Services at St Mary’s Church
Monday:
Mass 9 - 11 am
Tuesday
Liturgy 5:30 - 7am
7:30pm The Way Orthodox Fellowship in Englisg for adults - All ages
Wednesday: Mass 9 – 11 am
6:30-8pm School of Deacons Adults
Thursday
Mass 9 - 11 am - English
English Midnight Praises 7:30pm
English Bible Study 7:30pm
Friday: Mass Mass 9 – 11 am
Youth 25 and above 7-9pm
Discipleship Clas Class 7-8:30pm
Saturday: Mass: 8:30 – 11am
Sunday School 4 – 5.30pm
Vespers & youth meeting 7-8:30pm English
Vespers &Bible Study Arabic 5:30-7pm
Scouts 1:30 - 3pm
School of Deaconsgip 3 - 4pm
Sunday:
1st Mass 6:30 - 8:30 Arabic & English
2nd Mass.8:30 - 10:30 English - St Mary’s
Church
3rd Mass 8:30 - 10:30 Arabic - St John’s
Chrysostom Church
Family Meeting fortnightly 11:30am
Hymns Class - English 11:45 - 12:30pm
Church Priests:
Fr Tadros Sharobeam 0414251251
Email: frtadros@me.com
Fr Habib Girgis Younan: 0401238177 – 94498871
Email: habibgirgisyounan@hotmail.com
Fr Michael Salib: 0422431821
Email: frmichael@sac.edu.au
Church Address: 5 Epsom Rd., Kensington Vic 3031 Tel: 93766651
Fr Kerillos Tawadros 0411 518 399
Fr John Makary 0433 445 636
The Martyrdom of St. Peter, the Seal of the Martyrs, 17th Pope of Alexandria.
8th December - 29th Hator
This day marks the martyrdom of St. Peter, 17th Pope of Alexandria and the seal of the martyrs. His father was the archpriest of Alexandria and his name was Theodosius and his mother’s name was Sophia. They were God-fearing people and they had no children.
On the fifth day of the Coptic month of Abib, the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, his mother went to church where she saw other mothers carrying their children. She was exceedingly sorrowful and she wept. She besought our Lord Jesus Christ with many tears, to grant her a son. That night, Peter and Paul appeared to her and told her that the Lord had accepted her prayers and that He would give her a son, and to call him Peter. They commanded her to go to the Patriarch, to bless her. When she woke up, she told her husband about what she saw and he was exceedingly glad. Then she went to the father, the Patriarch and told him about what she saw and asked him to pray for her. He prayed and blessed her. Shortly after, she gave birth to this saint and called him Peter. When he was 7 years old, they gave him to Pope Theonas, as was done with Samuel the prophet and he became as a son to him. He placed him in the theological school where he received his education and excelled in preaching and counseling. He then ordained him as a reader, then as a deacon, and shortly after as a priest. He relieved the Pope of many church administrative duties.
Before Pope Theonas’ departure, he recommended that Abba Peter be his successor. When he was enthroned on the See of St. Mark, the church was enlightened by his teachings. It came to pass in the city of Antioch, that a man of high authority had agreed with Diocletian the Emperor, to return to paganism. That man had two children and because of him, their mother could not baptize them there. Therefore, she took them to Alexandria. On her way there, the sea was troubled by a violent storm and she was afraid that her two sons would drown and die without being baptized. She therefore dipped them in the sea three times saying, “In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” then she cut her breast and with her blood made the sign of the Holy Cross over their foreheads. Eventually, the troubled sea calmed down and she arrived safely to Alexandria with her sons. On the same day, she brought them to be baptized. Whenever, the Patriarch, St. Peter tried to baptize them, the water would solidify as stone. This happened three times. When he questioned her, she informed him of what had happened to her at sea. He marvelled and praised God saying, “That is what the church proclaims, that it is one baptism.” Therefore, the baptism she performed in the sea was accepted by the Lord. Also in the days of this Pope, Arius the heretic appeared and St. Peter advised him several times to turn from his wicked thoughts, but he would not hearken to him. Consequently, he excommunicated him and prevented him from the fellowship of the church. Arius contacted Emperor Maximianus, the infidel, and reported to him that Peter, the Patriarch of Alexandria, incited the people not to worship the gods. The Emperor was outraged and he sent messengers with orders to cut off his head. When they arrived in Alexandria, they attacked the people and destroyed most of the cities of Egypt. They robbed all their valuables, their women and children. In total, about 840 thousand of them were killed, some with the sword, some with starvation and some with imprisonment. Then they returned to Alexandria and captured the father,
the Patriarch, and imprisoned him.
When the people heard about their shepherd’s arrest, they gathered in front of the prison door and wanted to save him by force. The officer in charge of his slaying was worried that the general peace would be disrupted, so he postponed the execution till the next day. When the saint saw what had happened, he wanted to deliver himself to death for his people, for he feared what might happen to his flock. He wished to depart and be with Christ, without causing any disturbances or troubles. He sent for his people and he comforted them and advised them to adhere to the true faith. When Arius, the infidel, learned that St. Peter was departing to be with the Lord, leaving him under the band of excommunication, he entreated him, through the high priests, to absolve him. St. Peter refused and told them that the Lord Christ had appeared to him this night in a vision, wearing a torn robe. St. Peter asked Him, “My Lord, who rent Your robe?” The Lord replied, “Arius has rent My robe, because he separated Me from My Father. Beware of accepting him.”
After this, St. Peter summoned the Emperor’s messenger in secret and advised him to dig a hole in the prison’s wall on the side where there were no Christians. The officer was amazed at the bravery of the father and he did as he commanded him. He took him out of prison secretly and brought him outside the city, to where the tomb of St. Mark the evangelist, Egypt’s evangelist. There, he kneeled down and asked the Lord, “Let the shedding of my blood mark the end of the worship of idols and be the end of the shedding of the blood of Christians.” A voice came from heaven and was heard by a saintly virgin who was near that place. It said, “Amen. May it be to you according to your wishes.” When he finished his prayer, the swordsman advanced and cut off his holy head. The body remained in its place until the people went out hurriedly from the city to the place where he was martyred, because they did not know what had happened. They took the pure body and dressed it in the pontifical clothes and seated him on the seat of St. Mark, which he refused to sit on during his life. He used to say that he saw the power of God sitting on the Chair and therefore, he did not dare to sit on it.
Then they placed his body with the bodies of the saints. He occupied the throne of St. Mark for 11 years. His prayers be with us. Amen.
The Martyrdom of St. Clement, Pope of Rome. 8th December - 29th Hator
This day also marks the martyrdom of St. Clement, Pope of Rome. This Saint was born in Rome to an honorable father whose name was Fostinus; who was a member of the Senate. His father educated him and taught him Greek literature.
When St. Peter, the Apostle, came to Rome and Clement heard about his teaching, he called him to appear before him and they discussed many things together. The Apostle explained to him the falsehood of idol worship and proved to him the Divinity of the Lord Christ, in Whose Name they preached and performed miracles. He believed at his hands, was baptized by him, and followed him since that day.
St. Clement wrote the biography of the Apostles and what happened to them at the hands of the kings and rulers. He preached in numerous cities and many believed at his hands. He was the one to whom the apostles gave their Canon Books. He became the Archbishop of Rome in the latter part of the first century A.D. He preached there and brought many of its people to the knowledge of the Lord Christ.
Emperor Trajan heard of him and ordered him to be seized and brought to him. The Emperor commanded him to worship the idols and deny the Lord
Christ, but St. Clement refused. Because the Emperor feared torturing him before the people of the city and before his family, he exiled him to a city and wrote a message to its Governor, telling him to torture St. Clement, then to kill him. The Governor tied his neck to an anchor and cast him into the sea. In this way, the Saint delivered up his pure spirit and received the crown of martyrdom, in the year 100 A.D.
One year after his departure, the sea water receded off his body, which appeared in the bottom of the sea as though he was alive. Many went in and were blessed and they decided to take the body away from its place. They brought a marble coffin and laid him in it and when they wanted to take his body out of the sea, they were unable to move it. They knew that he did not wish to be moved from his place, so they left him and departed. On the day of his feast each year, the sea would flow back and the visitors would enter and be blessed by him. Many frequently travelled to see this wonder.
Among the many miracles written about him: One year the visitors went in to visit and to be blessed by him and when they left, they forgot a little child who was behind the coffin of the Saint. This was according to the Lord Christ’s Will, in order to reveal the honor of His beloved ones and the grace they had received from Him. When the child’s parents remembered their son, they went back to the sea, but they found the water was back and that it had covered the casket. They realized that their son must be dead and devoured by the beasts of the sea. They wept over him and commemorated him as was the custom. The next year, when the sea waters receded, the people entered, as was their custom, and were amazed to find the child alive. They asked him how he existed and what he had eaten. He replied, “The Saint fed me, gave me drink, and protected me from the beasts of the sea.” They praised the Lord Christ Who is glorified in all His saints. His prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
The Entrance of Saint Mary into the Temple at Jerusalem.
12th December - 3rd Keiahk
On this day we commemorate the entrance of our holy Lady, the Virgin, Saint Mary, the Theotokos, into the Temple when she was three years old, for she was dedicated to God. Her mother, Anna (Hannah(, was childless. The women who were in the Temple stayed away from her. She was exceedingly sad and so was her husband Joachim who was a blessed old man. She prayed to God fervently and with a contrite heart saying, «If You give me a fruit, I will devote the child to Your Holy Temple.» God answered her prayers and she brought forth this pure saint and called her Mary. She reared her for three years, after which she took her to live with the virgins in the Temple. Saint Mary dwelt in the sanctuary for 12 years. She received her food from the hands of the angels, until the time when our Lord Christ came into the world, and was incarnated through her, the elect of all women.
When she had completed 12 years in the sanctuary, the priests took counsel together concerning her, so that they might entrust her to someone who would protect her, for she was consecrated to God and they were not allowed to keep her in the temple after this age. They decided that she be engaged to a man who could take care of her and who would look after her. They gathered 12 righteous men from the house of David of the Tribe of Juda so they might place her with one of them. They took their staffs inside the Sanctuary, and a dove flew up and stood on the staff belonging to Joseph the carpenter who was a righteous man. They knew that this was God›s will. Joseph took the holy Virgin St. Mary, and she dwelt with him until Gabriel, the Angel of the Lord, came to her and announced to her that the Son of God was to be incarnated from her, for the salvation of Adam and his posterity.
Her intercession be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
The Martyrdom of St. Andrew the Apostle, the Brother of St. Peter.
13th December - 4th Keiahk
On this day, St. Andrew the Apostle, the brother of St. Peter, was martyred. He was chosen to go to the city of Lydd and to Kurdistan. He entered the city of Lydd, where most of its people had believed at the hands of St. Peter. He was accompanied by his disciple, Philemon, who had a sweet voice and was a good reader. St. Andrew commanded Philemon to go up to the pulpit and read. When the priests of the idols heard of the arrival of Andrew the Apostle, they took their spears and went to the church. They stood outside the church to hear if he was cursing their gods or not. They heard Philemon reading the words of David the Prophet, «Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men›s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak: eyes they have but they do not see: They have ears, but they do not hear: noses they have, but they do not smell: They have hands, but they do not handle: feet they have, but they do not walk: nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them.» (Psalm 115:4-8( Their hearts rejoiced because of his sweet voice and their emotions mellowed. They entered the church, and bowed down at the feet of Andrew the Apostle. He preached to them and they believed in the Lord Christ. Then he baptized them with the rest of those who worshipped idols. Andrew the Apostle, then left them and went to Kurdistan and to the cities of Aksis, Aregnas and Henefores, to preach there. He also went with St. Bartholomew to the city of Azrinos. Its people were wicked and knew not God. They went on preaching and teaching them until they lead many of them to the knowledge of God, because of the signs and wonders they performed before them. Those who did not believe plotted against him. They sent for him so that when he arrived, they would attack him and kill him. When their messengers came to St. Andrew and heard his sincere teachings and saw his shining face, they believed in our Lord Christ and did not return to those who had sent them. The unbelievers decided to go to him and burn him. When they gathered around him to do what they had intended, the Apostle prayed to the Lord, and immediately fire came down from heaven and surrounded them. They were terrified and believed.
The report of St. Andrew the Apostle, was heard throughout all these countries and many believed in the Lord. Nevertheless the priests of the idols did not cease looking for him in order to kill him. Afterwards, they gathered and went to him; they bound him and beat him severely. After they dragged him around the city naked, they cast him into prison, so that they might crucify him the following day. Their custom was to stone those who were to be killed by crucifixion. The Apostle spent his night praying to God. The Lord Christ appeared to him and strengthened him saying, «Do not fear or worry for the time of your departure from this world is near.» He gave him peace and disappeared. St. Andrew›s soul rejoiced for what he saw.
On the next day, they hanged him upon a tree and stoned him until he departed. Certain believers came and took his holy body and laid it with great honor in a private grave. Many signs and wonders were made manifest from his body.
His prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
The twenty-ninth day of the blessed month of Hatour Luke 1:26-38
Rejoice, O full of grace 1:28
The church used to celebrate every Coptic month on the twenty-ninth day the commemoration of the Annunciation of the Angel to the Immaculate Virgin Mary of the birth of the Lord Jesus (this chapter is also read on the second Sunday of the month of Kiahk(.On the 29th of Kiahk we celebrate Feast of Nativity.. that is, nine months after the date of the Annunciation, which is the twenty-ninth day of the month of Baramhat (usually comes during Lent(. On this occasion, the church prays and recites its melodies with the joyful tunes because it is a remembrance of the Lord’s Feast.
In commemoration of the Annunciation, let us stand and reflect on this wonderful person chosen by the Lord to bear him as a fetus and then a child, the Immaculate Virgin Mary, you deserved to become God’s mother. She is full of grace. And that she, a young girl who is not more than fourteen years old, was able in the face of a great news of this magnitude that has no parallel in the history of all mankind to say with faith and confidence, let it be for me as you say. At the time, an experienced elder and a priest like Zechariah could not believe that his wife would conceive a son in her old age. The power of the St Mary was in her simplicity and the strength of her faith. And this faith did not come from a vacuum but from a fullness of grace.
+ Peace to you , O you who are full of grace.
There are many who carry the image of piety from the outside but from the inside there is a vacuum and there is In times of distress they deny its power. They look like people in giant stature but when they are exposed to the furnace of temptation, they shrink to the height of the dwarfs, a clear indication of lack of fullness and the inner spiritual emptiness. This is what the Lord Jesus expressed in the parable of the sower about rocky land, which from the outside seems to be a good land in which the seeds are thrown and quickly grow, but the roots of the plant cannot go deep into the ground and as soon as the sun rises, the plant dries up and dies because it has no depth.
Goliath was a huge and mighty one and he had five brothers, all of whom were mighty and powerful in the eyes of the world, and David was the whistling boy in the eyes of Goliath something despicable and trivial that he mocked. But the small smooth slingshot stones revealed what had hidden from people’s eyes. The inner fullness and high spiritual stature in David revealed the complete emptiness in Goliath..
King Saul looked mighty and powerful. He was taller than all the people from his shoulder to the top, but soon came the experiment that revealed his true height. In front of the temptation of money, booty and gold, he preferred to break the commandment of God who commanded him to destroy all that belongs to the Amaleks and not have a remnant left even his money and equipment. But he kept the booty and
his excuse was that it was to offer it as a sacrifice to God. Samuel the prophet replied hum that listening is better than offering sacrifices, the pleasure of the Lord is not to offer sacrifices but to listen to His commandments. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king.
How many people with tall stature, but in the eyes of God they are no more than small dwarfs ... and how many are those whom the world looks down on with contempt and, but whose stature before God has been extended to heaven. It’s the stature of those who are full of grace..
Saint Anba Sarabamon, Bishop of Menoufiya, was a very simple human being, his clothes were simple, and he was humble but he carried great strenght and tremendous spiritual power inside him. His Holiness Pope Anba Boutros Al-Gawli called him and assigned him to go to pray for Zahra Pasha, daughter of Muhammad Aly who was infected with an unclean spirit. And indeed the father the bishop obeyed and went to the governor’s palace and let him in to the sick place, so he stood praying, and the unclean spirit in the woman became more agitated and revolted. Bishop Sarabamon prayed on some water and signed the sign of the cross on it, saying, “”Lord, be glorified and respond to us.. glorify Your church and sprinkled water on the woman’s face, and immediately the unclean spirit came out, screaming with a loud voice, and left the woman lying on the ground quiet and she has returned to normal. The governor gave him a bag of money containing 4000 pounds, so he refused it and took only a handful of it to spread it on the soldiers standing at the gate of the palace. One day some people complained about him to Abbas Pasha, son of Muhammad Ali, who was the governor that he used magic. So the governor summoned him and asked him about that, and he told him that we are not magicians, but we are servants of the Lord Jesus. And the Pasha mocked him and asked him by what force did you heal Zahra Pasha. Then Bishop Sarabamon stood in strength and cried out to the Pasha with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the whole palace shook as if a strong earthquake had happened, and the governor was terrified until he almost fell as if someone who had slapped him strongly on the face and started saying in mercy, Aman Baba Aman.
The contemporary history of the Church also tells us the story of one of the fathers of the priests of Upper Egypt, Father Matthew Basile in Luxor, who departed about seventy years ago, that he was distinguished by a quiet spirit and God gave him the gifts of healing diseases through prayer.. He was simple in appearance but in inner fullness of grace. One day, he was walking in a street in Luxor, and a stagecoach driver deliberately harassed him to the extent that he deliberately turned his carriage back, where the priest father was standing, and he was hit by a strong shock that dropped him on the ground. But our father. The stanby helped Father Matta to stand and got hold of the driver whom they witnessed that he deliberately hit the priest. in complete meekness and love, asked them to leave him and told them, leave him to our Lord. May God forgive you, my son. And
the stagecoach driver drove away with his carriage as if nothing happened. A few days later, he was in his vehicle in one of the streets, and suddenly an electrical wire fell off, which was cut off at the moment he passed under it and fell on his cart on the horse, and the current crushed him immediately.
And the man started crying his luck. And he went to Father Matta and told him why did you leave me to God? Wouldn’t it have been better if you had complained to the police? And in is love and fogivness spirit he comforted him and gave some money to help him.
And you, my beloved, do you want to be strong?? know, then, that real strength is not in the strength of the body and its muscles but in the strength and fullness of the spirit. Don’t be deceived by external bodily lust. Samson was very strong. There was no man in his strength. But under temptation and lust of the flesh, he became very weak and fell before an adulterous woman.
Do you want to be rich?? True wealth is not in the wealth of money but in the richness of virtues
“The Apostle Paul says about himself and the Apostle Fathers (2Co 6:10(: “” having nothing, and yet possessing everything. Do you want to be great? The world will only give you the empty outside greatness.
John the Baptist was great before God although he had no worldly position or authority at all but his voice terrified the Kings in their palaces and shook the whole world in its sleep and hibernation. Come and get filled. Get filled with spirituality. Get filled with grace so you will have strength and wealth and true greatness ......
Behold, I am the maidservant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word
I1n a wondrous submission and faith, the Virgin Mary accepted this. She felt within her unworthiness, but let it be God’s will. Did the Virgin Mary think about the terrible problems and troubles she would receive because of this?? Undoubtedly, her strong faith made her feel safe and comfortable in God’s promises. Many do not accept God’s promises easily.. Rather, some remain tired and filled with doubt, thus losing the blessing of peace that comes to the most beloved of God’s promises..
There is a story about a woman who one day approached the patriarch and made a large donation of money. And simply the father the Patriarch accepted the gift and said to her the God compensate you well. And no more. It seems that the woman was expecting that she would be offered more or special prayers for blessing, or perhaps words of praise commensurate with the value of the great gift. So she went out from the Pope’s while complaining. And one of the fathers present felt that, so he hurried and told the Pope Who summoned her again and asked his servant to bring the money bundle offered by the woman and gave a small piece of paper on which he wrote the sentence that he said to her, “The Lord will compensate you well,” and brought a scale and asked the woman to put the money bowl in a one side
and the small paper in other side and choose for herself whichever is heavier. To her surprise, she was surprised that the side with the small paper was the one that went downwards, meaning that it was heavier than all the money and gold she gave. The woman fell on the Pope’s feet asking him to forgive her and accept her gifts and she realized that the blessing that God gave her on the words of His Holiness the Pope was better and greater than all Her gold and silver.
+ How great are the blessings of faith and trust in God’s promises ...
The word Kryalison in faith and confidence lifted the whole mountain from its place and lowered it in the miracle of moving Mount Mokattam.
Trusting in God’s promises is that the gates of hell will not prevail against them has given wondrous peace to the hearts of the Church Fathers throughout the generations, and in the most severe adversity and the darkest of times, they faced calamities in joy, knowing that the Lord would keep His promises.
Do you trust, beloved, in God ‘s promises?? Do you have the strong faith that says, let it be done to me as you say? We need this submission to the will of God, which makes you feel reassured saying, behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. How many people have had ideas of rebellion, revolution and rejection these days? Some even think that rebellion and revolution are the only way to obtain their demands, and therefore incidents of violence and crimes have increased. The problems got more complicated and opportunities for sound solutions were lost. instead of solving your problems in a way Rejection, violence, loud sound, nervousness, boycott, Hate. Start Today and try another method. The style of gentleness and calmness. The method of joyful submission to God’s will. It’s not Surrender of weakness but surrender in strength, faith, and confidence. Not desperate surrender which is without hope. Submit while looking forward in trust and be assured that the Lord will not you him and will not abandon you at all. The Holy Fathers by faith destroyed what was impossible and St Paul the Apostle says about them (Heb 11( who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. ++++++
Funeral Fund Contribution
The Church remind all members of the Funeral fund to urgently pay any unpaid amounts of their subscribtions.
CHRISTMAS BISCUITS
Kahk plain Kahk nuts
Kahk Turkish delight Petifore Nashader Ghorayeba Lancashire
All items are $40 per kg
Mixed plate 1kg $40 Mixed plate 1/,kg $20
Ordering: Contact Victoria Mikhail on 0409644061 or Nadia Rafla on 0423241310
or order online at the link below
Orders close on 8th December 2024
https://st-virgin-mary-coptic-orthodox-church.square.site/
+ The Advent Fasting:
Sunday 25th November the Advent Fasting started. It continues for 43 days and ends by the Feast of Holy Nativity at 7th January. It is allowed to eat fish during this fasting except on Wednesdays and Fridays and usually we abstain from food until 3pm. For those who got health reasons they can consult their father of confession. The Advent Fasting is a preparation for the Feast of Incarnation of our Lord. We fast 40 days taking an example of the Lord’s Fasting and from Moses Fasting for 40 days before receiving the Law and Commandments. We fast also extra three days in commemoration of the days fasted by people during the time of St Abraam the 62th Pope of Alexandria for the miracle of moving the mountain. The blessed month of Keiahk falls during the Advent days in which we sing and read all about the Incarnation of the Lord. Let us all pursue fasting in humility and repentance and offer our hearts to be holy sanctuary for our Lord the Child of the Manager the Incarnated Lord. + Doxologies of Keiahk Doxologies and Praises of the blessed month of Keiahk starts at St. Mary’s church next Saturday 15th December 7 - 11 pm. During the week it will be held on Monday & Thursday every week 6:30 - 9 pm.
Real Love has no limits
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man’s limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man’s hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused.
Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her, “Who was that man?” he asked.
The nurse was startled, “He was your father,” she answered.
“No, h wasn’t,” the Marine replied. “I never saw him before in my life.”
“Then why didn’t you say something when I took you to him?”
“I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed. I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey. His Son was killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this Gentleman’s Name? “
The nurse with tears in her eyes answered, “Mr. William Grey………”
St Mary’s Church Choir celebration Sunday 1st December 2024
