Dear Friends,
In today’s Gospel Luke gives us his version of the Beatitudes. Those who are happy are the poor and the hungry, those who weep and those who are persecuted. In effect he is saying that it is those who are desperate and those who are most aware of their need are the blessed ones. Why? Because their situation makes them reliant, not on themselves, but on God. Of itself poverty does not lead to dependence on God just as wealth does not imply self-sufficiency. It is rather an attitude of mind. The fundamental question is – at which altar do we worship? The altar of self or the altar of God?
We have seven young people who have signed up for the Confirmation course so far but there is room for more! It will be led by Ginny Keane who is our parish catechist. Enrollment forms can be found in each of our churches. Please take one, fill it in and let me have it as soon as possible.
Father James
The Journey in Faith group will meet next Sunday at the presbytery at 6 pm.
Today is Racial Justice Day.
The diocesan youth service is starting to plan for the next World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023. Young people who will then be 16+ are invited to join millions of other young people from around the world. There will be a meeting at Newmarket on 13th March for anyone who is interested.
A further message of thanks from Frances, in a card to Father James, following Derek Palman’s Requiem Mass is on the notice board in the porch of the Sacred Heart for parishioners to read.
Holy Hour & Eucharistic Adoration is on Thursdays at St Helen’s, at 3pm – a time for quiet reflection, meditation and contemplation
We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Monica Hawley, Mary Carr, Paul Watson, Cyril Shenton and Patricia Newton.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Marion Yapp, Beatrice Devitt, Edward Brown, Marjory Lawrence and Iris McGee. May they rest in peace.
We also remember in our prayers Brother Francis who died at the age of 64. He was responsible for creating the Marist Education Centre at Pailin in Cambodia which was funded by our diocese as well as other health and education projects.
