As one of the “older persons”, I often reflect on the wonders of life and the gifts I have been so fortunate to have received throughout my life.

At the age of sixteen I was accepted into the LCM community at the age of sixteen, as a trainee nurse at the wonderful Lewisham Hospital. I was in awe of the Nuns, doctors and all whom I worked closely with throughout my four years training. God then smiled on me and in that same year, I was introduced to my wonderful husband in 1966.

As we get older, we realise more and more how precious life is and the importance of the people in our lives. We appreciate the beauty of creation, the wonders we see in our daily lives, and our focus is more on the beauty surrounding us than on the creature comforts of life. Sadly, we are now at the stage of our lives where we are farewelling some of our loved ones and close friends, and we look back on times we shared, and the love that was a great part of our relationships.

The photo is of one of the many birds who now frequent our back yard, a magnificent King Parrot. When we moved to Canberra twelve months ago, we were sad, thinking that the wildlife who used to come daily to our old home, may not visit us here. Thankfully, we have the joy of seeing them here, with our friend and many more coming to brighten our day.  We get much pleasure in our daily lives from nature and the beauty that surrounds us, we must always remember to do our utmost to look after the world we live in, and the people we encounter.

As this is the month of Our Lady of the Rosary, let us keep in mind that Our Lady asked us to pray the Rosary for peace. With all the turmoil around the world, let us join together to pray that we might see peace throughout the world. We pray through the intercession of Venerable Mary Potter and Our Lady that the suffering in all these war-torn areas may soon cease, that they may see a brighter future ahead.

Mary brought Jesus to us through her perfect faith and humility. Mary in many of her apparitions encouraged us to pray the Rosary for peace, peace within ourselves and throughout the world.  Mary our Mother is our guide to a more peaceful and harmonious world.

“Mary receives our prayer and presents it to her Son on our behalf. What a comfort for all our needs! …..our prayerful recitation of the Rosary leads us to replicate the life of Jesus, as true follows of him who brings us the enormity of God’s love.” Sr Mary Scanlon lcm – Mission of Love.

Pope Francis tells us in his Message for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation “To hope and act with creation, then, means above all to join forces and to walk together with all men and women of good will.  In this way, we can help to rethink, “among other things, the question of human power, its meaning and its limits.  Our power has frenetically increased in a few decades.  We have made impressive and awesome technological advances, yet we have not realized that at the same time we have turned into highly dangerous beings, capable of threatening the lives of many beings and our own survival” (Laudate Deum).

We need to look after our world, through our deeds and our prayers, as the children who are our future are encouraged to accept everything as the norm, we must somehow encourage that Christian values are adhered to, and that we respect human lives, the environment and the world around us.