World Day for the Poor - Caritas in Action!
Webmaster • November 16, 2020
The Directory for Catechesis states that ‘charitable action is an integral part of the catechetical proclamation’ and ‘[t]he need for an organic approach to pastoral care requires the coordination of catechesis with the other activities of evangelisation.’
In his Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti, On Fraternity And Social Friendship, Pope Francis writes:
“Social love” makes it possible to advance towards a civilization of love, to which all of us can feel called. Charity, with its impulse to universality, is capable of building a new world. No mere sentiment, it is the best means of discovering effective paths of development for everyone. Social love is a “force capable of inspiring new ways of approaching the problems of today’s world, of profoundly renewing structures, social organizations and legal systems from within”. (183)
Charity is at the heart of every healthy and open society, yet today “it is easily dismissed as irrelevant for interpreting and giving direction to moral responsibility”. Charity, when accompanied by a commitment to the truth, is much more than personal feeling, and consequently need not “fall prey to contingent subjective emotions and opinions”. Indeed its close relation to truth fosters its universality and preserves it from being “confined to a narrow field devoid of relationships”. Otherwise, it would be “excluded from the plans and processes of promoting human development of universal range, in dialogue between knowledge and praxis”. Without truth, emotion lacks relational and social content. Charity’s openness to truth thus protects it from “a fideism that deprives it of its human and universal breadth”. (184)
Caritas in Action! Briefings 11 - 12, with the Contents headings as follows (the full documents can be viewed below):
Caritas in Action! Briefing 11 – November 2020
11.1 Participation in charity is an integral part of ‘the process of evangelisation’
11.2 ‘…charitable action is an integral part of the catechetical proclamation’
11.3 ‘…coordination of catechesis with the other activities of evangelisation’
11.4 Instruction "The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelising mission of the Church"
11.5 Weaving together the processes and relationships for building ‘a civilisation of love’
Caritas in Action! Briefing 12 – November 2020
12.1 Exploring the organisational and relational processes of the Catholic Church in its mission
- The warp and the weft of the Catholic Church community in England and Wales (NB. Purely illustrative.)
12.2 Participating in the organisational and relational processes at Diocesan and Parish levels
12.3 ‘“Social love” makes it possible to advance towards a civilization of love’
12.4 The main roles of the different levels of Caritas
12.5 Learning to become ‘witnesses to the faith’ in the twenty-first century
We welcome Fr Emilian Kibiriti IC visiting our Parish, who is the Rosminian Provincial of East Africa Province. Fr Emilian is going to speak about the Rosminian Mission in Africa during this weekend Masses, please be generous to support their work
A national walking pilgrimage for England & Wales with 4 main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St Barnabas, Nottingham, on 13th September 2025, the eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Ways start at the Catholic Cathedrals in Cardiff, Leeds, Norwich and London and will bless our nations with a Sign of the Cross. The routes use established hiking routes. A small group of 'perpetual pilgrims' will walk the full distance of each Way, with up to 20 day pilgrims joining for day stages. To register for day stages and for more info: www.pilgrimways.org.uk/become-a-pilgrim-for-a-day
A Conversation with a Religious (3) How is it like living in a monastery? It is a community life, and we have set daily schedule for prayers, work, rest etc. Our life could be a surprise to some and there will be hardships because it is a very different and constant life routine, but as long as we are on this earth, don't we all have different sufferings too? However, if it really is the Will of God you have this Vocation, and with your love to God, you will persevere and overcome all obstacles. As well as you will find your true happiness and your own meaning of life. Is there anything you would like to tell others who think they may have a Religious Vocation? What I want to say is for all who are discerning, not just women. If you do feel God is calling you to religious life or Priesthood, do not ignore it, do not think too long by yourself. Instead, start praying about this and start talking to a Priest or a Sister in your local Church about it, or if you have an Order or Congregation in mind, get in touch with them. Think of the Apostles, when Jesus suddenly called: "Follow Me", they literally left everything behind and followed Him. At the end of the day, even if you have been granted admittance, it is not like you will become a Sister or a Priest the next day, there will still be a long process of discernment. Do not worry, but pray, pray and pray. Let the Holy Spirit guide you every step of your way. I always remember what St John Paul II said: "Open, open wide the doors to Christ. Be not afraid."
Pope Leo XIV has sent a special message to Catholics and people of goodwill celebrating Day for Life. “In this Jubilee Year focussed on the theological virtue of hope, it is fitting that your theme, ‘Hope does not disappoint – finding meaning in suffering’, seeks to draw people’s attention to how the mystery of suffering, so prevalent in the human condition, can be transformed by grace into an experience of the Lord’s presence, for God is always close to those who are suffering and guides us to appreciate the deeper meaning of life, in love and closeness (cf. Message of His Holiness Pope Francis’ XXXIII World Day of the Sick). His Holiness prays that, through your common witness to the God-given dignity of every person, without exception, and to the tender Christ-like accompaniment of the seriously ill, all in society will be encouraged to defend rather than undermine a civilisation founded on authentic love and genuine compassion. The Holy Father entrusts your efforts to the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel, and to all supporting this ‘Day for Life’, he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of fortitude, joy and peace in the Risen Lord.” There will be a Second Collection THIS weekend for ‘Day for Life’ It provides financial assistance each year to organisations working to support the Church’s mission to protect human life from conception to natural death. These range from educational workshops to advocacy campaigns, practical support services to commissioning research.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth… He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine…” (John 16:13-15) God our Father, who by sending into the world the Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification made known to the human race your wondrous mystery, grant us, we pray, that in professing the true faith, we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory and adore your Unity, powerful in majesty. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday 17th June 11am St Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea Celebrated by Canon Benedict Koledoye All welcome
Volunteers are urgently needed to help keep our beautiful Church clean. If you are able to spare a short time on a Monday morning to help with this please contact the Church office on 02920 483 394. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
There is NO Mass this Wednesday and Thursday (11 & 12 June) because the Priests is having a meeting with the Bishop
A Conversation with a Religious (2) Did your parents opposed your decision? I think they have a mixture of feelings. It is more like they worried about me and wouldn't want to part with me than an opposition. But I said to them that I am going to be with someone who is the King of all kings, who is All Mighty, who has everything, and I will be happy to be with Him. I also reassured them that they offered their daughter for Him who is All Powerful, He will also give them abundant Blessings. Knowing that they will be the 'in-laws' of God, how could He not look after them and attend to all their needs in my place. Does one need to have a certain characteristics in order to be a religious sister? We all have different characteristics, coming from all walks of life, and everyone has a story to tell, just like the different flowers from garden, woodland, hillside and vale. But the most important thing is '…the king greatly desire thy beauty...' (Psalm 45:11) This beauty, is not just what we already know about ourselves, but is deeper than what we can't even see within ourselves yet He can see within us. You see, we did not choose Him, instead, He chose us, and out of the thousands He chose us to be His bride. This is such a beautiful and romantic invitation. Because this is not just somebody, He is our God who ask for our love, ask for our hands. This is our answer to His Call. This is our love to His Love.
“Holy Spirit, Lord of Light, From the clear celestial height Thy pure beaming radiance give…. . ..Thou, on us who evermore Thee confess and thee adore, With thy sevenfold gifts descend: Give us comfort when we die Give us life with thee on high Give us joys that never end.” (Veni, sancte Spiritus) O God, who by the mystery of today's great feast sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen