The Reverand Da Silva.

           

    

It being Palm Sunday,I thought it would be nice to tell you about another one of my Vicars ,but what to use as a graphic ? and then Donna offered this one yesterday ,as though she knew It is so lovely and so just right .The saying' The Lord will provide' has been proved to me over and over again ,Thank you Donna .

Family grown ,I was living in a flat on my own ,and loved it at the time ,it was on the third floor and I had some lovely views ,I could see Peterborough Cathedral from my bedroom and kitchen window beyond the river and railway line ,to March Ely and Cambridge .I started attending St Johns church and met The Rev Soliel Da Silva.He is Family man with two sons ,his wife is a delightful lady too .

At this time I was working in a residential home for the elderly .Built and owned by a friend ,a manager ran it for David assisted by myself and really good team ,I often stood in for Tina the manager ,during a discussion one day,I suggested we ,should be doing more for the Pastoral care of our residents as I knew The Rector I offered to invite him to come along and visit our residents ,they loved him ,we had many lovely services at the 'Tudors ',at Christmas he would bring along the choir,and we would have a carol service ,and through the year we had services ,and we all took communion together ,on a regular basis ,I remember one resident who died had no family so the service at the crem was ,to be a token one ,so we had a lovely service in the lounge at the Tudors ,Today being Palm Sunday those that could'nt get to church would recieve thier Palm crosses .Of course there were those that were able to walk to church on a nice day ,you would see me and another  like minded girl ,pushing a wheel chair,with a resident holding onto the handles ,and we would take a steady walk to the church nearby ,we attended flower festivals that way too ,I remember we took part ,these flower festivals usually had a theme one year I remember the theme was musicals and we chose Andrew Lloyd Webbers Chess

While I was at the Tudors ,I took my City and Guilds and achieved level three in continuing care ,I did twelve units,which in part involved care of the dying ,death and bereavment ,The Rector was a great support to me.  

He  gave , me the above testimonial ,for my portfolio,and later when I was applying for management off Sheltered housing ,he also did a very nice referance for me ,along with my manager ,but all that is another story ,The last I heard of Rev Da Silva ,he had returned to his home in Shri Lanka ,were I understand he felt he was needed at the time of the tereble disaster caused by the Tsuname,Where ever he is, I know ,he is loved ,I think of him often,yes a lovely man .And so on this Blessed day I send you all my love                Jan xx