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FR DAVID WRITES
Today on the First Sunday of Lent we hear about Jesus's experience in the wilderness. In this Year of the Word, we are asked to listen more carefully to God who speaks to us. In Lent we are invited to join Jesus in the wilderness in order to really hear what God is saying. This can be an uncomfortable challenge when sometimes we come face to face with our real selves, along with all the attachments and ambitions that seek to rule us. Like Christ, let us rely on the power of the Word of God to overcome every temptation. Please pray for the Rev. Matthew Harbage who will be licensed as the Vicar of St Paul's Church of England Parish this week. We wish him well as he begins his new ministry.
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FR DAVID WRITES
This week the season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Please see the attached sheet for the details of events and opportunities this Lent. Please bear in mind, however, that Lent is not all about ‘extra activities’ or doing more religious things—it is about interior conversion. This can come about in the simplest and most unexpected ways. The key is to listen. One suggestion for the Year of the Word: read Mark’s Gospel in one or two sittings. It is short, snappy and completely transforming. Jesus’s words there will speak to you. The tools for Lent are prayer, fasting and giving alms. Let us make a good beginning together!
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FR ANDREW WRITES
In our Gospel this Sunday Jesus tells us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In other words to bring others into that relationship with Jesus that we enjoy. The thing about salt and light is that they do not draw attention to themselves. Salt, when used well, isn’t noticed, it just brings out the flavour of the food. Light is only noticed in the way that it makes the things on which it falls glow. This week our parish celebrates it’s patronal feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. May Our Lady by the example of her ‘yes’ to God and by her prayers and maternal care help each and every one of us to be salt of the earth and light of the world.
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FR DAVID WRITES
Many thanks to everyone who came to celebrate our parish feast day last Tuesday - it was a truly memorable evening. I would also like to thank everyone who supported it and contributed towards our celebration in any way. It was also lovely to award the Benemerenti medal, on behalf of Pope Francis, to Dorothy Landi in recognition of her seventy years of service to the parish and particularly our choir. As I mentioned in my homily, we are looking towards the centenary of the parish in 2023 and there will be much to think and pray about as we approach that important anniversary.
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FR DAVID WRITES
Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord—also known as ‘Candlemas’. This is the fortieth day since Christmas and marks the day when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to be presented in the Temple. They met the prophets Simeon and Anna who had wisdom to recognise the light of God which had entered into the night time of human history. Today at the 9.45am Mass we will hold the traditional blessing of candles associated with this feast. Candlemas is also the World Day for Consecrated Life. Let us keep all consecrated men and women in our prayers, and we pray especially for the religious in our own parish, deanery and diocese.