Plenary, 23 Apr 2008
Meeting date: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Official Report
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Time for Reflection
The first item of business is time for reflection. I am pleased to welcome as our time for reflection leader Father Robert Kane of St Teresa's, Newarthill in Motherwell.
Father Robert Kane (St Teresa’s, Newarthill, Motherwell):
Good afternoon, everyone. The title or term "First Minister" has always intrigued me, suggestive as it is of a second minister, a third minister, a fourth, a fifth and so on. I am addressing a body of men and women who minister to the peoples of our land. So I ask: who ministers to those ministers; who cares for those carers of our nation?
One thing I know is that I am surrounded by men and women with hearts that have long desired what is good, true and beautiful for all, that your earnest aim is to ensure quality living, prosperity and justice for all in our land and beyond.
Yet being in the ministry business myself, my heart goes out to all who are called to meet the needs of people in our modern technological world, because I am aware of the constant demands that are made upon your time and person, of the ease of accessibility to you through e-mail and mobile phones, of the long hours of work and the time spent away from your loved ones. Hence I can readily appreciate that the quality of living you so long for in others often eludes you because of quantity of living, too much life and the real threat of burnout—that morning-after commitment feeling. It is such a pity to witness at times such good hearts being charred beyond recognition.
My prayer for you today is that you take the time to minister to your own hearts, to make time to enjoy the values of family, silence, beauty, solitude and celebration so that you are always in a position to help others appreciate them.
In all that you are and do, may the Lord bless your hearts with love and generosity of spirit.
Amen.