St. James' Church Bushypark Galway

We search for joy and love in life:

in our emptiness and in our yearnings, in our hurts and grief, in our loneliness and our boredom, we want joy, and we want to be loved.

And in our friendships and loves, in the moments of peace and harmony among family and with friends, there are glimpses of joy and of love, and we know that the human heart is made for joy and love that is everlasting.

Let’s be thankful: for the joy and love of life, for the joy and love of children, of husbands, wives and family; for the joy and love of friends, of neighbours and of colleagues, and for the joy and love we shared with those who have gone before us.

And let’s be hopeful in times where all this is missing, that it is not missing forever.

When love is hurt or joy is muddied, let’s be hopeful that we will find such joy again; and let even the ache for joy and love remind us of love and joy that lasts forever: the love and joy of God.