My heart is filled with gratitude

‘Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.’

As we bid farewell to the year of 2010, and a fresh year opens up to us, I feel an enormous sense of gratitude.

I’m grateful – and proud – that South Africa was able to host visitors to the Soccer World Cup. It was wonderful to see ordinary citizens coming together to ensure the success of such a massive event. But I also realise, now that the crowds of overseas visitors have left and the hype has died down, that South Africa still faces widespread poverty, hunger and sickness.

But despite our ongoing challenges, I am enormously grateful for my life and the direction God has given to it. I’m grateful for each and every person in my rural mission parishes, and the opportunity to help them, both spiritually and materially.

And I’m deeply grateful for you – because your loving support, your encouragement, your prayers and your compassionate generosity make you the heartbeat of the Zulu Missions.

I’m also grateful for all my mission Priests and Sisters whose hands dispense your kindness in practical ways, and whose vocations allow them to bring our shared faith to others.

But I’m especially grateful for your loyalty. In these uncertain times, your support hasn’t faltered – often, I’m sure, at cost and sacrifice to yourself. For this, I can only say a very grateful ‘Thank You’, and ‘God bless you’.

My thoughts and prayers are always with you.