Dear Father, may I be like Mary
Like the example that You’ve shown
To be faithful, to be true
Like a child, Your very own

You teach us love in all abundance
Three persons into one
Providing strength and courage
Giving us Your Only Son

I’m weak sometimes Dear Father,
For the world can seem so dark
But knowing of Your love
Is the greatest comfort for my heart

I will be so lost without You
Though I know You’re always there
And if I should ever falter
I know You’ll lead me towards prayer

I’m in awe of the light You shine on us
Even in times we cannot see
I’ve been so blessed to have Your share
In the person I’ve come to be

I’m grateful for every moment
That You listen and walk with me
Your wisdom and encouragement
Stored in my heart and memory

Dear Father, may I be less afraid
Of leaving these earthly shores
May I look beyond worry and look forward instead
To live in that Paradise of Yours

When it’s my time to join You,
I will dance with the angels and sing
I will forever rejoice in Your splendour
In the love and the joy that You bring

But for now Dear Father, I ask of you,
To guide me every day
So that I may be like Mary
And believe, and love, and pray

Be my defense against the darkness
Be my stronghold, be my cure
So that I can love as You have loved
And live a life that’s pure

So I’ll close my eyes now and with all my heart,
I’ll pray as You’ve taught me to
A prayer for love, for peace, for hope,
A prayer Dear Father, for You.

-Eira Joy Aringay (October 7, 2009)

As far as I can see, this blog-based documentary can never reach an end. It is an ongoing story- one which I have started to tell but encourage you to help me tell it. It will remain open for your love and contribution.

However, this may be the last post I make for a while. Or it may not. Just in case, I thought it nice to leave you with this.

“Lead us not into temptation,” are easy words to recite but difficult to put into action. Especially in a world where there is so much temptation. Succumbing to such temptation is something I believe is the greatest thing negatively affecting young people today, and as Christians we should show by example how love should lead the way.

“Love the Trinity, love each other, love the world.”

Fr. Fitz loved his work at St. Fidelis Parish but he told me a wonderful thing to come from his retirement is the opportunity to look back and truly appreciate God’s gifts.

Often our lives are so busy and stressful that taking a moment to reflect is not on our To-do list. I believe it is this that results in confusion and worry and for many, the desire to get away for some soul-searching. Even as Catholics with faith, the routine of life and societal pressures can bring us down.

Perhaps in a similar way to Fr. Fitz, we must take the time to ‘retire’ from our hectic schedules once every so often to really embrace the beauty around us and understand God’s purpose for us in this world.

Mrs. Georgelin told me that it was Fr. Fitzpatrick’s idea to organize horseriding trips for the children, and it soon became a regular activity for them to be involved in. Being an excellent rider himself, he always participated and became a great role model for the kids, socially as well as spiritually.

Fr. Fitzpatrick

St. Fidelis Church Interior

I wondered why this was such a highlight for Fr. Fitz and it is only now whilst making this blog-based documentary that I am beginning to realize the sentiment.

Fitzy is the epitomy of the word love. He loves helping others find love- in God, in each other and in the world. The union of marriage in the Catholic church represents this great love and I guess it was (and still is) Fitzy’s hope for couples to embrace this.

and the two are one

Just before the night ended I spoke with a parishioner who I’ve recently gotten to know better. She is such a lovely person, a great mother with a beautiful spirit.

After asking me about the progress of this blog-based documentary, she shared a little story about Fr. Fitz that I will never forget. Of course not her exact words, but here is what she told me:

“I remember a time when my daughter came home from school and said to me, “Mum, Mum, guess who came to visit us today?” I asked her, “Who?” and she said “God. God came to talk to us!” I was wondering, God? How did he visit you at school? And then I realized that she meant Fr. Fitzpatrick, so I told her, “No, that wasn’t God, that was Fr. Fitzpatrick, God’s assistant.”

We shared some laughs while I thought to myself just how sweet that moment was. How Fr. Fitz exudes so much peace and love that children look up to him as though they are really looking into the eyes of God.

In/Visible

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