HEALTH PROBLEMS:

Many of you may have heard that a rather virulent strain of what is probably a norovirus has hit the monastery in the past couple of weeks. Please keep our wonderful cook, Christine, in your prayers: she has been laid low for over a week. Fortunately, I managed to get through the funerals at the beginning of the week, before being flattened for a couple of days myself. I seem to be through the worst of it, but I am still feeling a trifle fragile. Immense gratitude to   Fr Andrew for keeping everything going, both in the monastery and in the parishes.

PASTORAL LETTER:

Archbishop Malcolm has prepared a Pastoral Letter to be read this Sunday. It is about the forthcoming Jubilee Year, proclaimed by Pope Francis, and reminding us that we are ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. We will share it with you at the Sunday Masses.

THE NEW LECTIONARY:

Next Sunday, following the directive of the Bishops of England and Wales, we introduce the new translation of the Scriptures in our Liturgy. It is the Catholic Edition of the English Standard Version, which has been further revised to try and ensure that the language, as far as possible, is inclusive. Our own Bishop Ralph Heskett has written a forward to the new Sunday Missal, published by Redemptorist Publications, and for which many of you have made an order. Please follow the instructions in the bulletin as to how to collect your ordered copy.

CHRIST THE KING:

The Church’s Year concludes today with this Solemnity. In 1925 Pope Pius XI instituted this Feast as a response to the growing atheism and secularism of the time. It was intended to remind the faithful that Christ reigns as King while governments come and go. Ninety-nine years later, it is a message that surely needs proclaiming from the housetops once more? Originally, it was celebrated on the last Sunday in October, but Pope Paul VI moved the Feast to the last Sunday of the Church’s Year as a fitting way to conclude the annual cycle. Next Sunday we begin again to focus on the Mystery of the Incarnation and the coming of Christmas with the First Sunday of Advent. I hope that we can use this time as a fresh opportunity to touch the minds and hearts of our children and imbue them with the knowledge they are precious and that God loves them with an everlasting love, which can overcome everything.

Fr Tim reports that he has enjoyed his retreat at the Redemptorist Monastery in Perth, Scotland. He has spent the week reflecting, praying, reading, and reminiscing with old friends. He looks forward to returning to us this weekend, feeling quite refreshed and looking forward to the build up to Christmas. We wish Fr Tim a safe journey home. 

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY:

In June we recalled the sixtieth anniversary of D-Day, and, as always on such occasions, statesmen make declarations to the effect that we must learn from history and learn to live in peace. Alas, this weekend, as we give thanks to God for the heroism of those who gave their lives to keep us safe, we look out on our troubled world and fear that what some are already calling a Third World War may not spread and engulf us all.

HOW TO PRAY IN THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES

In my recorded message this week, I felt moved to quote Pope Francis. In the book, Pope Francis – LIFE – My Story Through History.

He recalls the occasion on 27 March, 2020, when he entered an empty rain-soaked St Peter’s Square and prayed for an end to the pandemic. I thought his plea to the Lord is a prayer we could imitate. This is some of what he said:

I used an expression we often use in Argentina: “play your part, please.” I went on: “You resolved a situation like this in the 1500s; you know what to do.” I was clinging to prayer myself, looking for a miracle, and I did the same before the icon of the Madonna, entrusting the world to her and asking her to be mother not just to the Roman people but to the whole planet.

A WEEK AWAY:

Earlier in the year I was unable to join my confrères in the Province Retreat in Perth, so this coming week I am going to Perth to make a private retreat, hoping to find time to reflect on my own spiritual journey as well as time to relax and take stock. Please keep me in your prayers, as I will keep you in mine.

REDEMPTORIST GIFT AID:

Many of you, taxpayers, generously ensure that what you contribute financially to the parish is increased by 25% through the Gift Aid Scheme. May I draw your attention to the fact that you may also Gift Aid anything you contribute to the Redemptorists (especially in relation to Mass stipends, donations and Project Zimbabwe). Forms are available for this as you leave Mass today (Sunday 3rd November 2024) 

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY:

Once again, next Sunday we recall with gratitude those men and women who gave their lives that we might live in freedom. We will have our usual ceremonies of laying the wreaths at our memorials, after the 10.00am Mass at Bishop Eton and before the 11.00am at St Mary’s. I suggest that this year, with the mounting international and political crises that seem to be threatening our freedom, we redouble our prayers for PEACE.

You may wish to note that an Ecumenical Service for Peace in the Holy Land, led by Archbishop Malcolm, will take place at Our Lady of the Assumption, Belle Vale, this coming Wednesday (6 November) at 7.00pm.