Category Archives: newsletter

Wanted

newsletter

Dear friends and parishioners

Next Sunday is Easter, and our churches reopen. Parish life goes on – and hopefully will slowly come back to fuller life in coming months. But for that to happen we all need to pull our weight – through our Baptism we are all responsible for the life of the Church.

So, I have several opportunities for us to be involved – and responsible. Don’t let me down!

HOLY COMMUNION

We have to catch up one year’s Communions and move on to the next group. After several years’ hard work, most of our current team will be stepping down soon. Therefore, we are looking for new catechists. Qualifications? Catholic faith and a heart for our children – the present and future of the Church. Is that you? – contact Fr Matthew asap or chat with one of the current catechists.

SPREAD THE GOSPEL

Between Easter and summer you are invited to follow a 7-session course produced by the lay-led Evangelisation team of our diocese, called “Spread the Gospel” via Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 21 April learn about the dream of Jesus for our Church – of our churches. Details to follow soon.

CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL

Some of the Foundation Governors at Christ the King School (those representing the Church) will be finishing their term in the summer. Again, we are looking for faithful Catholics with a heart for our youngsters. You can have great influence over our children’s lives, as Governors on 4-year terms oversee who teaches, who they teach, what they teach, and who gets the money! If that’s you, contact Fr Matthew, the School or one of the current Governors for more info.

Fr Matthew

Year of St Joseph

newsletter,

In an Apostolic Letter in December entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.

The Letter marks the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To celebrate the anniversary, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” beginning on 8th December 2020 the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2021.

The Holy Father wrote Patris corde against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which he says, has helped us see more clearly the importance of “ordinary” people who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this, they resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”

We will return to the Year during 2021 – but his main feast is this Friday. Join us for Mass. Meanwhile, here is a prayer of Pope Francis for the Year.

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, 
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 
To you God entrusted his only Son; 
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil. 
Amen

Fr Matthew