year as me. At the end of the service, he announced the appointment of Fr Rhys Jenkins as a non-stipendiary Curate in the Benefice from the beginning of Lent this year. Rhys is a GP in Ely, lives in the Benefice and knows the three churches well as a lay person and now as a priest. He's a welcome addition to the ministry team and the news was welcomed with delight by all who know him.
After lunch, I walked to St David's hospital for a dressing change, and from there caught the 61 bus to Fairwater for a bereavement visit. I met the family of a young man of 25 born severely disabled and looked after by his parents throughout his life. Despite the extreme limitations of his life, he was much loved and developed a radiant personality , endearing himself to all who got to know him as he grew from child to adult. His parents had never expected him to live so long, as his condition was such that he could have died at any time, but they accepted each day with him as a gift, and are now profoundly grateful for the grace they have received from him. Meeting them, and his sister was a rather special experience. I expect that officiating at his funeral at St John's, is going to be out of the ordinary, and very well attended. There's lots to reflect upon as I prepare for that.
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