It is often said that the Church is not buildings, but people. This is very true; and yet the buildings of a church, their furnishings and ornaments, often say very much about the Church and what it stands for. For a hundred years a crucifix stood outside St Joseph’s Church. In recent years it had become badly disfigured, even an eyesore. It was taken down with a view to having it restored, and only at this stage was it realised that the figure was made of cast iron, making it very heavy. It also made it  vulnerable to corrosion, and it was found that parts of it were rusted beyond the possibility of restoration. For a few months the cross stood empty, but now a new figure, this time made of fibre glass, has been obtained and put in place. What does it say about the building whose entrance it adorns? It says what Saint Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians, “We preach Christ crucified . . . Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

          Come inside Saint Joseph’s and you will see a statue in front of the altar. It shows Jesus embracing two children. It illustrates a passage of Saint Mark’s Gospel. Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them . . . And he took them in his arms and blessed them.” And what does this statue say about Saint Joseph’s? It says, “Jesus welcomes little children, and so do we.” Children are a valued part of our parish communion, and are always welcome at Mass. It gives us great joy when there are large numbers of them present.

 Fr. Bill East.