It is interesting to note the kind of people who are listed as God’s friends in to days’’ Word of God,’’people with weary working hands,arthritic knees,hurt hearts,blind eyes,deaf hearing, hungry people,oppressed,lepers,prisoners,widows,orphans. Jesus came ,The Good Shepherd ,to find lost sheep. All of us are included in the list ,because we are all weak human beings.Good Pope John 23 used to say, that the true church is the church that cares the most for people.The variety of requests for charity, has to be admired ,in sincerity and imagination.The numbers of young people involved is joy to the heart.Michael Quoist tells about parents who were worried about the faith of their teenagers,and their disinterest in church.He advised ,that if young people can be encouraged to‘put themselves out’ to do a good turn for another ,anytime,anywhere,they are on the right track.Leave the rest to God.Indeed everyday offers that opportunity.

Liam Hickey, St.Ciarans, Hartstown, Dublin 15.