May meetings

This morning I celebrated the midweek Eucharist at St Catherine's with nine others. Not only did we remember Saints Philip and James, but also St Mark the Evangelist and St George the Martyr whose feast days were transferred from Easter Week to this week. As there were no weekday services in the Benefice last week it was an opportunity not to forget them.

Then, after popping home for an unusually late morning dressing change, I went into town to meet Laura at St John's City Parish Church. The Eucharist was just ending there, and she was sitting at the front of the nave absorbing the celebration prayerfully. I met half a dozen of the church's regulars over lunch in the tea room afterwards, and learned that the Governing Body of the Church in Wales had held its opening Eucharist in church earlier in the morning. Apparently the two day meeting is taking place in City Hall, as it did for the first time a couple of years ago.

Since her last visit, Laura's father died, aged 82. He was an Orthodox priest and a holy man. The last two months of his life were spent in the hospital where she works. For her, this was a profound inspiring experience, bringing them closer together than ever before, and changing how she sees her medical vocation. Sadly, she'll only be able to visit Sheila, the other inspirational elder in her life to say farewell at Roath Court funeral home. Laura has given me a beeswax candle from back home to light and burn at the altar at Sheila's funeral service.